Abstract
The accuracy of the morphometric indices Fulton's K, somatic K and relative condition factor, K-n, as measures of individual North Sea herring Clupea harengus muscle fat content was investigated using the Distell Fish Fat meter. The accuracy of fat-meter readings from an individual fish was validated by comparison with Soxhlet extraction analysis. The studies conducted demonstrated that Fulton's K is not consistently or strongly correlated with individual C. harengus muscle fat content, as defined by the fat-meter estimates. The study shows that somatic K and K-n may be better indices of individual North Sea C. harengus muscle fat content than Fulton's K. These morphometric indices, however, should only be used after prior validation against a more direct measure of fat content.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 913-929 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Journal of Fish Biology |
Volume | 76 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2010 |
Keywords
- condition
- fat
- fatmeter
- Fulton's K
- fultons condition factor
- body condition
- spawning time
- fish
- muscle
- salmon
- growth
- size
- sea