Comparison of vertebrae and otoliths measured directly and from radiographs

Jens Pedersen

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

It is general practice among fish ecologists to use indigestible remains such as vertebrae and otoliths in fish stomachs to determine the nature and size of their prey. However, estimation of the relationship between fish length and vertebrae size is a time consuming process when using vertebrae from macerated fish. The present study shows that measurement of vertebrae from radiographs of intact fish is a reliable and quick method for estimating the relationship between vertebral length and fish length from a number of reference fish. The relationship between vertebrae size and fish length was established at least 10 times faster using radiographs than when direct measurements were used. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.
Original languageEnglish
JournalFisheries Research
Volume29
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)277-282
ISSN0165-7836
Publication statusPublished - 1997

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