Marine Science Faculty Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1981
Abstract
A model was constructed which relates energy in diet to metabolic requirements for the mesopelagic zooplanktivore fish Valenciennellus tripunctulatus. Linear and Von Bertalanffy growth models were used to explore the energetic consequences of a number of feasible age/growth strategies. Maxlmum efficiencies were obtained with linear growth to about 30 mm in 1 y. Efficiencies declined rapidly for slower growth strategies. It was hypothesized that an 'annual' life history strategy was optimum based on energetic considerations. Copepod prey in the 1-2 mm size class were an order of magnitude more abundant and over 4 times higher in caloric content than larger size classes. V. tripunctulatus, however, is highly efficient in obtaining calories from larger prey size classes (2-4 mm) which contain a high caloric content per individual. The resource field places severe constraints on predator growth and at 38 mm no surplus energy is estimated available from daily ration over and above metabolic requirements. V. tripunctulatus should be sensitive to 'nearfield' competitors as well as 'remote' predators grazing zooplankton populations in different space/time.
Rights Information
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Marine Ecology Progress Series, v. 5, issue 1, p. 21-28
Copyright © 1981 Inter-Research.
Scholar Commons Citation
Baird, Ronald C. and Hopkins, Thomas L., "Trophodynamics of the Fish Valenciennellus tripunctulatus III Energetics, Resources and Feeding Strategy" (1981). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 37.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/37
