Nonlethal estimation of proximate composition in fish

Abstract

The need to precisely measure growth is a common denominator in many fisheries studies, but growth measures other than total masses or lengths are nearly nonexistent because more precise measurements such as body composition analysis are often too difficult and time consuming. Here, we present a means of estimating body composition in fish quickly, and after validation, without the need to sacrifice the animal. Models built with brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were linear with strong validation group relationships (R2 > 0.96) for composition parameters including water, protein, fat, fat-free, and dry masses. Subject responses to bioelectrical impedance analysis were minimal, with only slight bruising (p < 0.001) with no effect on swimming, color, bleeding, or feeding. The model was also tested on the water and dry masses of 10 warmwater fish species and found to have strong correlations (R2 > 0.86), suggesting that more general relationships may exist. Nonlethal estimation of body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis will permit increased precision in bioenergetics energy flow and compositional studies as well as permit study of community energetics and condition on spatial and temporal scales not previously possible.