Evaluation of a Method for Estimating Food Consumption Rates of Fish

Abstract

A method of estimating food consumption rates of fish in nature from laboratory growth data was evaluated using juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in three similar experiments. One group of coho was held individually in aquariums where movement was restricted. Another group was maintained in an experimental stream where the coho displayed many of their typical behavior patterns. All fish were fed known rations and both groups had similar growth efficiencies over a wide range of rations. Coho feeding at intermediate rates had the highest gross efficiencies. Aggressive activity did not affect growth efficiency. Results suggested that laboratory food and growth data may provide reasonably accurate estimates of food consumption of coho salmon in nature.