The relationship between growth rate and ossification is not consistent among fish. In some species, fast-growing individuals ossify earlier, while in other species, a trade-off between growth rate and ossification exists. This research was conducted to test the hypothesis about the existence of a trade-off mechanism in common carp offspring. For this purpose, specimens from two groups of common carp offspring (96 in total) with different growth rates were sampled at multiple time points between 5 and 29 days post-hatching. The standard length was measured and presented in correlation with the days post-hatching. To evaluate the skeletal system development, whole specimens were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and stained for bone and cartilage. Particular emphasis was placed on the onset of ossification in the clearly visible bones of the head, vertebral column, and fins. According to our findings, larger, fast-growing specimens ossify earlier. The hypothesis on the existence of a trade-off between fast growth and the onset of ossification in common carp was not confirmed in our study.
The studied material includes animal remains from the four archaeological sites in the Podravina region of Croatia. The animal remains originate from sites with traces of metallurgical activity as well as from some settlement features which were also investigated. According to C14 analysis, and comparison with archaeological finds excavated in the vicinity of Torčec, the majority of the finds date from the period of Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages. At all four sites, the animal remains were damaged, sporadic findings, which made a complete archaeozoological analysis impossible. A descriptive primary analysis (element representation and taxonomic interpretation) was carried out. At all sites the remains were mainly from domestic mammals. One fragment of a bird bone was also found, but species determination was not possible. Particular attention was paid to the taphonomic effects on the bones.
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