Growth with seasonally varying temperatures: an expansion of the von Bertalanffy growth model

Abstract

The von Bertalanffy growth function has limitations for describing the growth of fishes in seasonal climates. In the present work, a new equation is proposed where the growth parameter k is substituted by a function related to monthly water temperatures. The computer program GROWTH5 was developed to fit and simulate the growth for seasonally varying temperatures. Examples for natural populations of Barbatula barbatula and Cottus gobio are presented.

Growth of the Silverside Atherinella brasiliensis in Tramandaí Estuary, Southern Brazil (Actinopterygii: Atherinopsidae)

“…Nevertheless, their collection program was carried out both inside and outside the estuarine area, and a biased sampling was probably not the cause of missing large animals. As is generally described in the literature, faster growth, smaller size and lower longevity are expected at decreasing latitudes (Taylor, 1959;Fontoura & Agostinho, 1996). In this case, the growth parameters estimated by PaivaFilho & Giannini (1990) for Santos are not discrepant, but expected for A. brasiliensis at lower latitudes.…”

“…The age group 0 from June/July and September/October were born in different years, and average size results probably from quite distinct environmental parameters. On the other hand, the June to September period comprises the winter months, with expected reduction in growth rate (Fontoura & Agostinho, 1996). After completing one year, modal progression continues at least for one more year, when the animals reach a size of around 12 cm of total length and an age of two years.…”

Length-weight relationship and reproduction of the guppy Poecilia reticulata (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) in urban drainage channels in the Brazilian city of Belém

“…The definition of the breeding season was based on the analysis of the relative frequency of mature females recorded each month over the study period, adjusted using a sinusoidal function, as proposed by Fontoura & Agostinho (1996). This procedure describes seasonal variation based on the formula: FMF = M + A * cos (2π / (Frq * (t-f))), where FMF = Frequency of Mature Females, M = the mean number of mature females recorded per month over the study period, A = the amplitude of the monthly variation in the number of mature females (difference between the overall mean and the mean of the maximum and/or minimum values), Frq = units of time in which the events were measured (here, Frq = 12 when the measured time is month), t = numerical scale of time (here, January = 1, February = 2, March = 3… December = 12), and f = the difference between the baseline time and the time with the maximum frequency of mature females (representing the sinusoid).…”

Growth of the silverside Atherinella brasiliensis in a subtropical estuary with some insights concerning the weight-length relationship

“…Using the available growth and mortality parameters of A. brasiliensis along the Brazilian coast, linear regressions were applied to identify latitudinal patterns as described in the literature (Taylor 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, Pauly 1980, Fontoura and Agostinho 1996, Giacomini and Shuter 2013, Peck et al 2013). …”