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Energy density of sub-Antarctic fishes from the Beagle Channel

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Abstract

The energy density (ED) of nine species of sub-Antarctic fishes was estimated by calorimetry. The fish, seven notothenioids, one atherinopsid and one galaxiid, represents some of the more abundant species in the ichthyofauna of the Beagle Channel. Principal-components analysis (PCA) of the ED of the different organs/tissues indicated that PC1 and PC2 accounted for 87% of the variability. Separation along PC1 corresponded to differences in muscle and liver energy densities whereas separation along PC2 corresponded to differences in the ED of the gonads. Differences between species were significant except for P. sima. Inclusion of the gonadosomatic index (GSI) as an explanatory variable enabled us to establish the existence of energy transfer from muscle and liver to the gonads in ripe P. tessellata females. Total ED values varied between 4.21 and 6.26 kJ g−1, the pelagic Odontesthes sp. being the species with the highest ED. A significant relationship between ED and muscle dry weight (DWM) was found for all the species except P. tessellata. These data are the first direct estimates of ED of fishes from the Beagle Channel.

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Abbreviations

EC:

Total energy content

ED:

Energy density

WC:

Water content

WW:

Wet weight

DW:

Dry weight

GSI:

Gonadosomatic index

HIS:

Hepatosomatic index

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Adrián Ayala for collaboration with the calorimetric work and Marcelo Gutierrez for collaboration with the sampling. The work was done with funding from the Agencia de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (ANCyT), Nacional Park Administration from Argentina (APN), and the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (PIP 6187, CONICET).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Ecophysiology, Austral Center for Scientific Research (CADIC-CONICET), 200 B. Houssay, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, 9410, Argentina

    D. A. Fernández, M. E. Lattuca, C. C. Boy, A. F. Pérez, S. G. Ceballos, F. A. Vanella, E. R. Morriconi, G. F. Malanga, D. R. Aureliano, S. Rimbau & J. Calvo

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  1. D. A. Fernández
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  2. M. E. Lattuca
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  3. C. C. Boy
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  4. A. F. Pérez
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  5. S. G. Ceballos
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  6. F. A. Vanella
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  7. E. R. Morriconi
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  8. G. F. Malanga
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  9. D. R. Aureliano
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  10. S. Rimbau
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  11. J. Calvo
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Correspondence to D. A. Fernández.

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Fernández, D.A., Lattuca, M.E., Boy, C.C. et al. Energy density of sub-Antarctic fishes from the Beagle Channel. Fish Physiol Biochem 35, 181–188 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-008-9234-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-008-9234-1

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