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Growth and nutritional condition of the larvae of Odontesthes microlepidotus (Atherinidae): an experimental approach

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The relation between the feeding and mortality of fish larvae is mediated not only by starvation but also by their growth. In this work, daily otolith ring deposition was analysed in laboratory-reared larvae of Odontesthes microlepidotus (Jenyns), and their growth was studied in relation to ring number and otolith diameter. The nutritional condition of these larvae was assessed by means of morphometric comparisons between fed and starved larvae in order to develop a tool to evaluate the nutritional status of larvae in breeding areas. Changes in body shape have been found as a consequence of starvation. No dependence was found between mean hepatocyte nuclear area and fasting.

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  1. Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad National del Comahue, C.C. 1336 Bariloche, 8400, Rio Negro, Argentina

    Miguel A. Battini, Marcelo F. Alonso & Víctor E. Cussac

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  1. Miguel A. Battini
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  2. Marcelo F. Alonso
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  3. Víctor E. Cussac
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Battini, M.A., Alonso, M.F. & Cussac, V.E. Growth and nutritional condition of the larvae of Odontesthes microlepidotus (Atherinidae): an experimental approach. Environ Biol Fish 42, 391–399 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001469

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001469

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