Biometrical relationships, energy content and biochemical composition of Neomysis mercedis from Lake Washington

Abstract

Morphometric relationships, caloric content and biochemical composition of Neomysis mercedis were determined for freshly caught mysids. Strong positive correlations between telson length, carapace length, dry weight, energy content and total length are described by the equations: Ln (Dry weight) = −5.02 + 2.57* Ln (Total Length), Telson Length = 0.13* Total Length, and Energy (Calories) = −37.13 + 4.85* Mean Total Length. Energy (4.92 cal mg−1 AFDFW), ash (8.61% dry weight) and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (10.6% dry weight) content are comparable to values reported for other species. A comparison of the length-weight relationship for N. mercedis with similar equations published previously for other mysid species indicated that the predicted mean dry weight at any particular length varied among species.