Abstract
Abstract Several studies have indicated that use of scales to age river carpsuckers Carpiodes carpio is difficult. Thus, an alternative body structure may reduce variability in aging this species and provide more accurate estimates of the growth history and age structure of river carpsucker populations. We compared the precision of age determinations and means of back-calculated lengths at age of river carpsuckers between two readers and between the use of scales and dorsal fin ray sections from 172 individual fish collected in the Missouri River. Age agreement between the two readers was 71% for both scales and fin rays. Similarly, age agreement between scales and fin rays within readers was 68% and 72%. Precision of age determination by both readers declined after age-5 for both structures. Generally, more annuli were detected on fin rays than scales as fish age exceeded 5 years. Means of back-calculated lengths for ages 1–4 were significantly greater (P < 0.05) for fin rays than scales. Excluding ages ...
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call