Abstract
ABSTRACTBlack drum (Pogonias cromis) and spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) were cage cultured in a cooling lake of a power plant near Baytown, Texas, from June through September 1978 and June through November 1977, respectively, to determine the effects of varying feeding rates on the dynamics of growth. Temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen were monitored daily and fish were measured and weighed either monthly or at two‐week intervals to determine growth rates.Survival was poor for spot due to handling stress, and excellent for black drum. Instantaneous growth rates were correlated to temperature, salinity, fish size, and feeding rate. Mean food conversion efficiency (FCE) was correlated to size and feeding rate. Maximum growth rates occurred at temperatures between 27–30°C. Growth rates increased with increasing salinity, and large fish grew faster at higher salinities than small fish. Growth rates increased with increasing feeding rates up to and slightly beyond the maximum daily ration, then declined. FCE decreased curvilinearly with increasing ration up to the maximum daily ration, then remained stable. Growth rates and FCE declined curvilinearly with increasing fish size.
Published Version
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