The Study of Analysis of Covariance of Morphometric Relationships of Metapenaeus Brevicornis (H. Milne Edwards)

Abstract

In order to make quantitative comparisons between shrimps of different sizes, sexes, origin and species a number of different measurements have been used in the past mainly for fisheries management or aquaculture purposes. These include carapace length (including and excluding rostrum), body length, total length, total weight, tail weight and meat weight. Length-weight of a species are always related to each other (Le Cren, 1951). Several factors like, maturity, feeding, parasites, pathogens etc. are known to influence length- length, length-weight and weight- weight relationships. An analysis of covariance combines the principle of ANOVA with the principle of regression. A chief advantage of this technique is that the independent variables can be of any data level. It is often used to adjust for initial differences between or among groups. In other words, one of its chief purposes is to eliminate systematic bias.