A modified von Bertalanffy growth model dependent on temperature and body size

Area of Science:

• Aquatic Ecology
• Fisheries Science
• Ichthyology

Background:

• Fish growth models are crucial tools in fisheries, aquaculture, and ecological studies.
• Water temperature is a primary environmental factor significantly influencing fish growth rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an improved fish growth model by integrating water temperature effects.
• To enhance the widely used von Bertalanffy growth model with temperature-dependent parameters.

Main Methods:

• A modified von Bertalanffy growth model was formulated to include water temperature as a key variable.
• The proposed model was applied to growth data from four distinct fish species: bullhead, brown trout, juvenile salmon, and Araucanian herring.
• Model parameters were fitted to empirical growth data for each species.

Main Results:

• The developed model successfully reproduced the growth patterns observed in all tested fish species.
• Appropriate species-specific parameter values were determined, demonstrating model adaptability.
• The model effectively captured and reflected seasonal variations in fish growth rates.

Conclusions:

• The proposed temperature-dependent von Bertalanffy growth model offers a more accurate representation of fish growth dynamics.
• This enhanced model provides a valuable tool for fisheries management, aquaculture, and ecological research, particularly in variable thermal environments.