Food Consumption and Growth of Juvenile Arrowtooth Flounders

Food consumption and growth of juvenile arrowtooth flounders Atheresthes stomias were examined in the laboratory. Weight gain, Y (in % BW/d) was related linearly to food consumption, X (in J/g/d): Y = 0.0033X 0.0564; r 2 = 0.75 at 4°C. Fish 30 to 300 g had similar energy conversion efficiencies. When fed Pacific herring Clupea pallasi at 4°C, maintenance ration was estimated to be 17 J/g/d. Minimum estimates for daily ration to achieve growth rates observed in the Gulf of Alaska were approximately 3.0 to 1.0% BW/d for 1to 4-year-old arrowtooth flounders, respectively, when fed walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma. When feeding on euphausiids, the corresponding consumption rates were 6.9 and 2.4% BW/d. Authors: A. J. PAUL and J. M. PAUL are marine biologists with the University of Alaska Institute of Marine Science, Seward Marine Center Laboratory, P.O. Box 730, Seward, Alaska 99664. R. L. SMITH is an ichthyologist with the University of Alaska Biology and Wildlife Department, and K. A. BOUWENS was a graduate student in that department. A. J. Paul’s email: [email protected]. Acknowledgments: Facilities were provided by the University of Alaska Seward Marine Center Laboratory. This is Institute of Marine Science Report 2611. Project Sponsorship: This study was funded jointly by the Alaska Sea Grant Program project R/06-35 and the University of Alaska Natural Resources Fund. 104 Alaska Fishery Research Bulletin 6(2):104–107. 2000. Copyright © 2000 by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game