Differences in growth performance between Arcto-Norwegian and Norwegian coastal cod reared under identical conditions

Offspring from seven family groups of Arcto-Norwegian cod (AN) and a genetically marked Norwegian coastal cod (NC) broodstock, were mixed at metamorphosis and raised in the same rearing unit. The fish were transferred subsequently to a net-pen and held under standard farming conditions. In December 1992, 466 cod juveniles were measured, weighed, and tagged individually. Length and weight changes were monitored until the fish matured (January 1994). Genotyping of each individual was performed using enzyme electrophoresis to identify the fish to strain. Prespawning females were examined for organ weights and stage of maturity. There were population specific Differences in growth performance. NC displayed significantly higher specific growth rate (SGR) and daily length increment (DLI) during spring/summer season. The AN had significantly lower hepatosomatic and gonadosomatic indices, and were thinner than the NC, indicating Differences in body form and energy allocation pattern between the two strains. All NC (both sexes) became sexually mature at the age of 2 years while 2% of fish in the AN group were still immature at the end of the experiment.     

Evidence that size-selective mortality affects growth of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) in the southern Gulf of St Lawrence

The effects of size-selective fishing mortality on the growth of Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhuu L.) in the southern Gulf of St Lawrence were investigated and compared between: (1) a period when fishing mortality was relatively high, growth was relatively rapid, and abundance low (1967–1972 year classes): and (2) a period when fishing mortality was lower, growth was slow, and density high (1977–1982 year classes). Cod first entered the fishery at age 3 during both periods. The 1967–1972 year classes (fast growing) were fully recruited to the fishery by age 5 or 6 and the fishery removed over twice as many fish from the lower than upper quartiles of length-at-age distributions for cod 4 to 10 years old (disproportionately high exploitation of slow-growing fish). In contrast. the 1977–1982 year classes (slow growing) did not fully recruit to the fishery until age 9 or 10 and the fishery removed four times as many fish from the upper than lower quartiles of the length-at-age distributions for 4- to 10-year-old cod (disproportionately high exploitation of fast-growing fish). The reduced mean lengths-at-age of the 1977–1982 year classes compared with the 1967–I972 year-classes is consistent with the different patterns of exploitation of fast- and slow-growing fish for the two periods.     

Deviation from the general relationship between RNA concentration and growth rate in fish

No significant relationships were observed between white muscle RNA concentration and growth rate in adult cod. The use of nucleic acid concentration to estimate growth rate in wild populations of cod should be limited to larvae and juveniles.     

Factors affecting gastric evacuation in cod, Gadus morhua L., fed single-meals of natural prey

Functional relationships were derived in order to describe the effects of fish weight (262–2066 g), temperature (1–14° C), prey size and ration size (0.4–8.4% body weight) on gastric evacuation in cod fed four natural prey types. Interindividual (unexplained) differences among voluntary fed cod were relatively large. Power functions were appropriate for describing the effects of fish weight and ration size on the half-time of evacuation. Effects of meal and/or prey size appeared to counterbalance the effects of cod size. It is suggested that when cod of different sizes are fed fixed proportions of their body weight evacuation time is constant and independent of body size. There was found to be an exponential relationship between temperature and gastric evacuation time but, observations made at similar temperatures at different times of the year suggested that seasonal effects were of minor importance.     

Retention of intragastric transmitters after voluntary ingestion by captive cod, Gadus morhua L.

Squid-encapsulated acoustic transmitters were ingested by Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua , (3128–10 221 g) held in captivity at 12° C. Retention times ranged from 5 to > 21 days. There was no significant change in feeding rate after transmitter ingestion.     

Cod, Gadus morhua L., populations identified by mitochondrial DNA

Isozyme and haemoglobin analysis has shown that the cod, Gadus morhua L., in the NE Atlantic can be regarded as two populations: Arctic and coastal cod. One hundred and one individual cod from nine different locations were sampled and restriction fragment analysis uncovered 14 different mtDNA clones. Calculation of sequence divergence between localities displayed large divergence between samples from coastal and Arctic areas (l.77–5.62%), as opposed to the low intrapopulation divergence (∼0.10%) and the divergence between localities along the coast (∼0.17%) and in the Barents Sea (∼ 1.00%).     

Morphological changes during metamorphosis in cod (Gadus morhua L.), with particular reference to the development of the stomach and pyloric caeca

Metamorphosis in cod, Gadus morhua L., was investigated with respect to morphological changes in the alimentary tract (mouth, stomach and pyloric caeca) and external characters (finfold and fin development). Morphometric measurements and histological investigations were made on both larvae and juveniles and all fish lengths are given as standard length. Median unpaired fins started to develop when the fish were 9–10 mm in length. The larval median finfold was resorbed when fish reached a size of 11–15 mm. The vertebrae were formed in fish of 11–20 mm. The supraterminal mouth, seen in larvae <12 mm, changed gradually to a sub-terminal position in juveniles larger than 65 mm. The development of the stomach and pyloric caeca started at 15 mm and the juvenile form was seen in fish of 40 mm. The ability to store and grind food particles in the stomach developed gradually as fish increased in size from 20 to 40 mm. Compared to many other teleost species, cod juveniles are relatively large when the stomach and pyloric caeca become fully developed. These findings may have important implications for both start-feeding of cod larvae and the weaning of juveniles on to artificial diets.     

Gastric emptying in cod, Gadus morhua L.: emptying and retention of indigestible solids

Particles 2 mm or smaller may be passed relatively easily through the pylorus of the cod, Gadus morhua L., but, under some conditions, 5 mm particles are held in the stomach for prolonged periods. The emptying of indigestible particles appears to be impaired by the consumption of additional meals, and prolonged retention of these particles may occur in fish fed multiple meals. The findings agree in general with those reported for mammals and the results are discussed in relation to mechanisms thought to control gastric motor activity patterns.     

The distribution of Cryptocotyle spp. metacercariae in the skin of caged Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

In caged Atlantic cod (>40cm), Cryptocotyle spp. metacereariae were concentrated on the dorsal surface, but relatively scarce on the fins. Behaviour and mechanical forces probably affect this distribution.     

Drivers of growth for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) in Icelandic waters – A Bayesian approach to determine spatiotemporal variation and its causes

This study assesses spatiotemporal and sex-specific growth of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua in Icelandic waters. We use a Bayesian approach which lends itself to fitting and comparing nested models such as these. We then compare fitted parameters of these models to potential explanatory variables using a redundancy analysis (RDA) to look for drivers of growth in G. morhua. Results indicate that models that incorporate differences in growth among time, space and sex are the best-fitting models according to deviance information criterion (DIC). Results from RDA indicate that capelin Mallotus villosus recruitment and biomass is highly correlated with deviations in the von Bertalannfy growth parameter k and that L_∞ is correlated with G. morhua landings in the model that uses year to account for time-varying growth and estimated G. morhua recruitment in the model that uses cohort to account for time-varying growth.