A model to estimate growth in young-of-the-year tautog, Tautoga onitis, based on RNA/DNA ratio and seawater temperature [An article from: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology]

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Description:
This study presents an indirect method for estimating growth rates of young-of-the-year (YOY) tautog, Tautoga onitis, based on laboratory calibration experiments and nucleic acid-based indices. Field-collected tautog were held in the laboratory at 3 temperatures over a 17-day period. Four feeding levels were used to produce a range of growth rates. An ultraviolet absorption assay was used to measure nucleic acid concentrations in white muscle tissue. The strength of the relationship between growth rate and three nucleic acid-based parameters (RNA concentration, DNA concentration, RNA/DNA ratio (R/D)) was tested. Correlation results indicated a significant positive relationship between R/D and weight-based instantaneous growth rate (G) (r=0.68; p