LABORATORY EVALUATION OF A BIOENERGETICS MODEL FOR LARGEMOUTH BASS AT2 TEMPERATURES AND FEEDING LEVELS

We evaluated a bioenergetics model for adult largemouth bass Micropter us salmoides at two temperatures (22 degrees C and 27 degrees C) and t wo feeding levels (ad libitum and 2% wet body mass) in the laboratory. Three statistical methods were used to assess agreement between predi cted and observed growth and consumption during a 9-week period. Multi variate profile analysis indicated no significant deviations between p redicted and observed mean body masses at the end of each week of the experiment; partitioning mean square error revealed that 87% of the va riance was attributed to random variation rather than to systematic va riation; and a reliability index indicated agreement between predicted and observed masses within a factor of 1.03. Predicted cumulative foo d consumption during the 9-week period was 9.4% less than that observe d. Model predictions of mean daily consumption rates closely tracked o bserved values when fish were not fed to excess, but the model did not perform as well under ad libitum feeding conditions. However, multiva riate profile analysis detected no significant deviations between pred icted and observed mean consumption rates from each week; random varia tion was the largest source of error (78%); and the reliability index showed agreement between predicted and observed mean weekly consumptio n rates within a factor of 1.38. Agreement between model estimates and observed growth and food consumption further corroborates the largemo uth bass bioenergetics model within the limited range of temperatures and feeding conditions tested.