Food intake, absorption and conversion in the fish Ophiocephalus striatus
In: Helgoländer Wissenschaftliche Meeresuntersuchungen. Biologische Anstalt Helgoland: Hamburg. ISSN 0017-9957, more Also appears in:Kinne, O.; Aurich, H. (Ed.) (1967). Vorträge und Diskussionen. Erstes Europäisches Symposion über Meeresbiologie = Papers and discussions. First European Symposium on Marine Biology = Rapports et discussions. Premier symposium européen sur biologie marine. European Marine Biology Symposia, 1. Helgoländer Wissenschaftliche Meeresuntersuchungen, 15(1-4). 669 pp., more |  |
| Abstract | 1. In the fish Ophiocephalus striatus Bloch feeding rate increased 2 to 3 times, when feeding was resumed after less than 20 days fasting; fasting periods of more than 20 days result in resumption-feeding rates that were only slightly higher (0.5 to 0.8 times) than the controls.2. Although feeding rates were very high after resumption of feeding following different periods of starvation (10 to 40 days) absorption efficiency remained practically identical to that of controls.3. Following a period of less than 20 days fasting resumption of feeding led conversion efficiencies almost twice as high as the normal values, showing ldquoover-compensationrdquo. Fish fed after a period of more than 20 days fasting showed a decrease in conversion efficiency resulting in partial compensatory growth.4. Responses to resumption of feeding following different periods of starvation may be of two types: (a) Rates of metabolism and feeding are restored to pre-starvation rates and conversion efficiency increases due to corresponding increase in feeding rates, e. g. O.striatus, and (b) rates of metabolism and feeding continue to remain low and the increase in conversion efficiency is due to a corresponding decrease in energy expended on metabolism e. g.,E. lucius. |
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