Development of Striped Bass Relative Condition Models with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis and Associated Temperature Corrections

Abstract

Nutritional condition is a valuable metric in ecosystem-based fisheries management. However, the need for lethal sampling for the most accurate indicators ethically and logistically limits sample sizes. Percent moisture has been recommended for management of Striped Bass Morone saxatilis. We sought to develop bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) models for five size-classes of Striped Bass across three temperatures in a controlled laboratory setting. Results suggest that BIA is an accurate and robust method for estimating percent dry weight in Striped Bass, with model adjusted R² values in the range of 0.70–0.89. Temperature correction models successfully removed a significant relationship (P < 0.0001) between temperature and BIA model residuals (P = 0.48). We recommend that these models be tested with independent data collected in a field setting.

Received October 16, 2016; accepted April 5, 2017 Published online July 18, 2017

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Jim Uphoff, Andrew Hafs, and Lonnie Gonsalves for technical guidance and to John Rosendale for helping capture and maintain the larger fish used in this study. We also thank the MDDNR Manning Hatchery and Horn Point Laboratory for providing fish, the COL and James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory for providing the necessary aquaculture facilities, and the Wye Research and Education Center for putting up with the long months of drying fish. We appreciate Kevin Rosemary, Mark Matsche, Jimmy Ritzman, Sarah Bornhoeft, Lonnie Gonsalves, Elizabeth Friedel, Cody Shingleton, Luke Ferricher, Collette Lauzau, Kaitlyn Harrell, Eliu Seeber, Matt Rhodes, Ryan Corbett, Cameron Day, Megan O’Donnell, Alexander Noonen, Grace McIlvain, and Delan Bayce for help with data collection. Lastly, we thank Maryland Sea Grant, MDDNR, and NOAA for funding this project.