Food conversion efficiency and growth in the American eel (Anguilla rostrata (Lesueur)) / by Gary Wayne Reynolds.
| Author/creator | Reynolds, Gary Wayne author. |
| Other author | O'Rear, Charles W., degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Biology. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 1979. |
| Description | 64 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Summary | Increasing foreign market demand for pond cultured American eels has sparked an interest in eel aquaculture in this country. Biological information on growth in aquaculture is scarce for this species. To assess the efficiency of food conversion, growth and protein absorption were determined for eels from a North Carolina eel farm. Growth as protein accumulation over a given time was determined from monthly collections of pond raised eels. Estimation of growth in wild eels was based on collections obtained in November 1976 and in March and April 1977. Analyses of length, wet v/eight, dry weight, ash weight, protein, fat, girth, liver wet weight, liver dry weight, and liver protein were made for pond and wild eels. Correlation and regression analyses showed that v/et weight was determined to be the best single independent variable for predicting growth or protein accumulation in both eel populations. Tissue comparisons between pond and wild eels of similar size indicated a greater amount of protein and fat in pond eels. This is attributed to dietary as well as other environmental differences. Protein absorption was estimated from a sample of 8 laboratory maintained eels. The eels, obtained from the North Carolina eel farm, were fed a measured amount of protein. Feces from the lower third of the gut were collected and analyzed for protein content after 4 hours of digestion. Average protein absorption was 99.6%. A conversion factor of 3.5, determined by dividing growth (protein change) by the average protein consumed per gram of eel during the study, established that much of the protein consumed was not being utilized for growth. An assessment of the exact protein requirements of the American eel would allow fat or carbohydrate to be used to replace the more expensive protein, which is not being utilized for growth. |
| Local note | Joyner-"Presented to the faculty of the Department of Biology ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Biology." |
| General note | Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Biology |
| General note | Advisor: C. W. O'Rear |
| Dissertation note | M.S. East Carolina University 1979 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-55). |
| Genre/form | dissertations. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |