Energy density of sub-Antarctic fishes from the Beagle Channel

FERNANDEZ, DANIEL ALFREDO; LATUCA, ME; BOY, CC; PEREZ, AF; CEBALLOS, SG; VANELLA, FA; MORRICONI, ER; MALANGA, GF; AURELIANO, DR; RIMBAU, S; CALVO, J

FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

Springer-Verlag

Año: 2009 p. 181 - 188

0920-1742

The energy density of nine species of sub-Antarctic fishes was estimated bycalorimetry. They represent some of the more abundant species in the ichthyofauna ofthe Beagle Channel, seven notothenioids, one atherinopsid and one galaxiid. APrincipal Component Analysis (PCA) of the energy density of the differentorgans/tissues indicated that PC1 and PC2 accounted for 87 % of the variability.Separation along the PC1 corresponded to differences in muscle and liver energydensities while separation along the PC2 corresponded to differences in energy densityof gonads. Differences between species were significantly except for P. sima. Theinclusion of the gonadosomatic index (GSI) as an explanatory variable allowed usestablishing the existence of energy transference from muscle and liver to the gonads inripe P. tessellata females. Total energy density values varied between 4.21 and 6.26 kJ *g-1 being the pelagic Odonthestes sp. the species with higher energy density. Asignificant relationship between energy density (ED) and muscle dry weight (DWM)was found for all the species except P. tessellata. These data are the first direct energydensity estimations of fishes from the Beagle Channel.