Starvation of the herring, Clupea harengus L. Survival and some gross biochemical changes

N. P. Wilkins

Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer)Articlepeer-review

77 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

1. 1. Spring-spawning herring were maintained in captivity without food for a period of 4 months. 2. 2. Survival was lowest in those fish in which fat reserves were lowest at commencement of the experiment. Fifty per cent of this sample were still alive after 78 days, indicating a high resistance to starvation. 3. 3. The survivors were considerably emaciated, and biochemical analyses indicated a large reduction in the proportions and amounts of organic constituents with an increase in the proportions of water and ash. 4. 4. It appears that emaciation during starvation may prove less hazardous at the population level than the effect of prolonged starvation on reproductive capacity in ensuing maturation cycles.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)503-518
Number of pages16
JournalComparative Biochemistry And Physiology
Volume23
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 1967
Externally publishedYes

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