title: Development, validation and field application of an RNA-based growth index in juvenile plaice Pleuronectes platessa.
abstract: A general mechanism relating RNA concentration and growth rate is derived from four physiological assumptions and developed into a growth index for juvenile plaice Pleuronectes platessa. The index describing instantaneous growth rates (G, day⁻¹) in the laboratory with the lowest Akaike information criterion with small-sample bias adjustment was a function of RNA concentration (R, g(RNA)g⁻¹(wet mass)), temperature (T, ° K), body mass (M, g) and DNA concentration (D, g(DNA)g⁻¹(wet mass)): G = β₀ + β(R) R + β(T)T + β(T2)T² + β(M)M + β(D)D + β(RT)RT. RNA concentration began to respond to changes in feeding conditions within 8 days, suggesting that the index reflects growth rate in the short-term. Furthermore, the index distinguished between rapid growth and negative growth of juvenile P. platessa measured directly in laboratory and field enclosures, respectively. An application of the RNA-based growth index at two beaches on the west coast of Scotland suggested that the growth of juvenile P. platessa varies considerably in space and time and is submaximum in late summer.
authors.affiliation: School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Lewes, DE 19958, USA. ciotti@udel.edu
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Ciotti
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Targett
authors.forename: R D M
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Nash
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Batty
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Burrows
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Geffen
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D005432:Flounder / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D020387:Food Chain; D008954:Models, Biological; D018656:Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / Q000378:metabolism*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D012606:Scotland; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA