Date of Award:

5-1951

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Wildland Resources

Department name when degree awarded

Wildlife Management

Committee

Not specified

Abstract

As part of an investigation of the non-game fish resources of Utah, a study of the age and growth rate of the carp was instituted. A preliminary investigation indicated that the opercular method was superior to several other methods of determining age and growth in the carp. Age and growth were calculated from the opercular bones of 330 carp collected at Ogden Bay Refuge in 1950-51. Distances to annuli were measured directly. The relationship between the posterior radius of the opercular bone and the standard length of the carp was curvilinear. Past growth was calculated with a logarithmic nomograph. Expected number of annuli on opercular bones of known age carp, agreement of ages assessed by length frequency modes and those assessed from opercular bones of the same fish agreement of empirical and calculated lengths for the first three years of life, agreement between ages assessed by scales and opercular bones, and increase in age with increase in size were accepted as evidence of the validity of the opercular method. Decrease in growth rate at any year of life for successive age groups is attributed to a gradual change of the environment.

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19800549abdfaa97ee75455cb0f41967

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