Carotenoid concentration of arctic charr (Salvelinus Alpinus L.) from spectral data

Abstract

The most striking feature of Arctic Charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) is the red abdomen area during the mating season. This colouration is assumed to be related to the vitality, nutritional status, foraging ability and generally health of the fish - an important knowledge to fisheries and researchers. The colouration should be assessed numerically, and the amount of pigment (carotenoid) causing the colour should be known for quality evaluation of the fish. Especially the carotenoid amount is thought to be directly connected to the investment of the individual since carotenoids are energetically costly. To assess this amount, we investigate the relationship between chemical and spectral data. We also tested a simple model for approximating carotenoid content from spectral measurements. The preliminary results indicate a reasonable good correlation between these two data. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.