Bioenergetics: feed intake and energy partitioning

Abstract

The foundation for the study of fish bioenergetics and growth was laid during the late 1940s and early 1950s (Winberg, 1956; Brown, 1957), and during the 1960s research into ecological, and fish, energetics was supported through the International Biological Programme (Gerking, 1967; Grodzinski et al.. 1975; Bagenal, 1978). The past three decades have seen a continued increase in research efforts devoted to the study of fish growth and bioenergetics. Interest has been generated both from fisheries management, and, not least, by the recent upsurge in the aquaculture industry. Several multi author books and reviews have appeared since the mid 1970s, and these give a good background into both the general principles of bioenergetics. and the methodology used (Gerking. 1978; Hoar et al.. 1979; Tytler and Calow, 1985; Weatherley and Gill. 1987; Schreck and Moyle, 1990; Wootton. 1990).