A model to describe gastric evacuation in cod (Gadus morhua L.) fed natural prey

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Abstract
A model that describes single-meal evacuation in Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L., fed whole natural prey was developed and tested using a large set of data. Evacuation rates and clearance patterns were derived for four important prey. Results of a Monte Carlo error analysis suggested that: (i) the clearance of single meals is a highly temperaturedependent process; and (ii) meal size (as percentage body weight) is also important in modulating the rate of evacuation. When applied to sequential-meal situations, the model adequately simulated the digestion of the total stomach contents and provided a satisfactory description of the trends in the evacuation of individual meals. Although the analyses suggest that the model is adequate for estimating food consumption and predation rates by cod, further validation is required.

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