Abstract
The gross growth efficiency of fish (K1) in the field was estimated by incorporating concepts from fish physiology and environmental toxicology into a growth model. Using lake trout and coho salmon as examples, annual growth was estimated from age vs. weight relationships, and food intake was estimated from annual increases in body burden of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). Log K1 is suggested to decrease over the life span of a fish.Key words: growth efficiency, annual growth, fish, contaminants