Methods in Fish Population Analysis: Basic Tools for Understanding Aquatic Ecosystems

Abstract

Much of what we know about ecosystems and the influence of human activity on them is based upon the study of individual plant and animal populations. Determining the age of population members is key to understanding the population and the ecosystem. Age analysis is used to define which years resulted in good or poor reproductive success, to estimate survival rates and to identify those factors which influence reproductive success or survival. Growth estimates are also based upon age analysis.