MAXIMS: a computer program for estimating the food consumption of fishes from diel stomach contents data and population parameters

Abstract

Developed for IBM PC (and its compatibles), the software estimates the size-specific daily food consumption of fishes from a 24-hour cycle of stomach contents data for either one or two feeding periods per day, as well as population food consumption (Q/B) and related parameters. The ingestion and stomach evacuation, as incorporated in themodel, can be expressed by rates proportional to different powers of the stomach contents. The precision of these estimate can be assessed through jackknifing. The Q/B estimates are based on one or several estimates for weight-specific daily ration and population growth and mortality parameters, the influence of which can be estimated by sensitivity analysis. Graphic outputs of 24-h cycles of stomach contents, and of gross conversion efficiency or ration vs. weight are available.