An allometric study of the chaetognath Sagitta elegans at Resolute Passage and Bedford Basin.

摘要

Allometry is used to compare the manifestations of growth of the chaetognath Sagitta elegans in Canadian high Arctic (Resolute Passage) and Nova Scotian (Bedford Basin) environments over a year. Theories of geometric and elastic similarity are used in the comparison. The measurements are related to size (dry weight and total body length), feeding (head width), and reproduction (ovary length). Data were logarithm transformed, power regression equations were estimated and relationships were plotted, and the slopes of these lines were compared at the 95% probability level for statistical differences.;The results show a seasonal signal at Resolute, but not at Bedford Basin. Sagitta in both environments have statistically similar regression slopes in most cases, although the model followed differs for various relationships. The size of the animals at Resolute are larger than their southern counterparts in all measurements.;At both environments, the slopes of the regression relating dry weight to total length fall between those expected by both geometric and elastic similarity (