Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Fertilization Phosphorus content of fish

Ecology -

CARBON, NITROGEN, AND PHOSPHORUS STOICHIOMETRY OF CYPRINID FISHES
Robert W. Sterner,Nicolas B. George,


Cyprinids had the following mean composition: carbon, 46%; nitrogen, 9.7%; and phosphorus, 1.5%. The cyprinid molar C:N:P ratio was 242:16:1. These values make cyprinids relatively low in phosphorus compared to other fish that have been previously studied, especially members of the Percidae and Centrarchidae.


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Factors influencing carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content of fish from a Lake Superior coastal wetland
Authors: Danny K Tanner, John C Brazner, and Valerie J BradyAUTHORS INFO & AFFILIATIONS
Publication: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences • June 2000


The narrow fish nutrient ranges (C, 42.8-48.4%; N, 9.6-12.7%; P, 1.91-2.74%) in this study suggest that overall mean values are adequate for quantifying movement of C, N, or P as part of fish-mediated nutrient transport. We measured C, N, and P in 20 species of Lake Superior coastal wetland fish to better understand variability in fish elemental content caused by differences in species, habitat, season, life stage, or size. ….

Elemental content averaged across all fish (n = 192) was 45.1% for C, 11.3% for N, and 2.45% for P. We did find significant differences (p 0.05) among nine tested species. However, less than one third of the analyses were significant for effects of location or date of capture or fish length on fish nutrient content and nutrient ratios. Regressions of N:P ratios against growth rate indices and, separately, fineness ratios were significant, suggesting that growth rate and body shape are important factors driving N:P ratios in fish.

Keep in mind that water contains P (often very low) as well - see below normal amounts of elements.