Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia
https://actalb.org/article/doi/10.1590/S2179-975X13017
Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia
Original Article

Relative condition factor: Le Cren's legacy for fisheries science

Fator de condição relativo: o legado de Le Cren para a ciência pesqueira

Éder André Gubiani; Renata Ruaro; Vinícius Ricardo Ribeiro; Úrsula Morgana Gomes de Santa Fé

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S2179-975X13017 Acta Limnol. Bras. (Online), vol.32, e3, 2020
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Abstract

Abstract: : Aim: In this paper we present a scientometric analysis aimed at to assess and quantify the contribution of Le Cren’s condition factor and the main ideas advanced by ‘Le Cren, 1951’ to studies on the health of individuals or populations in aquatic environments. Specifically, we addressed the following questions: (i) what are the temporal and spatial citation trends of ‘Le Cren, 1951’?; (ii) Which journals cited ‘Le Cren, 1951’ most frequently?; (iii) In which types of aquatic environments and organisms have Le Cren’s condition factor been most commonly applied?; (iv) Which of the main applications addressed in ‘Le Cren, 1951’ have been most frequently used by fisheries scientists?; (v) Which of the methods (i.e., Quételet’s index or body mass index, Fulton’s condition factor, Le Cren’s condition factor, relative weight, residual index and scaled mass index) used to estimate condition factor identified in the papers that cited ‘Le Cren, 1951’ have been most frequently used? In addition, the main criticisms of the use of the relative condition factor are discussed.

Methods: We carried out a scientometric analysis on the papers published from 1951 to December 2015 that cited Le Cren’s article. The papers were obtained from the Thomson Reuters database (ISI Web of Knowledge, apps.isiknowledge.com) in May 2016.

Results: In total, 1128 papers were assessed. The number of citations increased significantly over time. Most citations occurred in two journals (Journal of Fish Biology and Journal of Applied Ichthyology). Most of papers were carried out in marine environments. In addition, we show that Le Cren's paper has been cited mainly in articles that estimate the condition factor or the weight-length relationship of populations. Finally, we emphasize that the relative condition factor proposed by Le Cren in 1951 is still the main method used to estimate the body condition of an individual or population.

Conclusions: Le Cren's significant contribution to animal well-being is undeniable, and we emphasize that among the methods identified in the papers that cited ‘Le Cren, 1951’ that estimated body condition, the relative condition factor proposed by Le Cren in 1951 is still the most commonly used method.

Keywords

Eric D. Le Cren, body condition, condition indices, length-weight relationship, aquatic ecosystems

Resumo

Resumo: : Objetivo: Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma análise cienciométrica para avaliar e quantificar a contribuição do fator de condição relativo e das principais ideias propostas por ‘Le Cren, 1951’ em estudos sobre a saúde de um indivíduo ou população em ambientes aquáticos. Especificamente, respondemos as seguintes questões (i) quais foram as tendências espaciais e temporais nas citações de ‘Le Cren, 1951’? (ii) quais revistas citaram ‘Le Cren, 1951’ mais frequentemente? (iii) em quais tipos de ambientes aquáticos e organismos o fator de condição relativo tem sido mais frequentemente aplicado? (iv) quais as principais aplicações abordadas em ‘Le Cren, 1951’ foram mais frequentemente utilizadas por cientistas pesqueiros? E (v) quais métodos (i.e. índice de Quételet ou índice de massa corpórea, fator de condição de Fulton, fator de condição de Le Cren, peso relativo, índice residual ou índice de massa escalonado) usados para estimar o fator de condição, identificados nos trabalhos que citaram ‘Le Cren, 1951’, têm sido mais frequentemente usados? Além disso, as principais críticas ao uso do fator de condição relativo são discutidas

Métodos: Em maio de 2016, nós realizamos uma análise cienciométrica dos trabalhos publicados de 1951 a dezembro de 2015 que citaram o artigo de Le Cren utilizando a base de dados da Thomson Reuters (ISI Web of Knowledge, apps.isiknowledge.com).

Resultados: Ao todo 1128 artigos foram contabilizados. O número de citações aumentou significativamente ao longo do tempo. A maioria das citações ocorreu em dois periódicos (Journal of Fish Biology and Journal of Applied Ichthyology). A maior parte dos artigos foi realizada em ambientes aquáticos. O artigo de Le Cren tem sido citado principalmente em artigos que estimaram o fator de condição ou a relação peso-comprimento de uma população. Além disso, nós enfatizamos que o fator de condição relativo proposto por Le Cren em 1951 ainda é o principal método utilizado para estimar a condição corporal de um indivíduo ou população.

Conclusões: Assim, a contribuição significativa de Le Cren para o estudo da saúde animal é inegável e nós enfatizamos que entre os métodos, identificados nos artigos que citaram ‘Le Cren, 1951’, para estimar a condição corporal, o fator de condição relativo proposto por Le Cren ainda é o mais utilizado.
 

Palavras-chave

Eric D. Le Cren, condição corporal, índices de condição, relação peso-comprimento, ecossistemas aquáticos

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Submitted date:
12/07/2017

Accepted date:
11/28/2019

Publication date:
08/03/2020

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