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Cited by 734

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 9 of the 9 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Back‐calculation of fish length: a critical review

Francis, R. I. C. C.·1990·Journal of Fish Biology

Abstract

A review is made of the literature on the back‐calculation of fish body length from marks on scales or other hard parts (otoliths, vertebrae, fin rays, etc.). Though the technique is widely used it does not appear to be well understood. Regression methods are commonly used, apparently in ignorance of the more realistic proportional methods. It is not generally recognized that there are two equally plausible back‐calculation hypotheses which can lead to significantly different back‐calculated lengths. The Fraser‐Lee equation, the most commonly used back‐calculated formula, follows neither of these hypotheses but is based on a misuse of linear regression. It is recommended that back‐calculation be restricted to procedures following one of the proportional hypotheses; that the difference between lengths calculated using the two hypotheses is a useful measure of the minimum uncertainty in back‐calculation lengths; and that more attention be paid to validating back‐calculation hypotheses by comparing observed and back‐calculated lengths for individual fish. The pattern of heteroscedasticity in body length–scale radius plots is noted as a useful diagnostic in evaluating back‐calculation hypothesis.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1990.tb05636.x

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Metadata

Authors
Francis, R. I. C. C.
Venue
Journal of Fish Biology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1990-06
Volume
36
Issue
6
Pages
883-902
ISSN
  • 0022-1112 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-8649
OpenAlex
W2114734135
Cited by
734
References
9
FWCI
11.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Back‐calculation of fish length: a critical review. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1990.tb05636.x
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Francis, R. I. C. C. (1990). Back‐calculation of fish length: a critical review. Journal of Fish Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1990.tb05636.x

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