The effect of MnSO4 concentration and selection
line on growth and condition
Large-selected fish had higher on average growth rates than
small-selected fish (t=2.546, P =0.011; Figure 1A, Table S1) and
fish also had lower growth rate at high concentrations compared to low
concentrations (t=2.062, P =0.039; Table S1), particularly the
small-selected fish (Figure 1A). The average body size at the beginning
of the experiment (SL at age 70 dpf) also significantly affected growth
rate (t=-16.72, P <0.001; Table S1). Generally, the
smaller the fish when the experiment started, the higher the relative
growth rate.
The relative condition factor at age 218 dpf was significantly affected
by the interaction of the selection line and concentration (t=-1.983,P =0.023; Table S1). Large-selected fish had higher condition
factor than small-selected fish in all concentrations except in 0.5 and
1.5 Mn mg L-1 (Figure 1B). Among both selection lines
the condition factor was clearly lowest in the highest
MnSO4 concentration compared to the other concentrations
(Figure 1B). Similarly, as in the growth experiment, the size of the
fish when the experiment started (at age 70 dpf) had an effect on the
adult condition factor: the smaller the fish when the experiment started
the higher the condition factor at the end of the experiment (t=-4.686,P <0.001; Table S1).