Use of Factor Scores for Predicting Body Weight from Some Morphometric Measurements of Two Fish Species in Nigeria

The interpretation of several traits contributing to body weight prediction is difficult due to the high degree of correlation among them. Based on this, we examined the relationships between body weight and six morphometric traits (standard length, total length, head length, body depth, dorsal length and caudal length) of two fish species, Oreochromis niloticus and Lates niloticus sampled in Doma Dam, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The statistical approach adopted was the multivariate principal component factor analysis technique. Two principal components were obtained in Oreochromis niloticus while three components were extracted for Lates niloticus. Their respective factor scores fitted separately in a multiple linear regression model as explanatory variables accounted for 76.6% and 84.5% of the variation in the body weight of the two fish species.