Re-description of the growth pattern of four decapod species by information theory ZambranoRené Galindo-CortesGabriela 2018 <p>The growth pattern of four commercial decapod crustacean species (<i>Arenaeus cribrarius, Ucides cordatus, Palaemon longirostris</i> and <i>Plesionika izumiae</i>) was reanalyzed using published data. Six candidate growth models with asymptotic and non-asymptotic characteristics were tested. The best model was determined by information theory, according to Bayesian (BIC) and Akaike (AICc) information criteria and the weight of evidence in favour of model i (Wi). For <i>U. cordatus, P. izumiae</i> and the females of <i>A. cribrarius,</i> the best growth model corresponded to case 1 of Schnute model. In male <i>A. cribrarius</i>, the highest Wi was observed for the case 1 of Schnute model according to both criteria, but seasonal models were also plausible to describe growth. In <i>P. longirostris</i>, discrepancies were observed between criteria. The BIC supported the case 1 of Schnute in females, but the AICc did not identify a winner model (Wi > 90%); the case 1 and case 4 of Schnute displayed the highest Wi. The males that exhibited the highest Wi values were Schnute case 4 > Schnute case 3 > von Bertalanffy > Gompertz > Logistic. This study highlights the importance of considering different assumptions in growth patterns of the species and does not impose any a priori mathematical framework to available data.</p> <p><b>Abbreviations:</b> AIC: Akaike Information Criterion. BIC: Bayesian Information Criterion</p> <p><b>Impact Statement</b></p><p>The multi-model approach improves the model selection based on information criteria to re-describe patterns of growth in some decapod crustaceans.</p><p>The von Bertalanffy growth model is not appropriate to describe the growth pattern based on the available data.</p><p>The growth patterns found were asymptotic and not asymptotic, described mainly through the Schnute model.</p><p></p> <p>The multi-model approach improves the model selection based on information criteria to re-describe patterns of growth in some decapod crustaceans.</p> <p>The von Bertalanffy growth model is not appropriate to describe the growth pattern based on the available data.</p> <p>The growth patterns found were asymptotic and not asymptotic, described mainly through the Schnute model.</p>