Converting Fish/Liter to Fish/Square Meter

  • Thread starter Thread starter bprku
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Meter
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the conversion of fish density from individuals per liter to individuals per square meter. Participants explore the implications of such a conversion, particularly in biological contexts, while addressing the challenges posed by the differing dimensions of volume and area.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that the conversion cannot be made without additional information, as liters measure volume and square meters measure area, which do not match dimensionally.
  • Others assert that the question is relevant in biological studies, citing examples from aquatic biology where fish density is measured in terms of individuals per volume.
  • A participant suggests that to convert from individuals per liter to individuals per square meter, one would need to consider the depth of the water, as it affects the total volume represented by a square meter area.
  • Another participant proposes that the question may relate to fish density measurements in ponds, where fish per acre could be converted to fish per square meter, but notes that depth considerations complicate this conversion.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the question's validity without further context, comparing it to an analogy involving paint coverage.
  • There is mention of the possibility that the original poster may have intended to ask about fish per cubic meter instead of per square meter.
  • One participant shares insights from experience at a fish culture station, discussing common measures used in aquaculture and the potential for calibration charts to aid in conversions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally do not agree on the feasibility of the conversion without additional information. Multiple competing views remain regarding the context and relevance of the question, and the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the need for specific information such as water depth or context of measurement to facilitate any conversion between the two units. The discussion reflects various assumptions about the biological relevance of the question.

bprku
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hi,

I ma having problem, can anyone help me converting ""individual/liter to individual/square meter"

for example 20 fish/L = ?? fish /m2
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Well, liter is a measure of volume (1 liter is 1 dm3), and square meter is a measure of area. So you are still missing some information.
 
well, I don't agree with you since this is the measure uses in biology. let me give you answer, if you go to a lake with a 1 liter cylinder and catch 20 Daphnia. so its clear that you have 20 daphnia/L. Now the question is how many daphnia will be in one square meter. if you think this isa stupid question real some articles publishes in aquatic biology"http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/119081299/PDFSTART"
 
bprku said:
Hi,

I ma having problem, can anyone help me converting ""individual/liter to individual/square meter"

for example 20 fish/L = ?? fish /m2

In the strictest of theoretical sense, you cannot make that conversion. Do you have a particular practical application which would be simpler if you were to make such a conversion?

The reason why in theory you can not make the conversion is that Liter is a unit of volume (or space), and square meter is a unit of area (or surface). The DIMENSIONs do not match.

Do you have a situation in which you may safely ignore one of the physical measurements in order to use area instead of volume?
 
I cannot access your link, even through my institutions' website.
Also I do not think it is a stupid question, I just think it is a meaningless question until you give us the "hidden" information.

Here's an analogous question for you: Suppose one bucket of paint suffices for 40 square meters, and my house is 20 meters long. How many buckets of paint do I need to paint the outside wall?
 
bprku said:
well, I don't agree with you since this is the measure uses in biology. let me give you answer, if you go to a lake with a 1 liter cylinder and catch 20 Daphnia. so its clear that you have 20 daphnia/L. Now the question is how many daphnia will be in one square meter. if you think this isa stupid question real some articles publishes in aquatic biology"http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/119081299/PDFSTART"

Your link appears to be to a site that requires joining or paying to view whatever articles you are referring to.

As others have stated, your question is not answerable without a bit more information. Your example of a liter bottle with 20 items in it does not help. When you say "per square meter", are you perhaps thinking of looking down into the water, and seeing fish below a 1 square meter grid? If you have a volume density of something, you will need the depth of the water to know how many of whatever is below a 1 square meter grid.
 
I should guess he is referring to ponds where fish density was once measured as fish per acre of bottom. I suppose he is now referring to smaller ponds (or perhaps a more manageable number) when he uses fish per square meter. There would be no conversion applicable for ponds since depth doesn't have the same meaning as in lakes. You could use an average depth to get the liters, but I think that might be misleading.
 
It is also possible that it is just an error and s/he is actually looking for fish per cubic meter...
 
Is that blue fish or red fish?:confused:
 
  • #10
TVP45 said:
Is that blue fish or red fish?:confused:

You're mistaking fish for pills.
Anyway, we're going off-topic here (time Mr Smith comes along and fixes that).
 
  • #11
Thinking about this a bit, I have a suggestion as to what the situation might be. I used to hang around a fish culture station (don't even think of mentioning Handel :-p) and they had two common measures: fish density in ponds (that's the fish per acre number which is easily converted to fish per square meter) which is counted by taking some sample area and running the fish through an outlet; and carrying capacity which is a measure of lakes and flowing streams to support fish in pounds per cubic foot. You don't convert from one number to the other; rather you factor them together to get some average weight. Likely, for a given body of water you could probably devise a calibration chart to do that conversion but it would vary from body to body. You might look into farm fish culture to see if they use such a measure.
 

Similar threads

Engineering How Much PSI Is Needed to Launch a Fishing Lure 38.5 Meters with an Air Cannon?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Liter estimations for a plankton net and copepods
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Converting 2 mmol Nitrite to mg/l and ppm
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
7K
Misc. Knot(s) to tie end of fishing line under tension
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
6K
Must You Have a Card in Hand to Ask for It in Go Fish?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Undergrad Titan implosion: underwater shockwave?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Light wave Interference - Angler Fish Problem
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Undergrad Reynolds Number in Organism-Fluid Interactions
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Recommendations on research topic for string theory (M-theory)
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
How Do Bones Differ Among Fishes, Reptiles, and Mammals?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K