Analysis of nonlinearity effects in expected-value parameterizations of the von Bertalanffy equation

Using curvature measures, provides direction on exploiting the full potential of two expected-value parameterizations of the von Bertalanffy equation in reducing nonlinearity effects, and examines the relationship between the curvature measures and characteristics of growth data for these parameterizations. On average, a threefold reduction in the maximum parameter effects curvature can be achieved by simple defining one parameter as the expected mean size of an intermediate age-class, rather than as the oldest age-class in the sample. Samples in which there are proportionally more size measurements in the younger age-classes relative to the older age-classes tend to have lower nonlinearity effects. -from Author