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An Investigation on the Population Parameters of Freshwater Crayfish (Astacus Leptodactylus Esch., 1823) in Lake İznik (Bursa)

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An Investigation on the Population Parameters of Freshwater Crayfish (Astacus Leptodactylus Esch., 1823) in Lake İznik (Bursa) Turkish Journal of Zoology Turk J Zool (2015) 39: 660-668 http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/ © TÜBİTAK Research Article doi:10.3906/zoo-1406-6 An investigation on the population parameters of freshwater crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus Esch., 1823) in Lake İznik (Bursa) 1 2 3, Hamdi AYDIN , Muzaffer Mustafa HARLIOĞLU , Tomris DENİZ * 1 Gazanfer Bilge Vocational School, Kocaeli University, Kavak, Karamürsel, Kocaeli, Turkey 2 Faculty of Fisheries, Fırat University, Elazığ, Turkey 3 Department of Fisheries Technology, Faculty of Fisheries, İstanbul University, Laleli, İstanbul, Turkey Received: 04.06.2014 Accepted/Published Online: 26.03.2015 Printed: 30.07.2015 Abstract: Length–weight relationships, distribution of length and weight groups, sex ratio, and length compositions of the crayfish Astacus leptodactylus (Esch., 1823) population in Lake İznik (Bursa), along with some reproductive-period characteristics (spawning periods, pleopod egg numbers, and egg incubation periods), were investigated between February 2010 and May 2011. For this purpose, 1897 freshwater crayfish samples (896 female, 1001 male) were collected, using fyke nets of 34-mm nominal bar length. It was observed that females carried pleopodal eggs during the second week of January, and they carried first-stage juveniles during the second week of June. Individuals within the 76–149 mm total length group had approximately 239.95 ± 109.36 pleopod eggs; egg diameter was 2.763 ± 0.150 mm. The mean total length of the individuals was 104.17 ± 14.89 mm for females and 95.71 ± 13.11 mm for males. The mean weight was 32.50 ± 21.83 g for females and 28.82 ± 14.12 g for males. As a result of regression analyses, the length–weight relationship was calculated as W = 3.10–5 TL3.011 for females and W = 8.10–6 TL3.3016 for males. These findings show that females of A. leptodactylus have isometric growth, but males of this species have positive allometric growth. This study reveals that the A. leptodactylus population of Lake İznik demonstrates recovery in its situation. Key words: Lake İznik, freshwater crayfish, Astacus leptodactylus, population characteristics, length–weight relationships, spawning characteristics 1. Introduction and Balık, 2006). Statistics for the number of freshwater Astacus leptodactylus shows a widespread distribution crayfish caught in Turkish inland waters were not routinely within inland waters of Turkey. It was the most important recorded until 1976, and the number of freshwater crayfish inland water product between 1970 and 1985. However, caught was given as 3.885 t for the first time in 1977 (TÜİK, there was a dramatic decrease in its population due to the 1976–1979). Isparta and Bursa were the leading provinces crayfish plague, which was recorded in Turkey in 1984 catching freshwater crayfish in those years. (Furst, 1988; Baran and Soylu, 1989; Rahe and Soylu, Lake İznik is situated within the borders of the province 1989). of Bursa in the Marmara region. The lake, with a surface In Turkey, crayfish production was 7936 t in 1984. It area of approximately 313 km2, has a maximum depth of dropped to 1565 t in 1987 and 320 t in 1991 (TÜİK, 1984– 65 m and its elevation above sea level is 85 m. The length 1991). Furthermore, there have been some fluctuations in of the lake is approximately 32 km and the widest point is crayfish production in the last 25 years. Production was 12 km. It is the largest natural lake in the Marmara region 324 t in 1992, which increased to nearly 1500 t in 1998. and the fifth largest in Turkey. There are five streams and While production was 1372 t in 1999, it reached 2317 t in ground waters that feed the lake (Aktan and Aykulu, 2001). 2004. However, it diminished to 816 in 2007, 1030 in 2010, Lake İznik, which is eutrophic in terms of ecology, is quite 609.6 in 2011, and 492 in 2012 (TÜİK, 2013). rich in diversity of species of fish compared with many Although crayfish are not much consumed in Turkey, other lakes; apart from the crayfish, there are 19 species of fishing of the freshwater crayfish, which are especially fish in the lake (Özuluğ et al., 2005). sought after in European countries, started in lakes Manyas After the occurrence of crayfish plague in Turkish and Apolyont (Uluabat) at the beginning of 1965. It gained inland waters, crayfish stocks in lakes İznik and Apolyont importance with its increasing export volume (Berber were also negatively affected, and commercial crayfish * Correspondence: [email protected] 660 AYDIN et al. / Turk J Zool harvesting in Lake İznik could not be done for various body measurements—carapace length, carapace width, reasons after 2002. While it has been stated that the abdomen width, cheliped width, cheliped length, and pressure of the crayfish disease in Lake Apolyont is still walking legs length—were measured with a digital caliper felt (Bursa Province, Directorate of Food, Agriculture, (to the nearest 0.01 mm). For measuring the body parts, and Livestock, crayfish harvesting unpublished data), it is the methods of Rhodes and Holdich (1984) were used. also noted that the disease did not have much effect on The pleopodal eggs of 60 females (size range: 76–149 mm Lake İznik’s crayfish. This could have been caused by a total length) were counted in the reproductive season of characteristic of the lake water (Ca2+: Mg2+ ratio) (Diler et 2011; egg diameters were measured, and egg weights were al., 1999; Harlıoğlu and Harlıoğlu, 2004; Timur et al., 2010; determined. In measuring the egg diameters, 20 eggs were Kokko et al., 2012). put in a range and the lengths were measured, and their Köksal (1980) analyzed the population characteristics approximate lengths and weights were calculated. of A. leptodactylus from 8 different water sources in Freshwater crayfish has a nonlinear relationship Turkey (lakes Eğirdir, Akşehir, Apolyont, Eber, İznik, between length and weight, as in fishes, that can be Manyas, and Terkos, and Miliç Brook); Harlıoğlu and expressed as W = aLb (Le Cren, 1951), where W = weight Harlıoğlu (2005) studied the morphometric features and of the samples in g, L = length of the samples in cm, a and meat yields of crayfish caught in Lake İznik; Berber and b are constant parameters of the regression equation; b is Mazlum (2009) studied the spawning efficiency of crayfish the slope value of the line in the regression equation giving of lakes Apolyont, Manyas, and İznik. However, there are information about the body shape of the living fish, and a only a few studies on the biological characteristics of Lake is the intersection point of the regression equation giving İznik crayfish. For example, Balık et al. (2002) studied the information on the food capacity of the environment. In stocking density and length composition of Lake İznik’s order to determine whether the weight increase of the crayfish. freshwater crayfish population analyzed was isometric Although Lake İznik had good fishing potential or allometric, the length and weight values underwent until 1985, commercial crayfish harvesting has not been regression analysis and coefficients a and b were calculated possible since 2002 (İznik District, Directorate of Food, in accordance with the least-squares method (Ricker, 1975; Agriculture, and Livestock, personal communication). In Pauly, 1984). The t-test was used in order to determine if order to protect the population and to have sustainable there was a potential and meaningful difference between fishing, it is also necessary to know the characteristics of the acquired b values and cubic growth. For this process, the population as well as its size. For this purpose, this the standard error of the b values was first calculated, research was focused on investigating the length–weight and its relationship with the value in the t distribution relationship, distribution of length and weight groups, table of 95% confidence interval was analyzed (Sokal and sex ratio, and length compositions, along with some Rohlf, 1987). The calculated r (correlation value), shows reproductive characteristics (spawning periods, pleopod the relationship between the independent variable (e.g., egg number, and egg incubation periods) of the crayfish length) and the dependent variable (e.g., weight) (Romaire living in Lake İznik. et al., 1977; Groves, 1985; Harlıoğlu, 1999). In statistically evaluating the data acquired from the 2. Materials and methods research, the significance tests were done based on the This study was conducted between February 2010 and P = 0.05 and P = 0.01 confidence limits (Ricker, 1973). May 2011; 1897 freshwater crayfish (896 female, 1001 Microsoft Excel 2002 was used in the analysis of the data. male) samples were used in the study. In order to catch crayfish samples, 80 single-entrance fyke nets, each with 3. Results 34-mm mesh size, were used. Fyke nets were cast into the During the study, 896 female and 1001 male (a total of water in front of the town of Çakırca, where freshwater 1897) freshwater crayfish were caught from Lake İznik. Of crayfish fishing was done intensely in Lake İznik between these, 47.23% were female and 52.77% were male (Table 1970 and 1985; the nets were collected the following 1). Female individuals were caught most often (177) in day. Caught crayfish were put into styrofoam boxes and spring 2011 and 2010 and least often (44) in winter 2011. brought live the same day to Kocaeli University Gazanfer Male individuals were caught most often (515) in spring Bilge Vocational School. 2010 and least often (42) in summer 2010 (Table 1; Figure First, all crayfish were separated by sex and counted. 1). There were no significant differences between the sexes Individuals with symptoms of disease were carefully (X2 = 0.29, P > 0.05). identified. After this, each crayfish was weighed with a The number of individuals that showed the symptoms digital scale (0.001 g sensitivity) and their total lengths of disease (uropod erosion, melanization, etc.) within the were measured with a ruler (to the nearest 0.1 mm).
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