DOI : 10.35124/bca.2019.19.S1.2307 Biochem. Cell. Arch. Vol. 19, Supplement 1, pp. 2307-2312, 2019 www.connectjournals.com/bca ISSN 0972-5075

SOME ASPECTS OF THE BIOLOGY OF ABU HECKEL, 1843 FROM HAWR AD DALMAJ MARSH

Kadhim J. L. Al-Zaidy1, Giuliana Parisi1 and S. A. Al-Shawi2* 1Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), Sciences Section, Università di Firenze, Via delle Cascine 5, 50144 Florence, Italy. 2Department of Animal Production, Collage of Agriculture, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq. *e-mail: [email protected] (Received 29 May 2019, Revised 15 July 2019, Accepted 28 July 2019)

ABSTRACT : The main objective of this study was to screen and identify some aspects of the biology of Planiliza abu species that are found in Hawr Ad Dalmaj marsh southern Iraq. as a basis for conservation programs on community in this area. 515 fish of P. abu species were caught examined on Hawr Ad Dalmaj marsh through January to December 2017. Results of the current study found that the maximum total length for P. abu species was 20.9 cm whilst minimum total lengths for this species 3.7 cm. The maximum total weight for P. abu species was 122.22 gr. while minimum total weight for P. abu species was 2.98 gr. Length-weight relationship for P. abu of male W = 0.013*L 3.04 and female was W= 0.011*L 2.87. The aggregate sex ratio was favor of females for P. abu species, where the value was 1:1.25. G.I.S values for the females were between 0.99-12.81, while for the males were 0.8-10.3. Key words : Planiliza abu, length-weight relationship, feeding habits, Gonado-somatic index, Hawr Ad Dalmaj marsh.

INTRODUCTION This species of fish is characterized by high fertility (Coad, Water bodies are spread in different parts of Iraq, 2010). Carasobarbus luteus is species of Cyprinidae extending from north to south. The inland waters cover family, it was formerly known as Barbus luteus. It is 600-700 thousand hectares. Natural lakes constitute found in big numbers in various areas of Iraqi waters, 35.4%, dams and reservoirs 13.3%, rivers and their especially the southern and central regions (Al-Daham, branches 7.3% and marshes 44% (FAO, 2006). Hawr 1984). Ad dalmaj marsh is one of the most important wetlands MATERIALS AND METHODS in Iraq for fish, which is located upstream of Al- Hammar Samples were collected from two locations in Hawr Marsh and it is the last healthy stock found in southern Ad Dalmaj marsh, which is situated between Wasit and Iraq contains on the Bunni fish Mesopotamichthys Al-Diwaniya Provinces, Iraq, from January 2017 to sharpeyi, in addition for other important species of fish. December 2017. First location located at (450 22′ 38.15" Iraq has 43 species of freshwater fish, 10 alien species E, 320 35′ 93.96" N). Second location located at (450 50′ and 53 marine species (Coad, 2010). The biodiversity 14.11" E, 320 13′ 38.32" N) southeast of the first located; studies of fish communities provide a clear picture of the which is the only place for drainage the water for this nutritional relationships, the nature and seasons of water body (Fig. 1). Fish were captured by using diverse breeding, the assessment of pollution levels in water means of fishing gears. The seine net was used whose bodies (Balirwa, 1995; Kang et al, 2009; Kumar Sarkar length 120 m and the size of the openings at the sides et al, 2013). Planiliza abu, is an important species of was 10 × 10 mm and in the center was 5 × 5 mm. Gill Mugilidae family, which is an important part of Iraq’s nets were used, whose length ranged between 50 m to water resources, particularly in the central and southern 100 m with 1 cm to 7 cm mesh size. Cast nets were regions (Al-Daham, 1982). Hussain and Saoud (2008) used, especially in places where the bottom full of dense pointed that this species is dominant in the marshes of plant. Use of Electric catch in all regions is the most southern Iraq. This species has a wide range of tolerance heavily traded method for research purposes for high- for living in different environments ranging from brackish and medium-depth plant densities using a power generator freshwater to rivers and ponds (Mohamed et al, 2009). (Providing 300-400 V and 10 A). The samples that were 2308 Kadhim J. L. Al-Zaidy et al

Fig. 1 : Map of Hawr Ad Dalmaj marsh, with the two locations. harvested were stored in cork containers containing Table 1 :Morphometric parameters of p. abu in Hawr Ad Dalmaj marsh during the study period. crushed ice until access to the central laboratory of Sex department to protect the environment - middle Euphrates Parameter to complete the rest of the analysis. The height and weight + Combined sex were measured to the nearest decimal grade of No. 298 217 515 centimeters and grams, respectively. The length- frequency data were plotted into length groups (1 cm Length Range 3.7– 20.8 3.8 – 20.5 3.7 – 20.8 between each a length group and other). The length- (cm) weight relationships were measured depending on the Mean Length 12.33±0.27 12.24±0.3 12.29 ± 0.2 allometric equation which cited to it Le Cren (1951), which (cm) ± SE states on W = a*Lb. Where, W represent total weight, L Weight Range 5.01– 91.47 5.33–90.33 5.01–91.47 represent total length, a and b are regression constants. (g) To study food items two methods were used based on Mean weight 30.39±1.3 28.94±1.37 29.84 ± 0.95 the nature of the food points (P%) and the frequency or (g) ± SE occurrence (F%) method. Each stomach was removed, A 0.01 0.013 0.012 washed with water. A degree of fullness was given B 2.87 3.04 2.98 according to the point method (Hynes, 1950) and its R 0.98 0.98 0.98 contents were flushed into a Petri dish and examined a = intercept on x-axis, b = slope, r = Coefficient of Regression. under a low power binocular microscope (zoom Force X 10 and X 40). The study neglected the food of seasonal and occasional species. Index of Relative Importance marsh. All these belong to Osteichthyes of (IRI%) was calculated according to the following (Pinkas freshwater species. P. abu were the most abundant et al, 1971) : species 35.99% of the total number. Total of 515 specimens of P. abu species were examined from two Σ IRI% = [P% × F% / P% × F%] 100 observatory stations on Hawr Ad Dalmaj marsh through P% = percentage of each food component. January to December 2017. Fig. 2 shows the total F% = percentage of frequency of each component. frequency distribution of P. abu length totals for the period January to December 2017 in Hawr Ad Dalmaj marsh. Gonado-somatic index (G.S.I.) for males and females Captured fish were distributed to 18 groups of length were calculated according to the following equations ranging from 3.7 to 20.9 cm. The length groups ranged (Webber and Giese, 1969): (8-13 cm) showed dominance in number and formed wet weight of gonad (gm) 54.13% of the numerical abundance. The length group G.S.I. = × 100 wet weight of fish (gm) (14-18 cm) formed 9.47% of the total length of the groups. The largest length group (19-20 cm) was limited to a few RESULTS frequencies 1.35%. Small fish (3-7cm) were observed in A total of 15 fish species belonging to 7 families were all months of the year and formed 35.05% as shown in caught from different areas from Hawr Ad Dalmaj Fig. 3. Some aspects of the biology of Planiliza abu 2309

Fig. 2 : Body length frequency histogram showing male and female distributions of P. abu in Hawr Ad Dalmaji marsh through Fig. 4 : Length-Weight Relationship of P. abu –Males in Hawr Ad January to December 2017. Dalmaj marsh during January to December 2017.

Fig. 3 : The total percentage of the length frequency of individuals sampled in Hawr Ad Dalmaj marsh during the study period Fig. 5 : Length-Weight Relationship of P. abu – Combined Sexes in (from January to December 2017). Hawr Ad Dalmaj marsh during January to December 2017. Table 2 :Shows two methods of analysis of gut content and Relative Data showed that, the weight of the fish increases Importance (IRI%) during the study period. with the increasing length of the fish (Table 1 and Figs. Point Frequency of 4-6). Also the statistical analysis showed that there were method occurrence Food items IRI% no significant differences between the two the sexes No % No % during the study (P > 0.05). The value of slope coefficient Algae 1326 30.38 354 96.72 34.68 “b” for Combined Sex was (2.98). It is clear that, b value Plant and seeds 124 2.84 89 24.32 0.82 (2.98) is slightly decreases than the ideal, thus indicating a tendency towards slightly negative allometric growth. Diatoms 1748 40.04 364 99.45 47.01 The correlation coefficient “r” was 0.99, which is Organic crumbs 650 14.89 271 74.04 13.01 statistically highly significant. The values of slope Crustacean 223 5.11 131 35.79 2.15 coefficient “b” for male and female were (3.04 and 2.87), Materials decomposing 58 1.33 55 15.03 0.24 respectively. undiagnosed The food items eaten by P. abu fish were similar Mollusca 20 0.46 17 4.64 0.03 nearly in the gastrointestinal tract throughout the study Worms 216 4.95 129 35.25 2.06 period. The gastrointestinal tract of P. abu fish contained Total 4365 100 1410 - 100 sand and mud grains during the months of the study, with rates ranging between 25% and 30% of the total contents. organic crumbs 13.01%, crustacean 2.15%, worms However, they were excluded from the calculations of 2.06%, plant and seeds 0.82% and Mollusca has the the real food items of these fish. Each of diatoms and lowest percentages of 0.03% as it is evident in Table 2. algae and organic and crumbs, received the highest The highest rate of the feeding activity for the male percentages of the Index of Relative Importance (IRI%). and the female were recorded in August (100%) and Diatoms was on the top of the overall importance of P. July (94.74%), respectively. While reached its minimal abu food items making 47.01%, followed by algae 34.68%, value for the males were in April (75%) and the females 2310 Kadhim J. L. Al-Zaidy et al

Fig. 6 : Gonado-somatic index (G.S.I.) for males and females of P. abu from January to December, 2017 in Hawr Ad Dalmaj marsh. were in February (Table 3). Highest rate of the feeding body. intensity for female and males were recorded in August Adams (2014) reported that fish growth usually slows (15.27 and 15.45), respectively. While minimal value for down after sexual maturity. Because a large part of the the were for the females in May (9.48) and the males food that has been digested goes to the formation of eggs April (9.87). The present study for G.S.I. of P.abu shown or sperm, resulting in the emergence of differences in that P. abu has one spawning cycle during the year. growth between the sexes. The results of the sex ratio highest values of both female and male were during of P. abu showed a tendency to favor females (1.37:1) January 12.81 and 10.3, respectively. While lowest values and this result consistent with many studies (Na’ama, for female and male were recorded in July 0.99 and 0.80 1982; Khalaf et al, 1986; Unlu et al, 2000). While the respectively as shown in Fig. 6. results of the current study differed with the result of DISCUSSION Yousif (1983). Where he noted to that the sex ratio in The maximum length of P. abu fish in this study was species of P. aub tended in interest of the males. This 20.8 cm. This result is almost similar to the maximum difference may be due to the mortality rate between of lengths registered for this species of fish in the Iraqi the sexes as result of the selectivity in the means of fishing environment (Hussain et al, 2006; Mutlak, 2012; Abdullah, (Wijeyaratne and Costa, 1988). The highest value of the 2015). The results of the present study showed that the Gonado-somatic Index (G.S.I) for the male and female growth of P. abu fish were convergent to sometric. were in January (10.3 and 12.81), respectively. This Where the total value of the slope coefficient (b) equal result, also the date of beginning of the spawning season (2.98), this is consistent with was reported it by for the species of P. abu in the current study coincides (Ciepielewski et al, 2001; Doðu et al, 2013). But this with the many of studies which were conducted in the result it is differ with Unlu et al (2000), where they Iraqi environment (Na’ama, 1982; Abbas and Al-Rudainy, recorded that the growth of P. abu is asymmetric and 2006). But at the same time did not correspond with the the increase in the weight is more than the cubic of the reached to it Chelemal et al (2009), where they noted length. This difference in the values of (b) may be due to that the highest values for (GIS) for both sexes were in differences in sampling or due to differences in age, March. the differences in GIS values may be due to the maturity and nutrition. or as a result of the difference of differences in the environmental factors, as well as, the temperatures, which may affect in value of (b) for the types of items available in the environmental (Nikolsky, same species in the different environments (Weatherley 1963). The highest values of feeding activity and feeding and Gill, 1987). The value of (b) for males and females intensity of this study were observed during the summer in this study were (3.04 and 2.87), respectively. This months. Also, that there was a clear decline in those rates disparity between males and females may be due to appeared during the winter and this is in line with many variation in the weight of the intestines and tissues of the of the studies (Wahab, 1986; Abdul-Samad, 2001; Mohamed, 2014). The reason for this discrepancy may Some aspects of the biology of Planiliza abu 2311 Table 3 : Feeding activity and feeding intensity for each of male and female through were detritivores, depends on vegetative January to December 2017. sources. Also, it was benthic in the nature of Month Sex Examined Stomach Empty Feeding Feeding nutrition. Diatoms were topped the Index of stomachs contains stomachs activity intensity Relative Importance (IRI%) of the food food ingredients. These results were consistent + 19 16 3 84.21 11.81 with Na’ama (1982), Mohamed et al (2008), January et al 14 12 2 85.71 12.08 Hussain (2008). While these results varied with the reached by Epler et al (2001), + 18 14 4 77.78 14.43 which they found that organic crumbs are February 15 13 2 86.67 13.46 the main component in the food of P. abu in Al-Razazah Lake, Al-Tharthar Lake and Al- + 22 18 4 81.82 11.28 Habbaniyah Lake middle Iraq. Perhaps the March 17 13 4 76.47 10.85 reason for this difference is due to the nature of the food available in these environments. + 25 21 4 84 11.1 It appears that fish of P. abu do not tend to April 20 15 5 75 9.87 feed on plants when the other nutrients can be obtainable. Pillay (1953) pointed out that + 25 21 4 84 9.48 differences in the food preference for the May 20 17 3 85 10.06 species are associated with the abundance and accessibility of food components in + 27 23 4 85.19 11.65 Jun different environments. 21 20 1 95.24 11.45 CONCLUSION

+ 19 18 1 94.74 11.83 The study present clearly indicates that July the relationship between length and weight, 16 13 3 81.25 10.77 feeding activity, feeding intensity and

+ 13 11 2 84.62 15.27 reproductive cycle of P. abu fish in Hawr August Ad Dalmaj marsh were within the tolerance 11 11 0 100 15.45 range. Also, it is concluded that Hawr Ad + 19 16 3 84.21 14.56 Dalmaj marsh could become a reliable source September aquaculture species, which requires further 14 11 3 78.57 14.27 studies on population status with a strong + 15 12 3 80 13.5 implementation of conservation laws to October protect fish habitat. 14 12 2 85.71 14.29 REFERENCES + 21 18 3 84.21 12.47 November Pinkas L (1971) Food habits study. Food habits of 17 14 3 82.35 12.57 albacore bluefin tuna and bonito in California waters. Fish. Bull. 152, 1-105. + 19 16 3 84.21 9.5 Abbas L M and Al-Rudainy A J (2006) Ecology and December biology of two freshwater fish species in 14 11 3 78.57 10.09 Euphrates River, middle of Iraq. 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