Squalius Cephalus L.) in Lesnovska River, Bulgaria
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Supplement 1 Ecological Engineering and Environment Protection, IX, 2017, p. 56-65 AGE-SIZE STRUCTURE AND GROWTH RATE OF THE EUROPEAN CHUB (SQUALIUS CEPHALUS L.) IN LESNOVSKA RIVER, BULGARIA Galerida Raikova-Petrova, Desislava Rozdina, Margarita Kamenova Abstract: The population of the European chub (Squalius cephalus L.) from Lesnovska Rier consists 1 to 5 years old fish. The most abundand is the first age group (45,8%). The largest in size is a 5 years old individual with body length 235 mm and body weight 476 g. First and fifth age groups exibit highest size range. The following size groups are the most numerous: 7,1-8; 8,1-9 and 18,1-19 cm. The relation between the fish body length (L) and the scale radius (R) is described by the equation L=2,504R + 0,233; r=0.99. The von Bertalanffy’s linear and weight growth equations are -0.0677 (t+0.419) -0.0698 (t+0.4686) 3,036 respectively: Lt=76.6 [1-e ], r = 0.999 and Wt= 7164, 5 [1-e ] , r= 0.999. Based on the Hohendorf’s coefficients (Lmax: L∞= 0,38 and Wmах:W∞ = 0,07) it is established that the studied population doesn’t sufficiently use its growth potential due to overfishing of the largest individuals. The condition factor defined by the Fulton’s equation is 2.98. More precise methods to determine the condition of the population is to use the exponent from the relation L/W instead of the exponent 3 in the equation of Fulton, or to calculate the weight at one and the same length. Key words: Squalius cephalus, age-size structure, growth rate, Lesnovska River INTRODUCTION growth rate of the population of the European chub from Lesnovska River. The European chub (Squalius cephalus L.) is one of the most widespread species from Cyprinidae MATERIALS AND METHODS Family. Its plasticity in relation to the biotope makes the species usual inhabitant of both the dams' The material was collected in the end of ecosystems and the middle stream of the river. It is September 2016 in the area of Negovan villae. The within preferd species for sport fishing. Lesnovska sculpture of 530 scales from 72 specimens was River is a right tributary of Iskar River. Its length is analysed. Sampling was done within one kilomether 65.2 km and its catchment area is 1096 m². stretch of the river between the coordinates N 42о Currently there are no published data on the biology 45` 328``; E 23о 25` 038`` and N 42о 24` 974``; E of the European chub in Lesnovska River. The aim of 23о 09`014`` (Fig. 1). thе study was to define the age-size structure and the Fig. 1. Sampling area on Lesnovska River 56 Supplement 1 Ecological Engineering and Environment Protection, IX, 2017, p. 56-65 Sampling was performed with electrofishing the population was well used the coefficient of according to EN 14011:2004 (Water quality - Hohendorf was applied [12]. To compare the growth Sampling of fish with electricity). For each rates of the studied population with other specimen standard length (L±1mm), total weight populations of the species the populations were (TW±1g), gutted weight (W±1g) were measured. arranged in ascending order of the length of the The age was determined by the scales (Fig. 2) at highest age group. When comparing two populations magnification of 17.5X with Projector Dokumator, of different ages the length of the highest age group Lasergeret (Carl Zeiss, Jena). Length and weight at of the youngest population was compared [36]. The age were back calculated and the received values parameters k, L∞/ W∞, to from von Bertalanffy’s were used to calculate the von Bertalanffy’s growth equation, ω – parameter [9] were also used to parameters [3]. To assess if the growth potential of compare the growth rate of the populations. Fig. 2. Scale of 4 year old European chub (S. cephalus L.) RESULTS AND DISCUSSION and 135 g [6], Fakiyska River – 180 mm and 111 g [7] and Arda River – 159 mm and 64 g [7] (Table 1). The population of S. cephalus in Lesnovska The age of the European chub in Bulgarian water River consists of 1 to 5 years old fish. The most basins ranges withing 3 to 7+ years. The only abundand is the first age group (45, 8 %) (Fig. 3). exception is the 11+ old specimen from Batak Dam, The largest in size is a 5 years old individual with reported by [35]. The maximum age of S. cephalus body length 235 mm and body weight 476 g. These from Lesnovska River is the same as in the rivers parameters are higher comparing to the one Fakiyska and Arda. Younger are only the chubs established for the same age group European chubs from Sredetska River [7]. from other water basins: Dzherman River - 200 mm Fig. 3. Distribution of the age groups (%) of S. cephalus from Lesnovska River 61 Supplement 1 Ecological Engineering and Environment Protection, IX, 2017, p. 56-65 The age of the European chub in Bulgarian range (Table 2). The maximum age (7 years) and water basins ranges withing 3 to 7+ years. The only size (38 cm) of the species in 2014 [27] are higher exception is the 11+ old specimen from Batak Dam, than the established from us. The following size reported by [35]. The maximum age of S. cephalus groups are the most numerous: 7,1-8; 8,1-9 and from Lesnovska River is the same as in the rivers 18,1-19 cm (Fig. 4). The established age and size Fakiyska and Arda. Younger are only the chubs structure of the studied population does not hinder from Sredetska River [7] (Table 1). its reproductive capacity. An evidence for this is the First and fifth age groups exhibit highest size prevalence of one year old individuals. Table 1. Age and maximal size of S. cephalus from different water basins of its area of distribution Age Length Weight Water basin and author (years) (L, mm) (W, g) Danube River, Slovakia [14] 16 600 5350 Russian water bodies [28] 8 4000 Orlik Dam [2] 680 3540 Sazanova River [2] 700 3400 Labe River [2] 690 3080 Vltava River [2] 560 2670 Batak Dam [35] 11+ 411 1250 Iskar River [10] 7+ 388 1150 Veleka River [37] 5+ 390 800 Karakaya Dam [16] 6 357 651 Almus Dam [24] 6 340 668 Vit River [5] 7 290 425 Maritsa River [29] 4+ 283 368 Topçam Lake [30] 7 261 326 Struma River [7] 7 243 232 Palakaria River [15] 5+ 224 220 Mesta River [7] 5 214 167 Vit River [7] 6 204 153 Dzherman River [6] 4 200 135 Palakaria River [7] 6 186 114 Fakiyska River [7] 4 180 111 Sredetska River [7] 3 162 77 Arda River [7] 4 159 64 Germany [34] 16 Oravskej Dam [18] 15 Slapské Dam [26] 13 Klíčava Dam [11] 13 Berounka River [11] 10 Karasu River [8] 9+ Úpoř River [33] 9+ Aras River [31] 8+ Tödüorge Dam (Zara/Sivas) [32] 7+ Struma River [25] 6 G. Dimitrov Dam [22] 5 Pyasachnik Dam [4] 5 Batak Dam [21] 5 Lesnovska River (our data) 5 295 475 58 Supplement 1 Ecological Engineering and Environment Protection, IX, 2017, p. 56-65 Table 2. Age-size structure of the population of S. cephalus from Lesnovska River Age class Age, years 1 2 3 4 5 Number % 3, 1-4 2 2 2, 8 4, 1-5 4 4 5, 6 6, 1-7 2 2 2, 8 7, 1-8 7 7 9, 7 8, 1-9 7 7 9, 7 9, 1-10 6 6 8, 3 10, 1-11 5 5 6, 9 11, 1-12 2 2 2, 8 13, 1-14 3 3 4, 2 14, 1-15 1 2 3 4, 2 15, 1-16 2 2 2, 8 16, 1-17 1 1 1, 4 17, 1-18 3 3 4, 2 18, 1-19 1 5 1 7 9, 7 19, 1-20 4 4 5, 6 20, 1-21 1 3 4 5, 6 21, 1-22 2 2 2, 8 23, 1-24 1 1 1, 4 24, 1-25 1 1 1, 4 25, 1-26 1 1 1, 4 26, 1-27 3 3 4, 2 27, 1-28 1 1 1, 4 29, 1-30 1 1 1, 4 n 33 6 10 6 17 72 % 45, 8 8, 3 13, 9 8, 3 23, 6 100 Fig. 4. Size structure of S. cephalus catchments in Lesnovska River in % The most likely cause of the small number of region. The permitted from the law as well as the age groups and the small sizes of the European chub preferred from the anglers fish are with size above from Lesnovska River is the intensive angling in the 220 mm. This significantly reduces the possibility of 59 Supplement 1 Ecological Engineering and Environment Protection, IX, 2017, p. 56-65 the chub to reach the maximal age and size [19, 20]. Unlike river ecosystems, those in dams and established for the species. Another probable reason lakes maintain more stable parameters of abiotic for the lower size of the species in the studied river factors which contribute to more stable populations are the unfavorable conditions during the period of with more age groups. low water, as well as high temperature, low oxygen The relation between the fish body length (L) levels, river pollution and etc. During the recent and the scale radius (R) is described by the equation years, frequent floods caused by pouring rains L=2,504R + 0,233; r=0.99 (Fig.