(Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) in Kordan River of Namak Basin, Iran
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Iran. J. Ichthyol. (June 2021), 8(2): 95-103 Received: September 15, 2020 © 2021 Iranian Society of Ichthyology Accepted: April 27, 2021 P-ISSN: 2383-1561; E-ISSN: 2383-0964 doi: 10.22034/iji.v8i2.543 http://www.ijichthyol.org Research Article Reproduction of Sefidrud stone loach, Oxynoemacheilus bergianus (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) in Kordan River of Namak basin, Iran Yazdan KEIVANY*, Mohammad Reza KAMALOO Department of Natural Resources (Fisheries Division), Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran. *Email: [email protected] Abstract: The Sefidrud stone loach/Berg loach, Oxynoemacheilus bergianus, is native to the Eurasia and little is known about this species. Some biological characteristics of the species were examined in 358 specimens collected monthly from the Kordan River in Alborz Province, by dip and seine nets during September 2013 to August 2014. The total length range was 32.36-74.36mm (50.95±10.3SD), and the total weight range was 0.31-4.06g (1/12±0.68SD). The maximum age of the specimens, based on otoliths, was 5+ years for females and 4+ years for males. Based on macroscopic gonad observation, the age of maturity was 2+ for females and 1+ for males. Sex ratio was 1M:0.9F and maturation cycle consisted of five stages. The gonadosomatic index indicated that reproduction of the fish in the river system occurred between March and June, with the highest average value of 9.47 for males in April and 13.42 for females in May. Oocyte diameter ranged from 0.15 to 1.33mm, with a mean value of 0.44mm. Absolute fecundity ranged between 360 and 2560 eggs, with a mean of 1130±670 eggs. Absolute fecundity and total length (r2= 0.58) and total weight (r2= 0.66) were moderately correlated. The mean relative fecundity was 580±190 eggs per gram of body weight. Therefore, O. bergianus is a species with a premature sexual maturity, high fecundity than that of other loaches and reproduction happen gradually in March to June. Keywords: Gonadosomatic index, Nemacheilidae, Oocyte diameter, Reproductive biology. Citation: Keivany, Y. & Kamaloo, M.R. 2021. Reproduction of Sefidrud stone loach, Oxynoemacheilus bergianus (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) in Kordan River of Namak basin, Iran. Iranian Journal of Ichthyology 8(2): 95-103. Introduction endemic widespread member of the nemacheilids The loaches are small fishes inhabiting lotic reported from Caspian Sea, Urmia and Namak lake freshwaters from turbulent mountain streams to basins (Esmaeili et al. 2014; Keivany et al. 2016; lowland rivers and are the second dominant taxa in Esmaeili et al. 2017). Tabatabaei et al. (2013), the freshwater fishes of Iran. However, there is little Kamaloo & Keivany (2014), Zamani-Faradonbe et information on their biology in Iran (Tabiee & al. (2015) and Jamali et al. (2015) have provided Abdoli 2005; Esmaeili & Ebrahimi 2006; some information on the biology of O. bergianus, Heydarnejad 2009; Keivany et al. 2016). The loaches but, in general, very little is known about its are found throughout Iran, including Caspian Sea, distribution and biology. Detailed description of its Tigris, Kor and Bushehr river basins (Keivany et al. life history has not been given in the literature. Thus, 2016; Esmaeili et al. 2017, 2018; Keivany & providing information on the basic biological Esmaeili 2019; Coad 2021). Recently, six genera parameters of this loach species is fundamental for including Sasanidus, Oxynoemacheilus, Paracobitis, understanding its life history patterns and Paraschistura, Turcinemacheilus and Triplophysa implementing effective management. Hence, the aim with more than 45 species has been reported, many of this study was to examine and describe the of them being endemic. Sefidrud stone loach, reproductive biology of O. bergianus population Oxynoemacheilus bergianus (Derzhavin, 1934) is an inhabiting Kordan River in Namak basin of Iran. 95 Iran. J. Ichthyol. (June 2021), 8(2): 95-103 Materials and Methods Table 1. Variation in some environmental factors of Kordan Kordan River, a tributary of Shur River in Namak River water. Factor Mean±SD Range lake basin is located approximately 20km northwest of the city of Karaj, Alborz Province. Monthly Water temperature (˚C) 13.5±6.9 2.5-22.1 pH 8.5±0.2 8.1-8.7 samples were collected from September 2013 to EC (µs cm-1) 534±42 447-592 August 2014 by fine seine and dip nets (1mm mesh TDS (mg L-1) 268±19 225-296 size). Some environmental factors including water temperature, pH, conductivity (EC) and total under a microscope with an ocular micrometer. dissolved solids (TDS) of water were measured and Comparisons of GSI during the year, ova diameter recorded by a HANNA water quality measuring and fecundity in different ages were carried out by instrument model HI98129. Fish samples were one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Overall sex anesthetized in 1% clove oil, fixed in 10% buffered ratio was assessed using the Chi-square test. All the formalin and transported to the laboratory for further comparisons were performed at 95% confidence examination. In the laboratory, fork length (FL) was level using SPSS.20 and Excel 2016 software. measured to the nearest 0.1mm and total weight and Results gonads weight were measured to the nearest 0.0001g. For the age determination, sagittal otoliths were The mean values±SD and range for water taken out and age reading was carried out through temperature, pH, conductivity (EC) and total microscopic examination of annuli by three people dissolved substances (TDS) are indicated in Table 1. and coincided readings were recorded to validate the Amongst the 358 fish examined, 179 (50%) were ageing (Biswas 1993). males, 167(47%) females and 12 (3%) undetermined. The spawning period was determined by The total length in males ranged from 3.62 to 7.04 identifying monthly changes in the gonadosomatic (5.13±0.92SD) cm and weight ranged from 0.32– index (GSI). The GSI was calculated using the 2.41 (0.56±1.07) g. In females, the total length following equation (Biswas 1993). ranged from 3.65 to 7.44 (5.17±1.04) cm and GSI= (gonad weight/fish weight) × 100 weighed 0.32-4.06 (1.23±0.77) g. The majority of For studying the ovary stages, Brown-Peterson et fish were in the range of 4.10-5.00 cm and 3 years old al. (2011) was followed. For the estimation of for both males and females (Table 2). The maximum absolute and relative fecundities, the ovaries of ripe age of the specimens, based on otolith readings, was + + females at maturity stage III were used. Ovaries were 4 years for males and 5 years for females. The removed, weighed and then placed in Gilsonʹs fluid overall sex ratio was 1M:0.9F which was not for two days to harden eggs and dissolve ovarian significantly different from the 1:1 ratio (P>0.05) membranes. Absolute fecundity was estimated using (Table 3). The smallest mature male was 3.62 cm and the gravimetric method as follows (Wootton 1990): the smallest mature female was 3.64 cm in total F= Gonad weight × Egg number in the length (Table 2). The age at first maturity for males subsample/Subsample weight was 1 year and for females was 2 years. The relative fecundity (Bagenal & Tesch 1978) The average gonadosomatic index (GSI) of males was calculated as: and females was achieved as 9.47 and 13.42, Relative fecundity= absolute fecundity ⁄ total weight respectively, which were significantly different from Mean egg diameter was examined by measuring each other (P<0.05). The highest GSI value was 100-200 eggs (oocytes from anterior, middle and observed in March and April, for both males and posterior parts of each ovary) each month. females. The spawning season for O. bergianus in Measurements were made to the nearest 0.01mm Kordan River, based on the GSI values, seasonal 96 Keivany & Kamaloo - Reproduction of Sefidrud stone loach Table 2. Number of sexually mature males and females Oxynoemacheilus bergianus of different length groups and their ratios. Length Age n Total Immature M:F class (cm) (Years) Male Female 3.01–4.00 0-2 55 22 21 12 1:1.0 4.01–5.00 2-3 128 67 61 0 1:0.9 5.01–6.00 3 90 48 42 0 1:0.8 6.01–7.00 3-4 75 41 34 0 1:0.8 7.01–8.00 5 9 1 8 0 1:8.0 (1130±670) and relative fecundity was 580±180. Percent of males and females in different stages of maturity in different months is shown in Figure 2. Based on that, in April and May, all the males and females are in the spawning stage. The relationship between absolute fecundity and total length (AF=483.81TL-1640, r²=0.58), body weight (AF= 540.107BW-53.70, r²=0.66) and (AF=526.79A– 763.64, r²=0.51) are shown in Figure 3. Discussion This is the first study on the reproductive biology of O. bergianus in Namak basin and also in its distribution range, so it is rather difficult to discuss the biology of the species. The sample size indicates the low frequency of the species in the river, an indication that the species might be at risk because of ecological threats. Although there are some biological data for some nemacheilid species in Iran, there is none for some others (Jamali et al. 2015). Compared to some other species, O. bergianus has one of the smallest sizes (total length and weight), not Fig.1. Female (Top) and Male (bottom) GSI variations in Oxynoemacheilus bergianus in Kordan River. exceeding 87mm and 5.84g (Zamani-Faradonbe et al.