Short Communication Length-Weight Relationships and Condition Factors

Iran. J. Ichthyol. (December 2016), 3(4): 316–320 Received: January 21, 2016 © 2016 Iranian Society of Ichthyology Accepted: August 30, 2016 P-ISSN: 2383-1561; E-ISSN: 2383-0964 doi: 10.7508/iji.2016.02.015 http://www.ijichthyol.org

Short communication Length-weight relationships and condition factors of Alburnus zagrosensis Coad, 2009, from three rivers of Tigris basin in Iran (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Omid JAFARI1, Ali Akbar HEDAYATI1, Yazdan KEIVANY2*

1Fisheries Department, Faculty of Fishery and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran. 2Department of Natural Resources (Fisheries Division), Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-8311, Iran. * Email: [email protected]

Abstract: The length–weight relationships and condition factors of 145 specimens for three populations of Alburnus zagrosensis Coad, 2009, an endemic species in Tigris River basin in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran, were studied for the first time. The b value for Cheshmeh-Ali population was 3.19, for Hamzeh-Ali was 3.69 and for Polmari was 2.87, indicating a positive allometric growth pattern for Hamzeh-Ali and isometric growth pattern in the two other populations of A. zagrosensis. The condition factor varied from 0.74-0.93 in the populations. These information are vital in fisheries biology and could be used for species conservation and management. Keywords: Cheshmeh-Ali River, Growth pattern, Hamzeh-Ali Spring, LWR, Polmari River. Citation: Jafari, O.; Hedayati, A.A. & KEIVANY, Y. (2016). Length-weight relationships and condition factors of Alburnus zagrosensis Coad, 2009, from three rivers of Tigris basin in Iran (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Iranian Journal of Ichthyology 3(4): 316- 319.

Introduction species planning conservation programs, detection The bleaks and shemayas are found in Europe and the type of growth pattern and other aspects of dynamic northern parts of Southwest Asia with about 38 populations (Pauly 1993; Santos et al. 2002). These species. This genus is characterized by some features, relationships provide additional information about including an elongated, compressed, moderately condition of fish in its habitat and also are vital in the deep body of small to moderate size, a terminal biology of fisheries, assessing the fish’s average mouth, no barbels, a long anal fin, long and relatively weight in a given length using mathematical numerous gill rakers, and a light to brown or black equations (Oscoz et al. 2005). LWRs therefore have peritoneum. There are five species in Iran which one been used to transforming the growth in length to of them is Alburnus zagrosensis. This endemic growth in weight equation (Froese 2006). For many species is only known from the type locality in the commercially species of fishes in Iran, these upper Karun River basin (Coad 2016; Keivany et al. associations have been calculated and so are 2016a). There is a Little information about the available (Esmaeili & Ebrahimi 2006; Hasankhani et biology of this endemic species. Length–weight al. 2013, 2014). Nevertheless for many endemic relationships (LWRs) of fishes are used for a long species yet their LWRs are remained unknown. time for several aims such as stock assessment, There were no length-weight information

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Jafari et al.- Length-weight relationships and condition factors of Alburnus zagrosensis

available for A. zagrosensis (Froese & Pauly 2015) Han 1978): and the current study is the first published estimation 100 × 푤 퐶퐹 = of length-weight relationships of this endemic 푙3 species in Iran, from Cheshmeh-Ali, Hamzeh-Ali and Which, CF is the Condition Factor, W is the Polmari rivers. These informations are so practical weight of individual of fishes and L is the total length and should be considered in fisheries and stock value of individual of fishes. All the statistics were management. performed in Excel 2010 and SPSS 20 software at the confidence limit of 95%. Materials and Methods All specimens of A. zagrosensis were collected from Results Cheshmeh-Ali (31°37'N, 51°11'E), Hamzeh-Ali Minimum and maximum values of the total length, (31°56'N, 51°02'E) and Polmari (31°55'N, 50°54'E) the correlation coefficient, values of 훼 and b rivers in Iran during March 2014. The specimens parameters (±SE) and CF values are provided in were caught using different fishing gear such as hand Table 1. The results of LWRs estimation in this net, electro shocker and cast net, anesthesized in 1% research showed a high association between growths clove oil solution and then fixed in 10% in length with weight which was statistically formaldehyde solution. Total length and standard significant (P<0.001). The b-values were ranged length was measured using digital caliper to the from 2.87 to 3.69. Based on the current data, there nearest 0.01 mm and the weights of specimen were were a significant deviation (P<0.05) between measured with an accuracy of 0.01g by a digital obtained b values of A. zagrosensis in Hamzeh-Ali scale. The LWRs then was calculated for each population and the b value of isometric growth (b=3), population of A. zagrosensis using the following Le while there were no significant differences for the Cren (1951) equation: two other populations (P>0.05). So, it can be W=aLb assumed that A. zagrosensis has a positive allometric For the linear equation, the logarithmic form was growth pattern in Hamzeh-Ali Spring and an used (Koutrakis & Tsikliras 2003): isometric growth pattern in the Polmari and log(푤) = log 푎 + 푏 log (L) Cheshmeh-Ali rivers. The highest value of CF was Where W is the weight of body (gr), 훼: is a calculated for Cheshmeh-Ali River (0.93), while the constant coefficient and b is the slope of the curve. lowest value was obtained in Polmari River (0.74) Also, the correlation coefficient (r) between length (Table 1). Significant deviation was seen between and weight was assessed in each realm. The value of Cheshmeh-Ali and Hamzeh-Ali rivers in comparison b parameter is varied between 2 and 4, and the b=3 to Polmari River (P<0.05) (Table 1). indicating the isometric growth pattern. Hence, the t- test was used in order to show significant deviation Discussion of obtained b- value in this study from the expected Based on the current data, A. zagrosensis with an isometric value (b=3) (Sokal & Rohlf 1987). isometric growth pattern in Polmari and Cheshmeh- 푏 − 3 Ali rivers and a positive allometric growth pattern in 푇푠 = Hamze-Ali population showed a relatively flexible b 푠푏 Where, Sb is the Standard error of the b-value, b value through habitats. However, length-weight is the slope value of the curve estimation and Ts is the relationships and the associated parameters are not t-Test value. All analysis was carried out in SPSS constant through a year (Tesch 1971; Ricker 1975), software, version 20 (Zar 1984). Also the Fulton’s and vary with variation in habitat condition such as condition factor (k) in each river was assessed (Htun- thermal regime, available nutrients, reproduction and 317 Iran. J. Ichthyol. (December 2016), 3(4): 316-320

Table 2. The length weight relationship parameters and descriptive statistics of Alburnus zagrosensis from Cheshmeh- Ali, Hamzeh-Ali and Polmari rivers.

Rivers n TL Length (cm) W range (g) Length weight Relationships and statistics Min-Max Min-Max 훼 SE(훼) 95% CI (a) b SE (b) 95% CI (b) r2 CF Cheshmeh-Ali 30 4.00-11.59 0.53-3.30 0.006 0.003 0.0058-0.0071 3.19 0.23 2.99-3.40 0.93 0.93 Hamzeh-Ali 35 3.55-8.58 0.47-5.94 0.007 0.001 0.0063-0.0076 3.69 0.317 3.48-3.89 0.91 0.82 Polmari 80 3.11-9.73 0.51-4.32 0.009 0.002 0.0085-0.0094 2.87 0.163 2.72-3.01 0.91 0.74 n: number of fish, a and b: the parameters of LWR, CI: Confidence interval; CF: Condition Factor. maturation and other factors like sampling and Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and preservations techniques (Froese 2006; Alavi- Isfahan University of Technology. Yeganeh et al. 2011; Daneshvar et al. 2013; Hasankhani et al. 2013, 2014; Ghanbarifardi et al. References 2014; Aazami et al. 2015; Keivany et al. 2015a, b, Aazami, J.; Esmaili-Sari, A.; Abdoli, A.; Sohrabi, H. & 2016b), none of which were considered in this study. Van Den Brink, P.J. 2015. Length-weight The inland waters of Iran have a variable ecological relationships of 14 fish species from Tajan River, condition and fishes in these waters suffer from Southern Caspian Sea basin, Iran. Iranian Journal several difficulties such as drought, damming and of Ichthyology 2: 299-301. Alavi-Yeganeh, M.S.; Seifabadi, S.J.; Keivany, Y.; road constructions. Hence, in order to effectively Kazemi B. & Wallis, G.P. 2011. Comparison of manage and conserve a fish population, the length-weight relationships in different populations estimation of growth pattern in each stock in all and sexes of Iranian thoothcarps. Journal of seasons are needed. The observed differences in b Applied Ichthyology 27: 1401-1403. values between rivers in the present study most Coad B.W. 2016. Freshwater fishes of Iran. probably due to the differences in habitat and http://www.briancoad.com (accessed January 18, ecological parameters in each river. Inland waters 2016). have a high potential for speciation, so these Daneshvar, E.; Keivany, Y. & Paknehad, Y. 2013. differences in b values may be a more important part Comparative Biometry of the Iranian Cichlid, of constructing separate stock and finally separate Iranocichla hormuzensis, in Different Seasons and species. With considering the low biological Sexes. Research in Zoology 3: 56-61. Esmaeili, H.R. & Ebrahimi, M. 2006. Length-weight information about this endemic species in Iran, it relationships of some freshwater fishes of Iran. seems necessary to carry future studies on Journal of Applied Ichthyology 22: 328-329. A. zagrosensis, include investigations on both Froese, R. 2006. Cube law, condition factor and morphological and molecular assessments in order to weight_length relationships: history, metaanalysis planning conservation programs for this species. and recommendations. Journal of Applied Eventually, it should be mentioned that the current Ichthyology 22: 241-253. study provides the first estimation of LWRs of Froese, R. & Pauly, D. 2016. FishBase. World Wide Web A. zagrosensis in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari electronic publication. http://www.fishbase.org Province and provides basic information on LWRs (accessed May 18, 2016). for this species that would be useful for fishery Ghanbarifardi, M.; Ghasemian, S.; Aliabadian, M. & biologists and managers in Tigris basin. Pehpuri, A. 2014. Length–weight relationships for three species of mudskippers (Gobiiformes:

Gobionellidae) in the coastal areas of the Persian Acknowledgments Gulf and Gulf of Oman, Iran. Iranian Journal of We would like to thank all the people who helped in Ichthyology 1: 29-31. field work and fish collection. The financial support Hasankhani, H.; Keivany Y.; Raeisi, H.; Pouladi, M. & for this study was provided by Gorgan University of Soofiani, N.M. 2013. Length-weight relationships

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319 Iran. J. Ichthyol. (September 2016), 3(4): 316–320 Received: January 21, 2016 © 2016 Iranian Society of Ichthyology Accepted: August 30, 2016 P-ISSN: 2383-1561; E-ISSN: 2383-0964 doi: 10.7508/iji.2016.02.015 http://www.ijichthyol.org

يافته علمي کوتاه رابطه طول و وزن و ضريب وضعیت کوليماهي زاگرس )Alburnus zagrosensis Coad, 2009( در سه رودخانه حوضه کارون در ايران )ماهیان استخواني: کپورماهیان(

امید جعفری۱، علياکبر هدايتي۱، يزدان کیواني*۲

1گروه شیالت دانشکده شیالت و محیط زیست دانشگاه علوم کشاورزی و منابع طبیعی گرگان، گرگان، ایران. ۲دانشکده منابع طبیعی )گروه شیالت(، دانشگاه صنعتی اصفهان، اصفهان ۸۴1۵۶۸۳111، ایران.

چکیده: روابط طول-وزن و فاکتور وضعیت در سه جمعیت شامل 1۴۵ نمونه از کولیماهی زاگرس ) ,Alburnus zagrosensis Coad 2009( بهعنوان یک گونه بومی در حوضه رودخانه دجله در استان چهارمحال و بختیاری برای اولین بار مورد مطالعه قرار گرفت. مقادیر ضریب b برای رودخانههای چشمهعلی، حمزهعلی و پلماری به ترتیب 19/۳، ۶9/۳ و ۸7/۲ بهدست آمد که بیانگر الگوی رشد آلومتریک مثبت در منطقه حمزه علی و الگوی رشدی ایزومتریک در مناطق چشمهعلی و پلماری بود. مقدار فاکتور وضعیت از 7۴/0 تا 9۳/0 در جمعیتها نیز متغیر بود. اطالعات بهدست آمده در این تحقیق در زیستشناسی شیالتی بسیار حیاتی بوده و میتوانند در حفاظت و مدیریت گونهها استفاده شوند. کلماتکلیدی: چشمه حمزهعلی، رشد آلومتریک، رشد ایزومتریک، روابط طول-وزن، رودخانه پلماری، رودخانه چشمهعلی.

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