Comparative Study of Ctenoid Scales, Frequency Distribution Pattern and Length-Weight Relationships in Teraponid spp. (Family: Teraponidae) of Karachi Coast Fish Harbours, Pakistan By MUSARRAT-UL-AIN M.Sc. Thesis submitted for the award of Ph.D. Degree in Zoology Department of Zoology University of Karachi Karachi-75270 Pakistan 2018 CERTIFICATE The thesis by Musarrat-ul-Ain is accepted in its present form by the Department of Zoology as satisfying the thesis requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology, 2018. Internal examiner _______________________________ External examiner _______________________________ Chairperson: _______________________________ Department of Zoology University of Karachi Date _______________________________ DEDICATION In the loving memories of my Grandmother ‘Ishrat BiBi’ and Maternal grandfather ‘AjeeB khAn Sherwani’ who always encouraged me to study… And Also dedicated to my beloved Parents, Muhammad Zubair and sabiha zubair who always pray for my success… CONTENTS S. No. Topics Page No Abstract……………………………………………………………. i List of tables………………..……………………………………… iii List of figures……………………………………………………… vi List of plates………………………………………………….......... X Chapter 1 1 Introduction………………………………………………………... 1 Aims and objectives……………………………………………….. 5 Chapter 2 2 Literature review……………………………………………….….. 6 Systematics………………………………………………………… 12 Chapter 3 3 Materials and methods……………...……………………………... 19 Chapter 4 4 Results………………………………………………………..….… 3 4 4.1 Comparative study of scales of Teraponid species 34 4.2 Study of regression relationship of selected scale parameters 39 4.3 Principal Component Analysis of scales 43 4.4 Frequency distribution pattern and Population parameters 46 4.5 Length-weight relationships 75 4.6 Condition factor (K) 79 4.7 Relative condition factor (Kn) 82 4.8 Maturity stage distribution 85 S. No. Topics Page No 4.9 Gonadosomatic index 90 4.10 Sex ratio 95 Chapter 5 5 Discussion…………………………………………….………… 100 5.1 Comparative study of scales of Teraponid species 100 5.2 Study of regression relationship of selected scale parameters 102 5.3 Principal Component Analysis of scales 103 5.4 Frequency distribution pattern and Population parameters 103 5.5 Length-weight relationships 106 5.6 Condition factor (K) 107 5.7 Relative condition factor (Kn) 108 5.8 Maturity stage distribution 108 5.9 Gonadosomatic index 109 5.10 Sex ratio 110 6 Conclusions…………………………………..…………………… 112 7 Acknowledgments…………………………….…………………… 114 8 References…………………………………………………………. 115 ABSTRACT ABSTRACT This dissertation is based on the comparative study of ctenoid scales, frequency distribution pattern and length-weight relationships of Teraponid species of the family Teraponidae. For this purpose, 1304 specimens of family Teraponidae were collected during January 2013 to December 2014 from commercial landings at Karachi Fish Harbour. Three species of family Teraponidae (Terapon jarbua, T. puta and T. theraps) were investigated from the samples. The results of statistical analysis of selected parameters of ctenoid scales (i.e., length of scale and width, radius, horizontal and vertical row of ctenii and number of radii) of Teraponid species proved the significance of scales in correct identification of Teraponid species. The results of linear relationship and principal component analysis-PCA of selected scale parameters shows the significance of selected scale parameters in fish identification. The frequency distribution pattern of Teraponid species was recorded as 51.84% for T. jarbua and 47.70% for T. puta in total catches during the study period (January 2013 to December 2014). The occasional catch of T. theraps shows the absence of this species in commercial catches of Karachi coast. The population parameters of Teraponid species indicates a risk of over exploitation of these species at Karachi coast, Pakistan. Results for length-weight relationships shows that the value of regression coefficient (b) was closer to the ideal value i.e. b=3 hence shows the isometric growth in T. jarbua however, T. puta indicates a positive allometric growth pattern (b>3). The results of condition factor and relative condition factor indicated the good health of Teraponid species. The Macroscopic examination of male and female gonads and gonadosomatic index confirms that T. jarbua has two spawning period from April to August and November while, T. puta has a prolonged spawning period with two distinct peaks in April and November. The results for sex ratio illustrate that females were more numerous than males in both Teraponid species (i.e., T. jarbua and T. puta). i ii LIST OF TABLES LIST OF TABLES S. No. Topics Pg. No. Table A. Description of different maturity stages of Teraponid species, 31 Family: Teraponidae. Descriptive Statistics of Different Parameters of Scales Table 1. Descriptive statistics of different scale parameters of three 3 5 species of the family Teraponidae. Regression Analysis of Different Parameters of Scales Table 2.1. Regression analysis between fish length and different 4 0 parameters of scales of Terapon jarbua. Table 2.2. Regression analysis between fish length and different 40 parameters of scales of Terapon puta. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of Scales Table 3.1. Eigen values and variances of the effective principal 44 components. Table 3.2. The correlation between variable and principal components. 44 Frequency Distribution Pattern and Population Parameters Table 4.1a. Total catch of the Teraponid species during January 2013 to 48 December 2014. Table 4.1b. Total catch of the Teraponid species during January 2013 to 49 December 2013. Table 4.1c. Total catch of the Teraponid species during January 2014 to 49 December 2014. Table 4.2a. Monthly distribution of Teraponid species during January 2013 50 to December 2014. iii S. No. Topics Pg. No. Table 4.2b. Monthly distribution of Teraponid species during January 2013 51 to December 2013. Table 4.2c. Monthly distribution of Teraponid species during January 2014 52 to December 2014. Table 4.3a. Length frequency distribution (%) of Terapon jarbua during 53 January 2013 to December 2013. Table 4.3b. Length frequency distribution (%) of Terapon jarbua during 54 January 2014 to December 2014. Table 4.4a. Length frequency distribution (%) of Terapon puta during 55 January 2013 to December 2014. Table 4.4a. Length frequency distribution (%) of Terapon puta during 56 January 2013 to December 2014. Length-Weight Relationships Table 5.1. Regression parameters of length-weight relationships (log W= 76 a+ b log L) of two species of family Teraponidae. Condition Factor (K) Table 6.1. Condition factor (K) of combined, male and female sexes of 80 Terapon jarbua during January 2013 to December 2014. Table 6.2. Condition factor (K) of combined, male and female sexes of 80 Terapon puta during January 2013 to December 2014. Relative Condition Factor (Kn) Table 7.1. Relative condition factor (Kn) of male and female sexes of 83 Terapon jarbua during January 2013 to December 2014. Table 7.2. Relative condition factor (Kn) of male and female sexes of 83 iv S. No. Topics Pg. No. Terapon puta during January 2013 to December 2014. Maturity Stage Distribution Table 8.1. Monthly distribution of maturity stages in Terapon jarbua (Jan 86 2013 to Dec 2014). Table 8.2. Monthly distribution of maturity stages in Terapon puta (Jan 87 2013 to Dec 2014). Gonadosomatic Index Table 9.1a. Gonadosomatic index of Terapon jarbua during January 2013 91 to December 2013. Table 9.1b. Gonadosomatic index of Terapon jarbua during January 2014 91 to December 2014. Table 9.2a. Gonadosomatic index of Terapon puta during January 2013 to 92 December 2013. Table 9.2b. Gonadosomatic index of Terapon puta during January 2014 to 92 December 2014. Sex Ratio Table 10.1. Monthly variation in Sex ratio of Terapon jarbua (Jan 2013 to 96 Dec 2014). Table 10.2. Monthly variation in Sex ratio of Terapon puta (Jan 2013 to 97 Dec 2014). v LIST OF FIGURES LIST OF FIGURES S. No. Topics Pg. No. Linear Regression Analysis of the Different Parameters of Ctenoid Scales Fig. 1.1. Regression analysis between scale parameters vs fish length of 41 Terapon jarbua Fig. 1.2. Regression analysis between scale parameters vs scale length of 41 Terapon jarbua Fig. 2.1. Regression analysis between scale parameters vs fish length of 42 Terapon puta Fig. 2.2. Regression analysis between scale parameters vs scale length of 42 Terapon puta Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of Scales Fig. 3. Score plot of first and second principal components 45 Frequency Distribution Pattern and Population Parameters Fig. 4.1a. Total catch of the Teraponid species during 2013 & 2014 57 Fig. 4.1b. Total catch of the Teraponid species during 2013 57 Fig. 4.1c. Total catch of the Teraponid species during 2014 57 Fig. 4.2a. Monthly distribution of Teraponid species during 2013 & 2014 58 Fig. 4.2b. Monthly distribution of Teraponid species during 2013 58 Fig. 4.2c. Monthly distribution of Teraponid species during 2014 58 Fig. 4.3a. Length frequency distribution of combined sexes of Terapon 59 jarbua (Jan 2013 to Dec 2013) Fig. 4.3b. Length frequency distribution of combined sexes of Terapon 60 jarbua (Jan 2014 to Dec 2014) Fig. 4.3c. Length frequency distribution of males of Terapon jarbua (Jan 61 2013 to Dec 2013) vi S. No. Topics Pg. No. Fig. 4.3 d. Length frequency distribution of males of Terapon jarbua (Jan 62 2014 to Dec 2014) Fig. 4.3e. Length frequency distribution of females of Terapon jarbua 63 (Jan 2013 to Dec 2013) Fig. 4.3f. Length frequency distribution of females of Terapon jarbua 64 (Jan 2014 to Dec 2014) Fig. 4.4a. Length frequency distribution of combined sexes of Terapon 65 puta (Jan 2013 to Dec 2013) Fig. 4.4b. Length frequency distribution of combined sexes of Terapon 66 puta (Jan 2014 to Dec 2014) Fig. 4.4c. Length frequency distribution of males of Terapon puta (Jan 67 2013 to Dec 2013) Fig. 4.4d. Length frequency distribution of males of Terapon puta (Jan 68 2014 to Dec 2014) Fig. 4.4e. Length frequency distribution of females of Terapon puta (Jan 69 2013 to Dec 2013) Fig.