Body Composition, Elemental Concentration and Morphometrics of two Carnivorous fishes in Rivers of Southern Punjab, Pakistan. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in ZOOLOGY By Muhammad Yousaf (M. Sc. Zoology) Institute of Pure & Applied Biology (Zoology Division) Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan “It Is He Who Has Made The Sea Subject, That Ye May Eat Thereof Flesh That Is Fresh And Tender. And That Ye May Extract There From Ornaments To Wear.” (26: 14) – THE HOLY QURAN STATEMENT AND DECLARATION The work submitted in this thesis under the title, “Body Composition, Elemental Concentration and Morphometrics of two Carnivorous fishes in River of Southern Punjab, Pakistan” is in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. I declare that this work is the result of my own investigations and has not already been accepted in substance for any degree, nor is it currently being submitted for any other degree. All authors works referred to in this thesis have been fully acknowledged. MUHAMMAD YOUSAF Dated ………………….... I certify that above statement is correct. Supervisor…………………...................... Prof. (R) Dr. Abdus Salam DEDICATED TO My Worthy Parents & All those who bring joy to my life I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I bow my head before ALMIGHTY ALLAH, the most merciful and the most beneficent who bestowed me with the ability to complete this work and the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) who inspired me for the truth. I deem it an utmost pleasure to be able to express the heartiest gratitude and deep sense of devotion to my worthy supervisor Prof. (R) Dr. Abdus Salam, Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, who has always inspired and guided me in the real sense and spirit of a teacher. The road towards my goal of becoming a research scientist has certainly been blessed by this person. By dint of his constant help, keen interest, healthy criticism and kind advice the completion of this thesis became possible. I also wish to express my gratitude to Dr. Muhammad Naeem, Asst. Professor, Institute of Pure and Applied Biology. His diligent guidance and caring nature created a very productive, positive, and exciting atmosphere in which to pursue this training. I feel great pleasure in expressing heart felt to Prof. Dr. Altaf Ahmad Dasti, Director, Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, for his encouragement, co-operation and providing all research facilities. I am also thankful to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for supporting this research through the Indigenous 5000 Scholarship scheme. I am also highly thankful to all the faculty of Institute of Pure and Applied Biology and Dr. Amin-u-din, Dr. Allah Baksh Gulshan and Sajad Hussain for their kind guidance & encouraging behavior at every step of my work. I also wish to record my sincere thanks to my research fellows and friends Imran Khaliq, Mushtaq Hussain, Kashif Umar, Aeysha Imtiaz, Qurat-ul-Ain, Shahbaz Ahmad, Shahida Rafiq and Imran Ali for their support and co-operation. In the end from the deepest core of my heart I offer my special acknowledge to my parents, brothers, sisters, my wife, my cute son Muhammad Shayan Yousaf, Muhammad Azaan Yousaf and other family members for their love, prays, whole hearted support and encouragement. Nothing can replace their positions. May they live long to see all my dreams come true. Muhammad Yousaf II TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter No. Description Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I TABLE OF CONTENTS II LIST OF TABLES V LIST OF FIGURES X ABBREVIATION XVI ABSTRACT 1 Chapter-1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION 3 5 1.1. Wallago attu 6 1.2.Sperata sarwari Chapter-2 BODY COMPOSITION 10 2.1. INTRODUCTION 14 2.1.1. Aims and objectives 2.2. MATERIALS AND METHODS 15 2.2.1. Measurement of weight and length 15 2.2.2. Determination of water contents 15 2.2.3. Determination of ash contents 16 2.2.4. Determination of fat contents 16 2.2.5. Determination of protein contents 17 2.2.6. Determination of carbohydrates 17 2.2.7. Determination of condition factor (K) 18 2.2.8. Data analysis 18 2.3. RESULTS 19 2.3.1. Effect of body size on body constituents 19 2.3.2. Influence of water content on other body 20 constituents 2.3.3. Effect of condition factor (K) on body 21 constituents 2.3.4. Comparison of body constituents between two III Species 21 2.3.5. Effect of sex on proximate composition 21 2.3.6. Effect of seasonal variations on the body 22 composition 2.3.6.1. Water content 22 2.3.6.2. Ash content 22 2.3.6.3. Fat content 22 2.3.6.4. Protein content 22 2.4. DISCUSSION 56 2.4.1. Water content 56 2.4.2. Ash content 57 2.4.3. Fat content 57 2.4.4. Protein content 59 2.4.5. Effect of condition factor on body composition 60 2.4.6. Effect of season on body composition 61 2.4.7. Effect of sex on body composition 62 2.4.8. Conclusion 62 Chapter-3 ELEMENTAL CONCENTRATION 3.1. INTRODUCTION 67 3.1.1. Aims and objectives 71 3.2. MATERIALS AND METHODS 72 3.2.1. Reagents and standards 72 3.2.2. Glassware 72 3.2.3. Instrumentation 72 3.2.4. Analytical procedure 73 3.2.5. Computation of results 73 3.3. RESULTS 74 3.3.1. Effect of body weight on elemental concentration 74 3.3.2. Effect of total length on elemental concentration 74 3.3.3. Comparison of elemental concentration between 93 two species IV 3.3.4. Effect of sex on elemental concentration 93 3.3.4. Effect of season on elemental concentration 93 3.4. DISCUSSION 104 3.4.1. Relationship between elemental concentration and size of fish 106 3.4.2. Influence of sex on elemental concentration 108 3.4.3. Comparison of elemental concentration 108 3.4.2. Influence of season on elemental concentration 108 Chapter-4 MORPHOMETRY 111 4.1. INTRODUCTION 111 4.1.1. Length-weight relationship 112 4.1.2. Length-length relationship 114 4.1.3. Condition factor (K) 114 4.1.4. Aims and objectives 116 4.2. MATERIALS AND METHODS 117 4.2.1. External morphometry 117 4.2.2. Internal morphometry 119 4.2.3. Statistical analysis 119 4.3. RESULTS 121 4.3.1. Total length-wet body weight 121 4.3.2. Condition factor-total length and wet body 121 weight 4.3.3. Wet body weight-length of external body 121 parameters 4.3.4. Total length-length of external body parameters 122 4.3.5. Wet body weight-weight of external body parts 122 4.3.6. Total length-weight of external body parts 123 4.3.7. Wet body weight-weight of internal body organs 123 4.3.8. Total length-weight of internal body organs 123 4.4. DISCUSSION 153 REFERENCES 158 V LIST OF TABLES DESCRIPTION PAGE Table 2.1 Mean values and ranges of various body constituents of Wallago 23 attu Table 2.2 Mean values and ranges of various body constituents of Sperata 23 sarwari Table 2.3 Wet body weight (g) versus body constituents of Wallago attu 28 Table 2.4 Wet body weight (g) versus body constituents of Sperata 28 sarwari Table 2.5 Wet body weight (g) versus body constituents of Wallago attu 29 Table 2.6 Wet body weight (g) versus body constituents of Sperata 29 sarwari Table 2.7 Log wet body weight (g) versus body constituents of Wallago 30 attu Table 2.8 Log wet body weight (g) versus body constituents of Sperata 30 sarwari Table 2.9 Total length (cm) versus body constituents of Wallago attu 31 Table 2.10 Total length (cm) versus body constituents of Sperata sarwari 31 Table 2.11 Total length (cm) versus body constituents of Wallago attu 32 Table 2.12 Total length (cm) versus body constituents of Sperata sarwari 32 Table 2.13 Log total length (cm) versus body constituents of Wallago attu 33 Table 2.14 Log total length (cm) versus body constituents of Sperata 33 sarwari Table 2.15 %Water contents versus body constituents of Wallago attu 34 Table 2.16 %Water contents versus body constituents of Sperata sarwari 34 Table 2.17 Condition factor (K) versus body constituents of Wallago attu 35 Table 2.18 Condition factor (K) versus body constituents of Sperata 35 sarwari Table 2.19 ANOVA showing comparison of body composition of two 36 different species of freshwater catfishes of southern Punjab. VI Table 2.20 Mean values and ranges of various body constituents of ♂ and ♀ 37 Wallago attu. Table 2.21 Mean values and ranges of various body constituents of ♂ and ♀ 38 Sperata sarwari Table 2.22 Seasonal variations in the percentage of the proximate 39 composition of Wallago attu. Table 2.23 Seasonal variations in the percentage of the proximate 39 composition of Sperata sarwari Table 2.24 Water content values of various fish species 63 Table 2.25 Ash content values of various fish species 64 Table 2.26 Fat content values of various fish species 65 Table 2.27 Protein content values of various fish species 66 Table 3.1 Mean and standard deviation values of elemental concentration 76 in carcasses of Wallago attu (whole fish) Table 3.2 Mean and standard deviation values of elemental concentration 76 in carcasses of Sperata sarwari (whole fish) Table 3.3 Log wet body weight (g) versus log elemental constituents (μg) 77 of Wallago attu Table 3.4 Log wet body weight (g) versus log elemental constituents (μg) 77 of Sperata sarwari.