LIMNOFISH-Journal of Limnology and Freshwater Fisheries Research 7(1): 77-82 (2021) Age and Growth of Garra rufa (Heckel, 1843) from Merzimen Stream, Euphrates River Basin, Turkey Erdoğan ÇİÇEK1* , Burak SEÇER1 , Selda ÖZTÜRK1 , Sevil SUNGUR2 1Department of Biology, Faculty of Art and Sciences, Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, 50300, Nevşehir, Turkey 2Health Services Vocational School, Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, 50300, Nevşehir, Turkey ABSTRACT ARTICLE INFO This study was carried out to determine the population parameters of Garra rufa RESEARCH ARTICLE in Merzimen Stream, Euphrates River Basin between May and November 2013. A total of 365 specimens were caught by electro shocker. The age of the sampled Received : 27.03.2020 specimens ranged from 0 to V age groups. Total length and weight varied from Revised : 10.07.2020 2.9 to 16.8 cm with a mean of 9.67±3.52 cm and 0.21 to 69.27 g with a mean of Accepted : 14.09.2020 15.69±14.75 g, respectively. The length-weight relationship was obtained as W=0.0124L2.9888 and the b value indicated the isometric growth. Estimated Published : 29.04.2021 population parameters were calculated as L∞: 19.98 cm, k: 0.275, t0: -1.157. Fulton’s condition factor and growth performance index were estimated as DOI :10.17216/LimnoFish.710127 K: 1.24 and Φꞌ: 2.04. Total (Z), natural (M), and fishing (F) mortalities and the exploitation rate (E) were estimated 0.452, 0.295, 0.156, and 0.347, respectively. * CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Keywords: Mortality, exploitation rate, Gaziantep, population parameters [email protected] Phone : +90 530 344 9938 Merzimen Çayı (Fırat Havzası) Garra rufa (Heckel, 1843) Popülasyonuna Ait Yaş ve Büyüme Parametreleri Öz: Bu çalışma Merzimen Çayı Garra rufa popülasyonuna ait populasyon dinamiği parametrelerini belirlenmesi amacıyla Mayıs- Kasım 2013 tarihleri arasında yürütülmüştür. Elektroşok kullanılarak toplam 365 örnek yakalanmıştır. Yakalanan bireylerin yaşları 0 ile V. yaş grupları arasındadır. İncelenen bireylerin boy değerlerinin 2,9-16,8 cm ve ağırlık değerlerinin ise 0,21-69,27 g arasında değişim gösterdiği belirlenmiş olup ortalama total boy ve ağırlık değerleri sırasıyla 9,67±3,52 cm ve 15,69±14,75 g olarak hesaplanmıştır. Boy-ağırlık ilişkisi W=0,0124L2,9888 olarak belirlenmiş olup izometrik büyüme özelliği sergilediği görülmüştür. Diğer populasyon değişkenleri ise L∞: 19,98 cm, k: 0,275 ve t0: -1,157 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Fulton’un kondisyon faktörü ve büyüme performans endeksi K: 1,24 ve Φꞌ: 2,04 olarak tahmin edilmiştir. Toplam (Z), doğal (M) ve balıkçılık (F) nedeniyle olan ölüm oranları ve stoktan yararlanma düzeyi (E) sırasıyla 0,452, 0,295, 0,156 ve 0,347 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Anahtar kelimeler: Ölüm oranı, sömürülme oranı, Gaziantep, populasyon parametreleri How to Cite Çiçek E, Seçer B, Öztürk S, Sungur S. 2021. Age and Growth of Garra rufa (Heckel, 1843) from Merzimen Stream, Euphrates River Basin, Turkey. LimnoFish. 7(1): 77-82. doi: 10.17216/LimnoFish.710127 Introduction muddy streams, small ponds, and lakes but it appears Garra rufa is a benthopelagic, non-migratory most often in lotic environments and hiding under freshwater fish live in a variety of habitats including and among stones and vegetation (Krupp and rivers, small muddy streams, small ponds, and lakes Schneider 1989). Briefly, G. rufa has been recorded (Krupp and Schneider 1989). Its native distribution in a wide range of water temperatures (5.8-35.0oC) includes the Jordan, Orontes (=Asi), Quwayq, and and appears capable of tolerating degraded systems Tigris-Euphrates river basins and coastal drainages of (Jarvis 2011). the eastern Mediterranean as well as much of The species is known to adhere by suction to southern Iran (Coad 2015). This species is relatively rocks with its ventral crescent-shaped mouth to feed small (typically less than 15 cm) and short-lived with on benthic algae (Özer et al. 1987; Yalçın-Özdilek the cooperation of other cyprinid species (Jarvis and Ekmekçi 2006). It is a generalist feeder but 2011). Garra rufa is a bottom dweller resident to a periphyton tends to make up most of its diet as a variety of freshwater habitats such as rivers, small benthic grazer. Garra rufa is not considering an 78 Çiçek et al. 2021- LimnoFish 7(1): 77-82 economic value as a food source however it is an Materials and Methods appropriate prey for piscivorous fishes. This sampling was carried out from May to Eutrophication resulting from the input of various November 2013 by monthly intervals in Merzimen contaminants may result in favorable algae growth, Stream (Gaziantep), Euphrates River Basin. A total important as a food source for G. rufa (Yalçın- of 365 specimens were caught using a backpack Özdilek and Ekmekçi 2006). Additionally, in the electrofisher (SAMUS 725MP). The collected aquariums, juveniles’ specimens acting as cleaner specimens were fixed in 10% formalin, and then fish on ectoparasites of other aquarium species transferred to the laboratory, and stored in 70% (Baensch and Riehl 2004). This species also occurs ethanol for further processing. In the laboratory, to in Kangal hot springs in Central Anatolia, where it determine the population parameters, the total length feeds on the skin scales of bathers, reducing illnesses and weight of each sample were determined to be the such as neurodermatitis (Özçelik et al. 2000; nearest 1 mm and 0.01 g, respectively. Remove the Grassberger and Hoch 2006). This feeding behavior scale samples from the left side of the abdomen to the has piqued the interest of the spa industry in North dorsal fin to determine the age. Immerse the fish America, where the fish is being imported to be scales in water and check them twice independently, utilized in a novel form of pedicure and manicure without reference to previous readings, or to the service (Jarvis 2011). length or weight of the fish under a stereo binocular To estimate weight corresponding to a given microscope. The assessment of age is based on the length, growth rates, length and age structures, and determination of the number of rings on each scale. other components of fish population dynamics, Length-frequency data is plotted at 1 cm length length, and weight data are needed (Froese 2006). intervals. The length-weight relationship (LWR) is Also, the length-weight data of a species in different determined according to the allometric equation habitats will be useful to compare the life history and W = a*Lb (Sparre and Venema 1998). In this morphological aspects of populations inhabiting equation, W is the total weight, L is the total length, different habitats (Segherloo et al. 2015). Therefore, and a and b are regression constants. The increase in investigations on the biological characteristics of fish length and weight is represented by von Bertalanffy -k(t-to) -k(t-t ) b are very important for fisheries management and the equation Lt = L1-e and Wt = W∞ [1-e 0 ] . protection of wildlife of species. The growth parameters L, k and to and are estimated Compared with other economically important using the least square method recommended by species, little attention has been paid to the biology Sparere and Venema (1998). of small size species that have no commercial value The least-squares method used to estimate the (Abdoli et al. 2002). While there are some studies LLR with the total length between different body carried out on distribution, hematology, genetic, and lengths to fit a simple linear regression model, where morphology (Ergene and Çavaş 2004; Kara and Alp Y = a+bX, where Y: various body lengths, X: body 2005; Karahan 2007; Kuru et al. 2010; Duman 2010; length, a: ratio constant, b: regression coefficient. Durna et al. 2010; Yedier et al. 2016) up to now only The percentage of length growth rate is calculated by one study found on the population features of G. rufa the formula GR = ((Lt+1-Lt)/(Lt))*100. Where Lt: fish (Kırankaya et al. 2008) Valuable studies also length at age t, Lt+1: fish length at age t+1. conducted on the species to provide some The following formula used to calculate the information on the morphology, reproductive growth performance index (Φ ́ ́): Φ ́ ́ = logk +2logL∞ characteristics, life history aspects, length-weight (Pauly and Munro, 1984). The Fulton condition relationships (Esmaeili et al. 2005; Yazdanpanahi factor (K) is calculated by the following formula: 2005; Esmaeili and Ebrahimi 2006; Patimar et al. K = 100 W / L ^ 3 where; W: total weight, L: total 2010; Teimori et al. 2011; Hamidan and Britton length (Sparre and Venema 1998). 2013) in Iran. There are very limited data available The correspondence between the empirical on age structure, growth, mortality rates of this data and the expected distribution was tested by Khi2 species in Turkey or any country until now. Because test. The b value was tested by t test to verify that of a few studies conducted on the population features it is significantly different from isometric growth of the species, little is known about the population (b: 3). parameters of the species. The aim of this study provides some information on age, growth, mortality, Results and exploitation rates of the G. rufa living in A total of 365 specimens were caught during the Merzimen Stream. sampling period. Age of G. rufa varied from 0 to V Çiçek et al. 2021 - LimnoFish 7(1): 77-82 79 age groups and the most frequent age groups were 0 weight varied from 0.21 to 69.27 g with a mean of (29.6%), II (29.3%), and I (21.4%), respectively 15.69±14.75 g. It was evident that G. rufa grew (Table 1). The total length ranged from 2.9 to rapidly in its first year after which the growth rate 16.8 cm with a mean of 9.67±3.52 cm and total decreased with increasing age.