First Report on Growth and Reproduction of Turcinoemacheilus Bahaii (Esmaeili, Sayyadzadeh, Özulug, Geiger and Freyhof, 2014), in Zayandeh Roud River, Iran

Research Article

Austin Environ Sci. 2017; 2(1): 1014.

First Report on Growth and Reproduction of Turcinoemacheilus Bahaii (Esmaeili, Sayyadzadeh, Özulug, Geiger and Freyhof, 2014), in Zayandeh Roud River, Iran

Borhani M*, Soofiani NM, Ebrahimi E and Asadollah S

Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, Isfahan University of Technology, Iran

*Corresponding author: Mahsa Borhani, Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, Isfahan University of Technology, Iran

Received: August 03, 2016; Accepted: January 03, 2017; Published: January 05, 2017

Abstract

To provide information on growth and reproductive features of recently identified Turcinoemacheilus bahaii from Zayandeh Roud River (Isfahan basin, Iran), sampling was performed at monthly interval throughout the year (from February 2013 to January 2014) and 868 individuals were caught by gillnet. The overall sex ratio (Male: Female) was 0.61:1 in favor of females. Based on otoliths reading, fish age was ranged from 1+ to 4+ and 1+ to 5+ for males and females, respectively. Negative allometric growth was recorded for both sexes and total populations (r2>0.84). The von Bertalanffy growth equations were different between males and females, revealing a strong fit for both males {Lt=73.99(1- exp (-0.25(t+2.68)} and females {Lt= 100.35(1-exp (-0.19(t+1.86)}. Sexual maturity achieved at age 1+ and 2+ for males and females, respectively. Based on the GSI, egg diameter, histological studies, and macroscopic characteristics of the gonad T. bahaii is considered asynchronous spawner with relatively long spawning season, extending from April to June. Absolute fecundity varied from 95-751 (365.75 ± 132.67) eggs and relative fecundity ranged from 94.06 to 224.85 (187.27 ± 29.75) egg/g body weights. Egg diameter ranged from 0.025 to 1.58mm.

Keywords: Loach; Age; von Bertalanffy; Growth function; Reproduction; Zayandeh Roud River

Introduction

The loaches of Iran belong to families, Nemacheilidae and Cobitidae. The members of Nemacheilidae are small benthic freshwater fish inhabiting running water in Asia, Europe and Ethiopia [1] and they were recently classified in seven genera [2]. Genus Turcinoemacheilus have been recorded scarcely [3] and added to the nemacheilid loach’s of Iran in recent years. Nowadays, loaches of this genus are known to be very widespread and easy to distinguish from all other Nemacheilids [4,5].

In general, the Nemacheilid loaches of western Asia are poorly known due to small size and limited commercial value [1,5], recently described Turcinoemacheilus bahaii as a new Nemacheilid species from central part of Iran. T. bahaii is an endemic species of Zayandeh Roud River basin and its distribution and biology has not been reported in the literature so far. However, there are few studies on general biology of some other closely related species [6-9]. Hence, the principal aim of this paper was to provide data on the growth and reproductive details of T. bahaii, through gonad visual and histological examination, which are necessary for understanding the basic ecology of the species and also for conservation purposes. We believed that information on the growth and reproductive biology of this small and colourful Loach is important because it may enter the aquarium trade.

Materials and Methods

Present investigation was performed in Zayandeh Roud River which is the largest river in the entire interior basins of Iran. The River flows eastward from the high central part of Zagros, after passing through Esfahan province and terminates in Gavkhooni wetland.

Sampling on the basis of once per month, was carried out from February 2013 to January 2014 (in the last week of each month and before noon at two separate sites, 15 km apart, along the River (site 1: 32° 51´ 86´´ E, 51° 22´ 72´´ N and site 2: 32° 51´ 79´´ E, 51° 37´ 33´´ N) (Figure 1). To understand the habitat characteristics of the fish, besides fish sampling, some environmental factors including water temperature (C°), dissolved oxygen (mg L-1), pH and electrical conductivity (μs cm-1) were measured in situ. River depth ranged from 70-170cm, width ranged from 6-15m, water temperature ranged from 2-22°C (12.98±5.45 mean±SD), dissolve oxygen ranged from 6.1-13.11mg L-1 (10.23±1.16 mean±SD), pH ranged from 7.21-8.89 (7.98±0.39 mean±SD) and electrical conductivity ranged from 241- 424μs cm-1 (302.88±39.92 mean±SD)).