Length-weight Relationship of Indian Major Carps from Kumhari Reservoir Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.

Raghav M.¹, Dixit S.²

¹Department of Fisheries, College of Agriculture, I.G.K.V., Raipur (C.G.) India

²Asst. Professor, Dept. of Zoology, Govt. D.B.Girls College

Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, C.G., India

ABSTRACT

126 samples of C. catla, 129 samples of C. mrigala and 163 samples of L. rohita were sampled in Kumhari reservoir, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India to study the growth parameters of length-weight. Log transformed regression were used to test the allometric growth. It was observed that the growth in weight is almost proportional to the cube of its length in L. rohita while C. catla and C. mrigala were slightly deviated from the cube of its length. The values of slope b = 2.8018, 3.4576 and 2.6275 were calculated for C. catla, L. rohita and C. mrigala respectively.

INTRODUCTION:

The relation between weight and length for fish in a given population can be analyzed by measuring weight and length of the same fish throughout their life or of a sample of fish taken at a particular time(Wootton,1998) Length-weight relationships of fish, in general, are important because they: (a) allow an estimate of the condition of fish; (b) allow the estimation of biomass from length observations; (c) allow the conversion of growth in- length equations to growth-in-weight; and (d) are useful for comparisons among regional areas of life histories of a species (Goncalves et al.,1996). Length-weight relationships were also originally used to provide information on the condition of fish and may help to determine whether somatic growth is isometric or allometric (Ricker, 1975).Length-weight-relationship has been commonly used for two different purposes. Firstly, to describe the mathematical model between length and weight so as to derive one from the other (Wootton, 1990). Since length can be easily and accurately measured, the data on length are available in various studies. It is highly valuable in cases where weight can be determined from length already known and vice versa. Secondly, length-weight relationship is used to compute the departure from the expected weight for length of individual fish or a group of fishes as indications of fatness or degree of well being of fish, this relationship is called “Condition factor” (Wootton, 1990) The study of length- weight has its applied value in fish biology. The significance of the study in fishes is to assess the growth of fish in different environments (Mirza et al., 1988) In application of the length-weight relationships to define a population, fish length is measured and predicted average weight in assigned to all fish in a given length group. This is often faster and more convenient than weighing fish individually, especially when large number of live fish must be sampled. Length-weight relationship is used in commercial scales and population assessments (Steeby et al ., 1991: Ali et al ., 2000).

Length-weight relationship allows prediction of weight from length in yield assessments (Pauly, 1993). The growth in animals is considered in terms of increase in volume. The volume is represented by weight, which is related to the cube of linear dimension. It is therefore, true that a relationship exists between length (linear dimension) and weight in animals (Kellicott, 1908).

The relationship between weight (W) and length (L) typically takes the algometric formula W = a L^{b ,} or in linear form log a + b log L, where a and b are constants estimated by regression analysis. If fish retains the same shape it grows isometrically and length exponent “b” has the value b = 3.0. a value significantly larger or smaller than b = 3.0 shows algometric growth (Bagenal and Tesch, 1978). A value less than b = 3.0 shows that fish become heavier for its length as it grows.

The present study is a sequence of this chain and is dealing with length-weight relationship of Catla catla, Labeo rohta and Cirrhinus mrigala. It is for the first time that these species are being studied from this point of view in Chhattisgarh, India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

In Kumhari reservoir 126 samples of C. catla measuring 29.8 cm. to 45.7cm, 129 samples of C. mrigala measuring 33.2 cm to 53.4 cm and 163 samples of L. rohita measuring from 25.8 cm to 43.4 cm were collected during March 2009 to June 2009. Fishes are directly collected from the landing site, weight of fishes were taken with the help of electrical digital balance (MP-3000 Chyo, Japan) to nearest 0.01gm. All measurements were made from tip of the snout to the longest caudal fin ray on fish board having a millimeter ruler.

The length-weight data were analyzed according to the method given by Le Cren (1951)

W = a L ^b as log W = log a + b log L,

Where, W = weight of fish,

L = length of fish and ‘a’ and ‘b’ are constants.

Separate equations were calculated for Catla catla, Labeo rohta and Cirrhinus mrigala.

RESULTS:

The relationship between wet body weight (W) and total length (L) is exponential having the general form Y = a xb or W = a L ^b. When the data is transformed into logarithmic form (Fig.1), a linear relationship is obtained having the general form

Log 10W = Log10 a + b Log10 L.

C. catla: - Log W = 2.1205 Log L-2.8018

The value of ‘b’ = 2.801

L. rohita: - Log W = 2.4519 Log L-3.4576

The value of ‘b’ = 3.457

C. mrigala: - Log W = 1.9107 Log L-2.6275

The value of ‘b’ = 2.627

DISCUSSION:

The values of “b” for the fishes C. catla, C. mrigala were 2.8018 and 2.6275 indicating a slight deviation from isometric pattern of growth in these fishes. Sarkar et al. (1998) made a similar study on C. mrigala which spawned in bundh and the hatchery reared stock and reported an allometric growth. Desai and Shrivastava (1990) observed that C. mrigala from Rhind reservoir (Uttar Pradesh) did not follow the ‘cube law’ exactly because the exponential value (b) was found to be 2.91. Vaitheeswaran and Venkataraman (2008) worked on the length-weight relationship of Odonus niger collected from the reef islands of Gulf of Mannar by SCUBA diving for a period of six months form January 2004 to June2004. The slope value (b) estimated for Odonus niger male was found to be 2.1601 and for female 2.2508 which show that females are closer to cubes law in comparison to males. Shayak (2005) studied on Length-weight relationship of Suffamen fraenatus (Latreille) and Zenodon niger (Ruppell) and found that the value of ‘b’ for Suffamen fraenatus varies from 2.435 to 2.950 at different regions. The value of ‘b’ for Zenodon niger varies from 2.0855 – 2.7376. Relationship between total length and total weight in balistids is not significantly different in males and females.

However in case of L. rohita the value of “b” is little more than 3 shows isometric growth pattern. In the present study, C. catla and C. mrigala exhibited a slight deviation from isometric pattern of growth but L. rohita exhibited isometric growth pattern. Sunil Kumar et al. (1999) opined that the exponential values for the endemic catfish, Horabagrus brachysoma do not significantly differ from 3.

Fig.1: Correlation between length and weight of major carps in Kumhari reservoir

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Received on 16.11.2009

Accepted on 29.11.2009

Research J. Science and Tech. 1(3): Nov. Dec. 2009: 110-112