Growth and reproduction of Mesopotamian spiny eel (Mastacembelus mastacembelusBanks & Solander, 1794) in Ataturk Dam Lake (Şanliurfa), Turkey

Abstract

Age at length, growth and reproduction of 220 Mastacembelus mastacembelus specimens from the Atatu¨rk Dam Lake were studied from July 2005 to July 2006. Total lengths and weights ranged from 7.0 to 85.0 cm and from 6 to 1100 g, respectively. Maximum age was 13 years. The regression model fitted to length and weight data was W = 0.0228 L 2.43 for males and W = 0.0029 L 2.95 for females. The von Bertalaffy growth equations for males and females were L t = 99.2 [1)e )0.11 (t)0.12) ] and L t = 69.2 [1)e )0.26 (t)0.35) ], respectively. Males dominated especially at an older age; the overall sex ratio was 1 : 0.63 (M:F). The breeding period was from May to July. Fecundity ranged from 2540 to 24 000 eggs per female.

Changes in demersal fish assemblages on the west coast of South Africa, 1986–2009

“…No life-history studies of these species have been conducted, but studies conducted on species of the same families (Bingzheng et al 1984, Kwok and Ni 1999, Correia et al 2009, Oymak et al 2009), suggest that they are likely to be relatively fast-growing and early maturing. The biomass of two chondrichthyan species Callorhinchus capensis and Squalus acanthias decreased significantly among year groups; both are slow-growing, oviparous or ovoviviparous, and long-lived, and are considered to be more vulnerable to fishing pressure (Stevens et al 2000).…”

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“…Endemic species, such as asp, Barbus sp. and others, are valuable fish for their ecological and commercial impact and their populations need to be studied to facilitate fisheries management in this area (Al Hazzaa, 2005;Oymak, et al, 2009). Regardless of their sex, all asp samples in the studied area have isometric growth.…”

Seasonal Variations in the Fatty Acid Composition of Phospholipid and Triacylglycerol in Gonad and Liver of Mastacembelus simack

“…Mastacembelus mastacembelus occurs in the Euphrates and Tigris River basin in the Middle East, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey and it is known as the Mesopotamian spiny eel due to its habitat [1]. This species is also sole representative of the order Synbranchioformes in Turkish freshwaters and it was reported as Mastacembelus simack [2].…”