Length-weight relationship and condition factor of seven fish species of Totkabon River (southern Caspian Sea basin), Guilan, Iran

Abstract

Length-weight relationship and condition factor were investigated in seven fish species, including Barbus cyri , Capoeta gracilis , Alburnoides eichwaldi , Acanthalbarnus microlepis , Ponticola cyrius , Cobitis keyvani and Oxynemacheilus bergianus from Totkabon River. A total of 570 specimens ranging from 25.90 to 146.97 mm in total length and 0.1 to 260.3 g in total weight were collected. Based on the results, growth coefficient values “ b ” ranged from 2.429 ( A. microlpis ) to 3.71 ( C. keyvani ). All length-weight relationships were significant ( P <0.05), with r 2 greater than 0.856. The four species viz . A. microlepis , C. gracilis , P. cyrius and C. keyvani showed allometric ( b <3< b ) and three species viz . B. cyri , A. eichwaldi and O. bergianus isometric ( b = 3) growth patterns. Condition factor ranged from 0.544 ( O. bergianus ) to 0.940 ( P. cyrius ). All linear regressions were highly significant ( P <0.05). The result of this study may be useful for biologists and fishery managers.