The Relationships Between Otolith Dimensions-Total Length of Chub (Squalius cephalus, L.1758) Sampled from Some Inland Waters of the Middle Black Sea Region

Abstract

In this study, the relationships between otolith dimensions and total length of chub (Squalius cephalus, L.1758) sampled from a few inland waters of Black Sea was researched. Chub samples were obtained from the four different localities (Abdal, Akçay, Terme and Yedikır). Power models were applied to estimate the relationships between the otolith measurements and total length (TL). Paired t-test, independent t test and ANOVA were done to test the data statistically. The average total length of individuals sampled from Abdal, Akçay and Terme Streams, Yedikır Dam Lake varies between 11.49 ± 0.79 cm, 10.31 ± 0.52 cm, 10.33 ± 0.29 cm and 11.11 ± 0.33 cm, respectively. When all the data were evaluated according to localities, it was found that there was no difference in terms of otolith breadth (OB) and otolith length (OL) for asteriscus and lapillus otoliths. There were differences in terms of otolith weight of lapillus in localities. There were no differences of asteriscus otolith weight of chub between localities. The relationships between TL and OB, OL and OW were determined using the power regression equation and best fit was obtained between TL and OW for Terme (r2 =0.936) and Yedikır (r2 =0.912), OL for Akçay and Abdal Streams (r2=0.973).