Sains Malaysiana 42(3)(2013): 265–277

Life History Traits of the Critically Endangered Catfish Eutropiichthys vacha(Hamilton 1822)

in the Jamuna (Brahmaputra River Distributary) River, Northern Bangladesh

(Ciri Sejarah Hidup Ikan Keli Terancam Kritikal Eutropiichthys vacha(Hamilton 1822)

di Sungai Jamuna (Anak Sungai Brahmaputra), Bangladesh Utara)

Md. Yeamin Hossain^1,2*, Md. Mosaddequr Rahman², Md. Abu Sayed Jewel², Md. Akhtar Hossain², Ferdous Ahamed¹, Anannya Sen Tumpa², Elgorban M. Abdallah³ & Jun Ohtomi

¹Faculty of Fisheries, Kagoshima University, 4-20-50 Shimoarata

Kagoshima 890-0056 Japan

²Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Rajshahi

Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh

³Center of Excellence of Biotechnology Research, King Saud University

Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

Received: 26 August 2011 / Accepted: 2 October 2012

ABSTRACT

The critically endangered catfish Eutropiichthys vacha (Hamilton 1822) is one of the commercially high nutritional valuable food fish in Asian countries, but the natural populations are seriously decreasing due to high fishing pressure, leading to an alarming condition and deserving of high conservation importance. Our study describes some biological parameters, including sex ratio, length-frequency distribution (LFD), length-weight relationships (LWRs), length-length relationships (LLRs), condition factors (Allometric, KA; Fulton’s, KF; Relative condition, KR; Relative weight, WR) and form factor (a3.0) of E. vacha in the Jamuna (Brahmaputra River distributary) River, northern Bangladesh. A total of 350 specimens ranging from 8.01-16.95 cm TL (total length) and 1.70-30.38 g BW (body weight) were analyzed in this study. Sampling was done using traditional fishing gears during March 2010 to February 2011. The overall sex ratio showed no significant differences from the expected value of 1:1 (χ2=2.57, p>0.05), and there was no significant difference in the LFD between the sexes (p=0.38). The allometric coefficient b for the LWR indicated isometric growth (~3.00) in males and combined sexes, but negative allometric growth (<3.00) in females. The results further indicated that the LLRs were highly correlated (r² > 0.997; p<0.001). KR showed significant variations (F=65.11; p<0.01) between male and female; whereas, KF was not significantly different between the sexes (p=0.64). Also, WR was significantly different from 100 for both sexes (p<0.01), indicating the imbalance habitat with food availability relative to the presence of predators for E. vacha. The estimated values of a3.0 were as 0.0060, 0.005 and 0.0054 for males, females and combined sexes of E. vacha. This study reported the first complete and comprehensive description of life-history traits for E. vacha from Bangladeshi waters. These results should be useful for the sustainable conservation of this critically endangered fishery in Bangladesh and neighboring countries.

Keywords: Bangladesh; condition factor; Eutropiichthys vacha; length-weight relationship

ABSTRAK

Ikan keli terancam, Eutropiichthys Vacha (Hamilton 1822) adalah salah satu ikan yang menjadi makanan berkhasiat bernilai komersial yang tinggi di negara-negara Asia, tetapi kini mengalami pengurangan populasi semula jadi yang serius akibat tekanan penangkapan yang tinggi, menjurus kepada keadaan yang membimbangkan dan wajar menerima kepentingan pemuliharaan yang tinggi. Penyelidikan kami menerangkan beberapa parameter biologi, termasuk nisbah jantina, panjang-frekuensi pengedaran (LFD), panjang-berat hubungan (LWRs), panjang-panjang hubungan (LLRs), faktor keadaan (‘allometric, KA itu Fulton, KF; keadaan relatif, KR; faktor berat relatif, WR) dan bentuk (a3.0) E. Vacha dalam Sungai Jamuna (Anak Sungai Brahmaputra) di Bangladesh utara. Sejumlah 350 spesimen yang terdiri daripada 8.01-16.95 cm TL (jumlah panjang) dan 1.70-30.38 g BW (berat badan) telah dianalisis dalam kajian ini. Persampelan telah dilakukan menggunakan peralatan menangkap ikan tradisional pada bulan Mac 2010 hingga Februari 2011. Nisbah jantina keseluruhan menunjukkan tiada perbezaan yang signifikan daripada nilai jangkaan 1:1 (χ2=2,57, p>0.05) dan tidak ada perbezaan yang signifikan dalam LFD antara jantina (p=0.38). Pekali alometri B untuk LWR menunjukkan pertumbuhan isometrik (~3.00) dalam ikan jantan dan ikan jantina gabungan, tetapi pertumbuhan alometri negatif (<3.00) dalam kalangan ikan betina. Hasil kajian juga menunjukkan bahawa LLRs berkait rapat (r²>0,997; p<0.001). KR menunjukkan perbezaan yang signifikan (F=65,11, p<0.01) antara ikan jantan dan betina, manakala, KF tidak berbeza antara jantina (p=0.64). Selain itu, WR adalah berbeza dengan ketara daripada 100 untuk kedua-dua jantina (p<0.01), menunjukkan habitat ketidakseimbangan dengan adanya makanan berbanding dengan kehadiran pemangsa untukE. Vacha. Dianggarkan nilai a_3.0 adalah 0.0060, 0.005 dan 0.0054 untuk jantan, betina dan jantina gabunganE. Vacha. Kajian ini merupakan kajian pertama yang lengkap dan komprehensif berkenaan ciri-ciri sejarah hidupE. Vacha dari perairan Bangladesh. Keputusan ini amat berguna untuk pemuliharaan mampan ikan terancam di Bangladesh dan negara-negara jiran.

Kata kunci: Bangladesh; Eutropiichthys vacha; faktor keadaan; panjang-berat hubungan

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*Corresponding author; email: yeamin2222@yahoo.com