Comparative study on condition factors of Terapon jarbua and Terapon puta from Puducherry waters

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1 Indian Journal of Geo Marine Sciences Vol. 46 (02), 2017, pp Comparative study on condition factors of Terapon jarbua and Terapon puta from Puducherry waters R. Nandikeswari 1, M. Sambasivam 2 & P.M. Mohan 1 1 Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology, Pondicherry University, Port Blair, India 2 Assistant Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya (JNRM), Port Bair , Pondicherry University, India [ navinpraem@gmail.com] Received ; revised 30 October 2016 The condition factor values between male and female Terapon jarbua and Terapon puta were examined. Mean values of both the species showed there was statistically slight difference and the difference was in favour of female. From the present study, it is noticed that the K n values of male and female Terapon jarbua and Terapon puta are greater than one in most of the months in the year [Key words: Condition factor, Terapon jarbua, Terapon puta and tiger perch] Introduction The condition factor, it is used in fisheries science in order to compare the condition, fatness or wellbeing of fish. It is based on the hypothesis that heavier fish of a particular length is in the better physiological condition than lower weight 1. Seasonal variability of length-weight and physiological condition related to feeding and reproduction has been observed in many fish species inhabiting temperate ecosystems 2-4. Seasonal variations of growth in fishes in relation to size attained by the individual fish may vary because of variations in food supply, availability of food and these in turn may reflect variations in climatic parameters and in the supply of nutrients or in the degree of competition for food. Thus, a change in size through a certain period of time may indicate a change in average age resulting from those factors. Length at weight data can notably provide important clues to climatic and environmental changes and the change in human subsistence practices 5-6. Condition factor is also a useful index for the monitoring of feeding intensity in fish 7. The relative condition factor (K n ) is another commonly used index in the study of fish biology, which provides an information on the physiological state of these fishes, based on the assumption that individual of a given body length are in better condition when their mass is greater 8-9. The relative condition factor depends on the co-efficient of allometry (b) of the weight length equation, which reflects to the growth pattern of a species 10. It is strongly influenced by both biotic and abiotic environmental conditions and can be used as an index to assess the status of aquatic ecosystem 11. Condition factors of different tropical fish species were investigated and reported notably by Bakare 12, Welcomme 13, Siddiqui 14, Fagade 15, Dodzie and Wangila 16, Arawomo 17, Oni et al 7, Saliu 18, Lizama et al 19, Ahouansou et al 20 and Abowei 11. The variations in the condition factor reflect firstly their sexual developmental stage and feeding level The mean relative condition factor (K n ) is also a parameter that indicates to what extent the fish are healthy or their relative well-being. Materials and Methods A total of 208 male and 162 female of Terapon jarbua and 250 male and 235 female of Terapon puta were collected from Bay of Bengal, Puducherry from July 2008 to 2010 for the determination of length and weight. The collected fishes were carried immediately to the laboratory. After thorough wash with tap water the total length of each fish was measured with a measuring scale to the nearest millimeters and the body weight in grams by an electronic balance. Excess water from the fishes was removed with

2 246 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 46, NO. 02, FEBRUARY 2017 blotting paper before measuring the weight of the fishes. Individual variations from the length-weight relationships have been studied under the general condition 10. Such changes in condition have usually been analyzed by means of condition factor or K-factor or ponderal index that has been calculated using different formulae by various workers, The condition of a fish is influenced by the seasonal changes of gonad and also feeding intensity. This is why; instead of total body weight is considered as nominal body weight to calculate the condition of the fish, since it is not influenced by the weight of the gonad and stomach contents 23. As described above, the length-weight relationship data collected for calculating the regression of weight or length was utilized for the present study. Relative condition factor K n was calculated for each individual fish dividing the observed weight by calculated weight and the K n values for different size groups were calculated. As there is significant difference in the lengthweight relationship between male and female, the K n values was computed separately for the sexes. The relative condition factor (K n ), typically used by fishery researches was computed by employing the formula K n = W L where, K n = Relative condition factor W = average weight of fish in gram L = Length of fish in centimeter Results Month wise mean relative condition factor (K n ) between sexes of Terapon jarbua The monthly mean relative coefficient of condition factor values, ranges for male and female Terapon jarbua are represented in table 1 and the variations of condition factor are depicted in Fig.1. In male, the K n values showed fluctuations in all months and the mean relative condition factor values ranged from to In female, the condition factor values ranged from to The high condition factor level was recorded stating from to in both the years for both the sexes. The maturation and spawning period for both the sexes starts from and extends up to July. Table 1- Month wise mean relative condition factor of male and female Terapon jarbua Month Male (K n ) Female (K n ) July(2008) October July(2009) October July(2008) July(2009) male female Fig.1- Month wise mean relative condition factor of male and female Terapon jarbua Month wise mean relative condition factor (K n ) between sexes of Terapon puta The monthly mean relative coefficient of condition factor values ranges for male and

3 NANDIKESWARI et al.: COMPARATIVE STUDY ON CONDITION FACTORS OF TERAPON SPECIES 247 female Terapon puta are represented in table 2 and the variations of condition factor are depicted in fig.2. In male, the K n values showed fluctuations in all months and the mean relative condition factor values ranged from to In female, the condition factor values ranged from to The high condition factor level was recorded stating from to October and to coinciding with the spawning season. This species spawns more than once in a year, probably once in - and a second time in -October for both the sexes. Table 2- Month wise mean relative condition factor of male and female Terapon puta Month Male (K n ) Female (K n ) July(2008) October July(2009) October July(2008) July(2009) male Female Fig. 2 - Month wise mean relative condition factor of male and female Terapon puta Discussion Mean relative condition factor (K n ) is used to compare the condition, fatness or well being of fish and are based on the hypothesis that the heavier fish of a given length are in better condition 24. Monthly mean relative condition factor values for male and female Terapon jarbua are presented in table 1. Female had relatively higher mean K n value (1.24) than that of male (1.21). The K n values were higher starting from to July, in both the years ( ) for both male and female. K n values were found to be low in October and, for both male and female in both the years ( ). The condition factor of Terapon jarbua showed variation in different months and it was noticed that the K n value was higher when fish entered into the maturation phase during - and for the rest of the months K n values showed slight variation. Analysis of K n values revealed that the mean K n values greater than one indicates that the fish is in better condition 10. From the present study, it is noticed that the K n values for male and female is greater than one in most of the months. The fishes are in better physiological condition at the time of breeding caused by density of food material, photoperiod and temperature. The monthly mean relative coefficient factor values for male and female Terapon puta are presented in table 2. Female Terapon puta also had relatively higher mean K n value (0.98) than that of male (0.94). K n values were higher starting from 2009 to 2010 for both male and female. The K n values were found to be low during the year for both male and female. It may be due to changes in environmental conditions viz. temperature, photoperiod and less abundance of food materials.

4 248 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 46, NO. 02, FEBRUARY 2017 Overcrowding, food supply, parasites, disease or low productivity may have a great influence on the health of the fish to attribute the lower K n value. It is strongly influenced by both biotic and abiotic environmental conditions 11. The condition factor of Terapon puta showed variation in different months and it was noticed that the K n value was higher when fish entered into the maturation phase during - and for the rest of the months K n values showed slight variation. From the present study, it is noticed that the K n values for male and female are greater than one in most of the months in the year When the condition factor values between male and female Terapon jarbua and Terapon puta were examined, then the mean values of both the species showed there was statistically slight difference (Table 1 & Table 2) and the difference was in favour of female. According to Pandey and Sharma 25 who have studied the condition four exotic carps, only the common carp Cyprinus carpio communis was found to have a value above one. Pandey and Sharma 26 reported that high K n values for labeo rohita (1.0129) and Catla catla (1.0007) and low values for Cirrhinus mrigala (0.9967). It is assumed that the gonad develops gradually till it reached to the maturation stages 27. Weight per unit length of fish is greater than one when they grow rapidly. Mean K n values less than one indicates that the fish is growing slowly. Overcrowding, food supply, parasites, disease or low productivity may have a great influence on the health of the fish to attribute the lower K n value. Samat et al 27 stated that a larger part of the energy is transferred for other activities such as growth and emptying of ovaries. Fluctuations in the condition factor of many fishes were observed in relation to their reproductive cycle and feeding rhythms or physico-chemical factors of environment, age, physiological state of fish or some other unknown factors Conclusion The present study discloses that K n values calculated for both male and female in both the species could not be correlated with the reproductive cycle. Therefore, it is inferred that the changes in the relative condition factor in both the species do not appear to be related to sexual cycle at this level of study. Acknowledgements Authors are grateful to Pondicherry University for providing necessary facilities for carrying out this research work. References 1. Bagenal T B, Aspects of fish fecundity, In: Gerking, S. D. (ed). Methods of Assessment of Ecology of Freshwater Fish Production, Blackwell, London, 1978, pp Schwalme, K & Chouinard, G. 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5 NANDIKESWARI et al.: COMPARATIVE STUDY ON CONDITION FACTORS OF TERAPON SPECIES Dodzie, S & Wangila, B. C. C., Reproductive biology, length-weight relationship and relative condition of pond raised Tilapia zilli (Gervas), Journal of Fish Biology, 17 (1980) Arawomo G A O, The growth of Sarotherodon niloticus (L.) in Opa reservoir, Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Conference of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, 1982, pp Saliu, J. K., Observation on the condition factor of Brycinus nurse (Pisces: Cypriniformes, Characidae) from Asa Reservoir, Ilorin, Nigeria, Tropical Fresh water Biology, 10 (2001) Lizama, M., De Los, A. P & Ambroso, A. M., Condition factor in nine species of fish of the Characidae family in the upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil, Brazilian Journal of Biology, 62 (2002) Ahouansou, M. S., Laleye, A. P & Linsenmair, E. K., Length-length, length weight relationships and condition factor of Nile perch, Lates niloticus(linnaeus, 1762) in the Pendjari River, West Africa International Journal Biology and Chemistry Sciences, 3 (2009) Wootton R J, Ecology of teleost fishes, London, (Chapman and Hall) 1990, pp Williams J E, The coefficient of condition of fish. In: Manual of Fisheries Survey Methods-II, Papageorgious, The length-weight relationship age, growth and reproduction of the roach Rutilus rutilus (L) in Lake, Journal of Fish Biology, 14 (1979) Bagenal T B & Tesch F W, Age and growth, In: Methods for assessment of fish production in fresh waters, edited by Baegnal, T.B. IBP Hand book No.3, Third edition (Blackwell Scientific Publication, London), 1978, pp Pandey, A. C & Sharma, M. K., A Preliminary Study on the Relative condition factor of exotic Carps Cultivated on Sodic Soil Pond Conditions in U.P, India, Indian Journal of Fisheries, 45 (1997) Pandey, A. C & Sharma, M. K., Bionomics of the Indian Major Carps Cultivated on Sodic Soil Pond Conditions in U.P. India, Indian Journal of Fisheries, 45(1998) Samat, A., Shukor, M. N., Mazlan, A. G., Arshad, A & Fatimah, M. Y., Length-weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Pterygoplichthys pardalis (Pisces: Loricariidae) in Malaysia Peninsula, Research Journal of Fisheries and Hydrobiology, 3 (2008) Neelakantan, B & Pai, M. V., Relative condition Factor in Marine Fish Lactarius lactarius (Bloch and Schneider), Matsya, 11 (1985) Narejo, N. T., Rahmatullah, S. M & Mamnur, M., Length-weight Relationship and Relative condition factor (Kn) of Monopterus cuchia (Hamilton), Indian Journal of Fisheries, 8 (2002) Lawson, E. O & Olagundoye, A. U., Growth patterns, diet composition and sex ratios in giant African threadfin, Polydactylus quadrifilis from ologe lagoon, Lagos, Nigeria, International journal of Agriculture and Biology, 13 (2011) Kurup, B. M & Samuvel, C. T., Length-weight Relationship and Relative Condition Factor in Daysciaena albida (Cuv.) and Gerres filamentosus (Cuv.), Fishery Technology, 24 (1987) Kurup, B. M., Population Characteristics, Bionomics and Culture of Labeo dussumieri (Val.). Final Report Submitted to Indian Council of Agricultural Research, 1990, pp Kalita, N & Jayabalan, N., Age and Growth of the Carangid Alepes para (Class: Osteichthyes) from Mangalore Coast, Indian Journal of Marine Science, 26 (1997)

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