Reproduction of an isolated Iranian cichlid, Iranocichla hormuzensis

The reproductive biology of the Iranian cichlid, Iranocichla hormuzensis Coad, 1988, was investigated for 13 consecutive months in lower Mehran River, from August 2008 through August 2009. Four hundred and eighty six individuals (252 males and 234 females) were captured using a seine net (5 mm mesh size). The observed sex ratio was 1M: 0.93F (χ², df = 1, P = 0.414). Mean ± SD of total length (TL) values in males and females were 70.34 ± 8.16 and 62.08 ± 6.51 mm, respectively. The frequency of 56-65 mm size class was higher in females and the 66-75 mm size class in males. A gonadosomatic index (GSI) analyses of females indicated that the reproductive period was during February-June, with a peak in March. Fecundity was best correlated with total body mass (M) (linear regression, r2 = 0.62) condition factor (linear regression, r2 = 0.62) and total length (TL) (linear regression, r2 = 0.56).The absolute fecundity ranged between 48-167 eggs with a Mean ± SD of 107 ± 35.2. Egg diameters ranged from 0.58 to 2.93 mm

A study on genetic differentiation in two species of Iranian bleaks, Alburnus mossulensis and Alburnus caeruleus (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) using simple sequence repeats

The genetic structure of the genus Alburnus is not well known and the phylogenetic relationships among its species are uncertain. In the present study, simple sequence repeats (SSRs or microsatellites) were used to evaluate genetic diversity and genetic differentiation between Alburnus mossulensis Heckel, 1843 from Kashgan River in Lorestan province and A. caeruleus Heckel, 1843 from Gamasiab River in Kermanshah province. Thirty specimens from each species were collected and their genomic DNA was extracted. Polymerase chain reaction was performed using four pairs of SSR markers, including CypG24, BL1-2b, BL1-98 and Rser10, from which a total of 480 bands were amplified. The average observed and expected heterozygosities for both species were similar. In both species, except for Rser10 locus, all loci deviated from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P <0.05). Average genetic distance and Fst values between the two species were 0.361 and 0.04, respectively. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed more interspecific (94%) than intraspecific (4%) genetic variation. Although four sets of SSR markers developed for other cyprinids showed high level of polymorphisms in the Iranian bleaks, they showed low genetic differentiation between them. Study on the possibility of genetic differentiation of the examined species by more microsatellite loci or other molecular markers such as amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) are recommended

Age and growth of the Mesopotamian barb, Capoeta damascina, in central Iran

Age and growth of Mesopotamian barb, Capoeta damascina, were studied in the Zayandehrud River, in central Iran, from March 2007 to April 2008. Among the 689 specimens studied, age groups in males ranged from 1+ to 9+ and that in females ranged from 1+ to 10+. The sex ratio (1 M: 1.6 F) was not significantly different from 1:1 ratio. Maximum fork length and weight was 39 cm and 1.115 g for males and 54.2 cm and 2.340 g for females. In all age classes, females were larger than males. The most frequent age groups were 3+ in males and 4+ in females. The highest value for condition factor was observed in June. The growth of C. damascina was described by von Bertalanffy growth curve as k=0.01, L_∞=56.2 cm, t_0=-0.63 for males and k = 0.05, L_∞=117.1 cm and t_0= -0.43 years for females. The length-weigh relationship was described as W=0.0169L^2.95 (r^2 =0.98) for males and as W=0.0155L2.99 (r^2 =0.99) for females, indicating an isometric growth pattern in both sexes. Growth performance index φ` was estimated as 5.73 for males and 6.53 for females, indicating a faster growth rate in females

The effect of different diets on production and population specific growth rate of the freshwater Cladoceran Ceriodaphnia quadrangula (Muller, 1785)

In this study, effects of five different diets including green algae, Scenedesmus quadricauda, mixture of S. quadricauda and baker's yeast, cattle manure, poultry manure, mixture manure (cattle + poultry, 1:1 ratio in weight) were examined on density, specific growth rate and doubling time of freshwater Cladoceran, Ceriodaphnia quadrangula population, at two high and low levels of food density with three replications. The results showed that the maximum population density (184 individuals/50ml), maximum specific growth rate (SGR) (0.18/day) and minimum doubling time (Dt) (3.85 days) were obtained when C. quadrangula fed with S. quadricauda at high density (50×104 cell/ml). In addition, the minimum population density (7.3 ind/50 ml), minimum SGR (0.019 /day), and maximum Dt (36.2 days) resulted from C. quadrangula fed on cattle manure at low diet density (5mg). In this research, maximum (800±34.6µm) (Mean ±SE) and minimum (521±31.6µm) body length of C. quadrangula measured when fed with cattle manure at low diet density and S. quadricauda at high diet density, respectively. In conclusion, the results of current study illustrated that S. quadricauda as diet gave better performance for rearing of C. quadrangula compared to other diet treatments

Age and growth of Alburnus mossulensis (Cyprinidae) in Bibi-Sayyedan River of Isfahan Province

Population structure and growth of Mossul bleak, Alburnus mossulensis, a native species of cyprinids in Bibi-Sayyedan River of Semirom, Isfahan, were investigated by monthly sampling during December 2010 to December 2011. For this purpose, 543 specimens (353 females, 159 males and 31 immature) were caught using seine net (5 mm mesh size) and a cast net. Age groups of males and females were 0+ to 5+. The most frequent age group was 2+ in both sexes. The sex ratio was 1M:2.2F (p0.05). The largest female was 16.80 cm in total length and 49.12 g in weight, while the largest male was 14.10 cm in total length and 28.19 g in body weight. The length-weight relationship was calculated as W = 0.0169L^3.0355 (r^2=0.95) for males, W=0.0061L^3.1751 (r^2=0.98) for females and W=0.0066L^3.139 (r^2=0.99) for all fish (males, females and immature). Regression coefficient (b) based on Pauly test, was significantly different from 3 in females, but not in males (p<0.05), indicating an isometric growth pattern in males and a positive allometric growth pattern in females and all fish

Karyological analysis of Cyprinion macrostomum Heckel, 1843, from Godarkhosh River, Ilam Province, Iran

In this study, for the first time in Iran, the karyotype of bigmouth Lotak, Cyprinion macrostomum Heckel, 1843, was investigated through examining metaphase chromosomes of seven fish with mean weight 30±5g caught by electrofishing from Godarkhosh River in Ilam Province. To stimulate cell divisions, fish were injected intraperitoneally two times by phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The cell divisions were arrested in metaphase stage by intraperitoneal injection of colchicine. Well-separated cells were obtained from kidney and gill filament and chromosome spreads were prepared and stained with giemsa. Karyotype was obtained as 2n=50. The karyotype consisted of 5 metacentric, 12 submetacentric and 8 telocentric chromosome pairs. Centromeric index, arm ratio and Fundamental Number (FN) were determined as 0-50, 1-∞, and 84, respectively

Reproductive biology of Mossul bleak (Alburnus mossulensis) in Bibi-Sayyedan River of Tigris basin in Iran

Reproductive characteristics of Mossul bleak, Alburnus mossulensis, a native species of Cyprinidae family in Bibi-Sayyedan River of Semirom, Isfahan, were investigated by monthly sampling during December 2010 to December 2011. Five hundred and fourty three specimens (256 females, 159 males and 31 immature) were caught by a sein net (5 mm mesh size). The collected sampeles were anesthesized in 1% clove oil solution and transported to the laboratory on ice and subjected to dissection and biometric measurments. Age of males and females ranged from 0+ to 5+ years. The sex ratio was 1M: 2.2F (p < 0.05). The females outnumbered the males in all age classes. The largest female was 16.8cm in total length and 49.12g in weight and the largest male was 14.1cm in total length and 28.19g in weight. The age and total length at first maturity of females and males were estimated as 1 year and 5.3cm total length, and 2 years and 4.4cm, respectively. The minimum, maximum, and avarge absolute fecundity were 2064, 10316, and 5505 ± 2686, respectively and also the relative fecundity was 203 ± 58 egg/g body weight. Macroscopic analysis of gonads and gonadostomatic index values suggested that spawning of A. mossulensis occurs from March to June with a peak in April. Thus, A. mosullensis is considered a group-synchronous type species with a capacity for multiple ovulations within a reproductive season (multiple spawner)

Short communication: Age and growth of king nase, Condrostoma regium (Cyprinidae), from Bibi-Sayyedan River of Semirom, Isfahan, Iran

Age determination is an important step in fisheries management. The cyprinid fish Chondrostoma regium (Heckel, 1843) is widely distributed in Tigris-Euphrates basin and the Mediterranean basins of southeastern Turkey and the northern Levant. In Iran, it is found in Karun and Karkheh Rivers, the Hoor-al-Azim Marsh and also in Zayandehrud River and Bushehr basin. This species is not found in other basins of Iran. However, there is little information about its habitat requirements. ... The aim of the present study was to investigate the length-weight relationship and age and growth of C. regium population in Bibi-Sayyedan River of Semirom, Isfahan as a tributary of Tigris basin in Iran

Parasitic infestation in Chondrostoma regium and Aphanius vladykovi of the Behesht-Abad River (Chaharmahal-va-Bakhtiary)

Parasitic infestation of two native fish species in Behesht-Abad River were investigated at spring 2013. In this study 52 Chondrostoma regium and Aphanius vladykovi (26 from each species) were sampled and transferred to the laboratory. Then the weight and total length of fish were measured and investigated their infestation to parasites by microscope and stereomicrpscope. Some of the observed parasites are reported for the first time as new host records of: Philometra sp on the abdominal cavity of C. regium, Moreover, some external and internal parasites identified to the species and genus level including: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis in skin and gill of C. regium and A. vladykovi, one immature digenean; Allocreadium isoporum on the intestine of A. vladykovi and Trichodina sp on gill and skin of C. regium and A. vladykovi. The highest frequency of I. multifiliis (96.15%) was observed in gill of A. vladykovi and the lowest frequency was related to Tricodina sp in skin of C. regium (23.07%). A. isoporum Infestation was only observed in the intestine of A. vladykovi (mean±SD; 5.42±3.73) and philometra sp infection was only observed in the abdominal cavity of C. regium (mean±SD; 3.25±.82). The maximum average (±SD) infection intensity belonged to I. multifiliis in skin of C. regium (69.9±72.07, range: 12-196)

Genetic analysis of wild common carp, Cyprinus carpio L. in the Anzali wetland, the Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea and its basin (e.g. Anzali wetland) is one of the natural habitats of wild common carp Cyprinus carpio. In this study the genetic structure of this species in the south-west of Caspian Sea (the Anzali wetland) was investigated using PCR-RFLP analysis of D-loop region. Two hundred of mature fish were collected from 5 stations (40 individuals from each station) including Siahkeshim protected area (SK), Selke wild refuge (S), Sorkhankol wild refuge (SO), Abkenar (A) and the Anzali wetland estuary (E) during spawning season. A 420bp fragment of D-loop was amplified and the PCR products were digested with forty endonuclease enzymes. Four out of them: TasI, SmaI, SspI and ApoI showed polymorphism. Seven different composite haplotypes were detected among 5 stations and AAAA was the most frequent. FST ranged from 0.003-0.99. Over all stations, average haplotype and nucleotide diversity were 0.13 and 0.01, respectively. The highest haplotype (0.42) and nucleotide (0.06) diversities were found in (SO) station. AMOVA test showed that the Anzali wetland probably consists of two different populations of wild common carp which are distributed in SK, A-SO-S-E stations. The results of this study will be useful as a guideline for conservation, restocking as well as cultivation purposes of wild common carp in the Caspian Sea