Iran. J. Ichthyol.

(March 2015), 2(1): 61–64 Received: November 11, 2014

© 2015 Iranian Society of Ichthyology Accepted: February 12, 2015
P-ISSN: 2383-1561; E-ISSN: 2383-0964 doi:
http://www.ichthyol.ir

Short Communication

Length-weight and length-length relationships and condition factor of

six cyprinid fish species from Zarrineh River (Urmia Lake basin, Iran)
Alireza RADKHAH, Soheil EAGDERI*

Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.

*Email: [email protected]

Abstract: This research was conducted to study the length-weight and length-length
relationships and condition factor of six cyprinid fish species viz. Alburnus
atropatena, Barbus lacerta, Capoeta capoeta, Carrasius gibelio, Romanogobio
macropterus and Pseudorasbora parva from Zarrineh River (Urmia Lake basin,
Iran). A total of 188 specimens ranging from 2.9 to 21.4cm in total length and 0.22
to 176g in total weight were collected. Based on the results, the values of b varied
between 2.59 for C. capoeta, to 3.26 for A. atropatenae. All length-weight
relationships were significant (P<0.001), with r2 greater than 0.88. The condition
factor were found to be between 0.075±0.244 for C. capoeta to 1.021±0.143 for
C. gibelio. The length-length relations between total length, fork length, and
standard length for the six fish species were highly significant (r2>0.98). All linear
regressions were highly significant (P<0.05).
Keywords: Freshwater fishes, River, Habitat, LWR, LLR.

Introduction and duration of breeding (Weatherly 1972). The

Length-weight relationship (LWR) of fishes are condition factor can also be used in assessing the
important in fisheries and fish biology due to well-being of fish (Zamani-Faradonbe et al. 2015).
providing the estimation of average weight of a given The aim of the present study is to determine the
length group by establishing a mathematical relation length-weight, length-length relationships and
between them (Sarkar et al. 2008). The length-weight condition factor of six fish species viz. Alburnus
(LWR) and length-length (LLR) relationships are atropatena, Barbus lacerta, Capoeta capoeta,
also applied for assessment of fish stocks and give Carrasius gibelio, Romanogobio macropterus and
information on the condition and growth patterns of Pseudorasbora parva from Zarrineh River (Urmia
fish (Ricker 1968). In addition, condition factor (K) Lake basin, Iran). The results of this study can be
is calculated from the relationship between the applied for successful management of these species
weight of a fish and its length, with the intention of to conserve their wild stock in the future.
describing the “condition” of that individual fish
(Froese 2006). Different values in K, indicate the Materials and Methods
state of sexual maturity, degree of food sources A total of 188 specimens, including A. atropatena,
availability, age and sex and environmental B. lacerta, C. capoeta, C. gibelio, R. macropterus and
conditions (Gomiero 2005). In addition, condition P. parva were collected from Zarrineh River
factors of different population of the same species (34°27'48.52"N, 46°54'4.8"E) (West Azarbaijan
give some information about food supply, the timing Province, near Shahin-Dej city) in September 2013
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 Iranian Journal of Ichthyology (March 2015), 2(1): 61-64

Table 1. Length–length relationships between total length, fork length, and standard length of six fish species from
Zarrineh River.

Species Regression equation N r2

TL = -4.3124 + 0.978FL 0.98
A. atropatenae FL = -0.6615 + 0.931SL 40 0.99
SL = -4.7719 + 0.913TL 0.98
TL = -2.7195 + 0.9805 FL 0.99
B. lacerta FL = -0.6530 + 0.9294 SL 40 0.99
SL = -3.2482 + 0.9120 TL 0.99
TL = -0.4754 + 0.9150 FL 0.99
C. capoeta FL = 0.7635 + 0.9014 SL 30 0.99
SL = 0.2528 + 0.8265 TL 0.99
TL = -1.0621 + 0.9341 FL 0.99
FL = 0.7502 + 0.8643 SL 25 0.99
C . gibelio
SL = -0.1886 + 0.8076 TL 0.99
TL = -1.7466 + 0.9837 FL 0.98
FL = 1.3044 + 0.8911 SL 28 0.98
R. macropterus
SL = -0.4698 + 0.8822 TL 0.98
TL = 0.8343 + 0.9217 FL 0.99
P. parva FL = 1.4844 + 0.8786 SL 25 0.99
SL = 2.1737 + 0.8106 TL 0.99
N = number of individuals, r2 = coefficient of determination, TL = total length, FL
= fork length and SL = standard length.

using electrofishing device (Table 1). Fishes were regression has been assessed by ANOVA. In order to
identified based on Coad (2015) and then fixed in check if the calculated value of b is significantly
10% formalin after anaesthetizing in 1% clove oil different from 3 (isometric value), Student’s t-test
solution and transported to the laboratory. Whole was used.
body wet weight of fishes were measured by a digital Fulton’s condition factors (K) were calculated
scale to the nearst 0.01g accuracy and the total length according to Le Cren (1951) and Froese (2006) using
(TL), Fork length (TL) and Standard length (SL) the following formula K=100 W/L3, where W is the
were measured by a digital slide calipers to the whole body weight (g) and L is the total length (cm).
nearest 0.01cm. Moreover, TL vs. FL, FL vs. SL, and SL vs. TL
The relationships between all body length relationships (LLRs) were estimated with linear
parameters were calculated by the method of least regression. All the data were analyzed using
squares to fit a linear regression as: Y = a + bX. computer software SPSS version 16.0.
Where, Y is various body lengths, X is total length, a
is proportionality constant and b is regression Results and Discussion
coefficient (Le Cren 1951). The relationship between The length-length relationships between total length,
length and weight was determined by W = aLb. fork length, and standard length and also the
Where, W = weight of fish (g), L = total length of fish estimated parameters of the length-length
(cm), a = coefficient related to body form and b = an relationship and the coefficient of determination r2 of
exponential expressing relationship between length- six fish species are presented in Table 1. All LLRs
weight (Le Cren 1951). The logarithm transformation were highly significant with r2>0.98.
of the equation was expressed as: Log W= Logα + b The ranges of the length and weight parameters,
LogL (Kahraman et al. 2014) to estimate the estimated LWR parameters, coefficients of the
parameters a and b. The significance of the correlation and values of Fulton’s condition factors of
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 Radkhah & Eagderi-LWRs, LLRs and condition factor of six fish species of Zarrineh River

Table 2. Descriptive statistics and estimated parameters of the length–weight relations for the six fish species in
Zarrineh River.
Condition factor
Total length (cm) Body weight (g) LWR parameters
(K)
Species N Range Mean ± SD Range Mean ± SD a b r2 (Mean ± SD)
A. atropatenae 40 7.6-12.5 9.33 ± 1.22 2.3-16.5 6.64 ± 3.21 0.0042 3.26 0.89 1.021 ± 0.143
B. lacerta 40 6.6-17.1 9.33 ± 2.47 2.8-48.4 10.1 ± 9.75 0.0132 2.85 0.98 1.011 ± 0.082
C. capoeta 30 3.6-8.7 4.65 ± 1.12 0.8-6.60 1.58 ± 1.33 0.0356 2.59 0.88 0.075 ± 0.244
C. gibelio 25 3.4-21.4 7.59 ± 4.90 0.9-176 18.72 ± 43.06 0.0176 2.95 0.99 1.041 ± 0.145
R. macropterus 28 2.9-6.7 3.88 ± 0.7 0.22-2.25 0.541 ± 0.418 0.0099 2.86 0.95 1.019 ± 0.113
P. parva 25 3.1-7.5 5.10 ± 1.22 0.39-4.92 1.974 ± 1.359 0.0097 3.15 0.97 1.020 ± 0.139
SD = standard deviation, N = sample size, a = intercept, b = slope and r2 = the coefficient of determination.

Table 3. Comparison of the length-weight equations of six studied species in the present study with some other previous
published data in the Iranian inland freshwaters.
Present study (Urmia Lake basin) Other studies
Species N W-L equation Basin N W-L equation Ref.
A. atropatenae 40 W=0.0042TL3.26 Urmia Lake 36 W=0.007TL3.18 Esmaeili et al. ( 2014)
Caspian Sea 18 W=0.0086TL3.064 Esmaeili et al. ( 2014)
B. lacerta 40 W=0.0132TL2.85
Sirvan River 35 W=0.006TL3.28 Hasankhani et al. ( 2014)
C. capoeta 30 W=0.0356TL2.59 Caspian Sea 25 W=0.0181TL2.840 Esmaeili et al. ( 2014)
C. gibelio 25 W=0.0172TL2.95 Anzali wetland 95 W=0.0224TL2.879 Moradinasab et al. ( 2012)
R. macropterus 28 W=0.009TL2.86
P. parva 25 W=0.0097TL3.15 Sirvan River 30 W=0.004TL3.37 Hasankhani et al. ( 2014)

six cyprinid fish species are presented in Table 2. The al. 2014). The student’s t-test showed that the b
studied 188 specimens ranged from 2.9 to 21.4cm in values of B. lacerta, C. capoeta and R. macropterus
total length and 0.22 to 176g in total weight. One- were significantly lower than the theoretical value of
way analysis of variance (P<0.001) showed a high 3 (t-test; P<0.05) indicating negative allometric
significant relationship between length and weight of growth, whereas the student t-test for A. atropatenae
all studied species, with r2 values greater than 0.88. and P. parva indicated significant differences in their
The coefficient of determination (r2) for studied b values compared to 3 (P<0.05) indicating positive
fishes of the Zarrineh River ranged from 0.88 for C. allometric growth. Carrasius gibelio demonstrated
capoeta to 0.99 for C. gibelio, with a median value of isometric growth pattern, with no significant
0.96; four regressions presented r2 values higher than difference from the theoretical “b” value of 3
0.90 (Table 2). (P>0.05).
The values of b of the length-weight equations Difference in slopes of the L-W relationship (b)
were obtained as 2.59 for C. capoeta, to 3.26 in values can be attributed to the combination of one or
A. atropatenae. The slope “b” values of other species more factors such as number of examined specimens,
were obtained as 32.8 for B. lacerta, 2.95 for seasonal effect, habitat, degree of stomach fullness,
C. gibelio, 2.86 for R. macropterus and 3.15 for gonadal maturity, sex, health and general fish
P. parva. The parameter “b” of all studied species was condition and differences in the observed length
within the expected range of 2.5-3.5. All the species ranges of the specimens caught (Jamali et al. 2014).
seem to be followed the cube law, and the reason for In other studies carried out on fishes of Iranian inland
this pattern may be as a result of good environmental waters, different growth patterns for studied species
conditions of their habitat (Le Cren, 1951). The were observed (Table 3).
values of b is an exponent indicating an isometric The condition factors of the studied fish species
growth when equal to 3 and indicating an allometric were found to be between 0.075±0.244 (Mean±SD)
growth when significantly different from 3 (Alam et for C. capoeta to 1.041±0.145 (Mean±SD) for
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 Iranian Journal of Ichthyology (March 2015), 2(1): 61-64

C. gibelio. It was <1 for C. capoeta showing no Hasankhani, M.; Keivany, Y.; Daliri, M.; Pouladi, M. &
proper environmental conditions of habitat for this Soofiani, N.M. 2014. Length-weight and length-
species in Zarrineh River. Whereas, K values of the length relationships of four species (Barbus lacerta
rest of species were >1 showing their perfect Heckel, 1843), Oxynoemacheilus angorae
(Steindachner, 1897), Squalius lepidus (Heckel,
condition. The condition factor is an index reflecting
1843) and Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck &
interaction between biotic and abiotic factors in the
Schlegel, 1846) from the Sirvan River (western
physiological conditions of fishes. It shows Iran). Journal of Applied Ichthyology 30: 206-207.
population’s welfare during the various stages of the Jamali, H.; Patimar, R.; Farhadi, M.; Golzarianpour, K. &
lifecycle (Angelescu 1958). The condition factor may Daraei, V. 2014. Some aspects of the life history of
vary among fish of different species in different Turcinoemacheilus hafezi (Teleostei:
location. In studies of population dynamics, the high Nemacheilidae) from Beshar River, southwestern
condition factor values indicate favorable Iran. Iranian Journal of Ichthyology 1(1): 32-38.
environmental conditions, and low values indicate Kahraman, A.E.; Göktürk, D. & Aydin, E. 2014. Length-
less favorable environmental conditions (Blackwell weight relationships of five fish species from the
et al. 2000). sakarya River, Turkey. Annual Research and
Review in Biology 4(15): 2476-2483.
Le Cren, E.D. 1951. The length-weight relationship and
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