Age, Growth, Condition Factor and Reproduction of Planiliza abu (Mugiliformes: Mugilidae) in the Al-Diwaniya River, Middle of Iraq

Abstract

The age, growth, relative condition factor, and reproduction of Planiliza abu (Heckel, 1843) from the Al-Diwaniya River, Iraq was described in samples obtained from October 2016 to September 2017, using different fishing gears. Total length and weight were measured, scales were used for age determination, and gonads were excised from the body cavity sexed and weighed. The lengths of the species ranged from 7.0 to 20.0 cm, and the most dominant length group was 13.0 cm. The length-weight relationship was W=0.0199*L2.821 revealing a negative allometric growth (b= 2.821). The mean relative condition factor (Kn) was calculated as 1.13 for females and 0.93 for males. Four ages were recognized for the species with mean total lengths of 10.2, 14.5, 39.0, 17.2 and 19.3 cm, respectively. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters based on back-calculated lengths were L∞= 23.4 cm, K=0.38 and to= -0.27. The growth performance index (Ø) of the species is computed as 2.32. The overall sex ratio (male: female) was 1:1.70. The gonad-somatic index (GSI) values of both sexes were highest in April, 8.5 for males and 11.6 for females and the lowest values in August, 0.22 for males and 0.75 for females, indicated that the spawning period was from April to May. Some biological properties such as lengths of individuals, negative allometric growth, ages from 1 to 4 years, values of ultimate growth (L∞) and growth performance index (Ø) and overall sex ratio were among those described for the species in other waters. These results can contribute to providing information for species management in the study river.