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UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

POPULATION BIOLOGY OF Alburnoides JEITTELES 1861 (ACTINOPTERYGII: CYPRINIDAE) IN IRAN

MAHVASH SEIFALI

FP 2012 3

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POPULATION BIOLOGY OF Alburnoides

JEITTELES 1861 (ACTINOPTERYGII: CYPRINIDAE) IN IRAN

By

MAHVASH SEIFALI

Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia,

in Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

February 2012

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DEDICATION

I dedicated

This work to my lovely husband Behrouz and sons Alireza and Mohamad

Hasan, who has sacrificed so much for me to achieve my goal

and

To my beloved mother

To my sisters and brother

and

To my father and brother soul

Your love, encouragement and patience sustained me through

and

who supported me all those past years that made me whom I am today is very

much acknowledged

thank you for your love, understanding, patience and support.

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Abstract of thesis presented to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia

in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

POPULATION BIOLOGY OF Alburnoides

JEITTELES 1861 (ACTINOPTERYGII: CYPRINIDAE) IN IRAN

By

MAHVASH SEIFALI

February 2012

Chairman: Professor Aziz Bin Arshad, PhD

Faculty: Agriculture

The genus Alburnoides Jeitteles, 1861 is distributed in some geographically isolated

basins viz. South Caspian Sea, Namak, Kor, Kavir, Tigris and Orumyieh in Iran. Six

species of Alburnoides were reported from the basins of Iran. However, little is

known about the morphogeographical variation, genetic divergence, ecological

adaptation or biology of this fresh water fish species although it is a widespread

taxon in Iran. This is the first report on the genus Alburnoides within the Iranian

basins. In this study we investigated the taxonomy, morphometric variation,

reproductive biology, feeding habits and population dynamic of the Iranian spirlin

during four seasons beginning from July 2008 to June 2009.

Morphometric variables analysis of 574 samples from 15 populations of four basins

as well as truss network and geometric morphometric study of 802 specimens from

23 populations of five basins in Iran indicated that the populations belonged to three

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major groups that are shown by the consistency with their morphological features.

The first clad include spirlin populations from south of Caspian Sea basin. The

second clad comprised the populations found in the Namak and Kor basins and the

final clad is the populations from the Kavir and Tigris basins. Details of

morphological data indicated that there was a distinct morphological separation of

populations of Alburnoides in Iran. The populations from the Namak, Kor, and

southern Caspian Sea basins showed a closer morphological relationship than those

from the Tigris and Kavir basins.

A total of 115 samples of South Caspian spirlin were used for the feeding habit

study. Results showed that they specifically consumed greater amount of diatoms

(Bacillariophyceae) as their dominant diet. Other diets including detritus, insects and

algae also recorded high frequency of occurrence but lower percentage value

indicating that they are a generalized diet. Spirlin has short gut structure that

generally adopted for the carnivorous style of feeding. There was no significant in

changes in feeding diet of spirlin according to sampling period, however monthly

variations of diets revealed that spirlin have a higher ability to select more available

and diverse preys in summer and lower ability in spring.

Results on the sex ratio of 471 specimens of Alburnoides sp population in the South

of Caspian Sea basin from north of Iran was found in to be 1: 1.24 (female: male),

which is almost close to 1: 1 (females: male). Study on the ovarian maturity of the

spirlin revealed the presence of six different maturity stages. Ovaries were also

evaluated to calculate the reproductive indices such as GSI, MGSI and DI. High

values of the GSI were observed in the month of June and its distinct low value in

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the month of August indicated that the fish spawn during June–July period. The size

at sexual maturity of female spirlin was observed at 56-61 mm. In this study the

mean fecundity of the 32 females spirlin used in the study was 1722.92 ( 653.88)

eggs per fish. The estimated maximum numbers of ova in females was 3042 and the

minimum numbers of ova was 668 which were gathered from specimens ranged

82.18 – 110.47 mm in total length.

Studies on age, growth, mortality and population characterization of 1019 specimens

of spirlin were conducted for Kesselian stream, south of Caspian Sea. Length

frequency data were analyzed by using FiSAT (FAO-ICLARM Stock Assessment

Tools) for the estimation of the population parameters. Asymptotic length (L∞),

growth coefficient (K) were estimated at 104.48 mm and 1.19/yr. Growth

performance index (Ø') was calculated as 4.113. Total mortality (Z) was estimated at

3.40/yr whereas fishing mortality (F) and natural mortality (M) were found to be

2.43/yr and 0.97/yr respectively. The exploitation rate (E) was calculated as 0.71.

The present exploitation rate (E = 0.70) indicated that the Caspian spirlin is over

exploited in the Kesselian stream.

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Abstrak tesis yang dikemukakan kepada Senat Universiti Putra Malaysia

sebagai memenuhi keperluan untuk ijazah Doktor Falsafah

POPULATION BIOLOGY OF Alburnoides

JEITTELES 1861 (ACTINOPTERYGII: CYPRINIDAE) IN IRAN

Oleh

MAHVASH SEIFALI

Februari 2012

Pengerusi: Profesor Aziz Arshad, PhD

Fakulti : Pertanian

Genus Alburnoides Jeitteles, 1861 didapati di kawasan lembangan yang secara

geografinya terpencil iaitu di selatan Laut Caspian, Namak, Kor, Kavir, Tigris dan

Orumyieh. Enam spesies Alburnoides telah dilaporkan terdapat di kawasan

lembangan tersebut. Walau bagaimanapun, tidak banyak diketahui mengenai variasi

morfogeografi, sesaran genetik, adaptasi ekologi atau biologi spesies ikan air tawar

ini. Walaupun ianya merupakan takson yang tersebar luas di Iran. Kajian ini

merupakan laporan yang pertama mengenai genus Alburnoides di kawasan

lembangan di Iran. Aspek kajian ini meliputi aspek taksonomi, variasi morfometrik,

biologi pembiakan, tabiat pemakanan dan dinamik populasi bagi spirlin dari Iran.

Kajian ini telah dijalankan selama empat musim bermula Julai 2008 sehingga Jun

2009.

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Analisis pembolehubah morfometrik bagi 574 sampel meliputi 15 populasi dari

empat lembangan; serta jalinan ‘truss’ dan penelitian morfometrik geometri bagi 802

spesimen dari 23 populasi di lima lembangan menunjukkan bahawa populasi

tersebut terdiri daripada tiga kumpulan utama yang mempunyai ciri morfologi yang

konsisten. Kumpulan yang pertama adalah populasi spirlin yang terdapat di selatan

Laut Caspian. Kumpulan kedua terdiri dari populasi yang terdapat di Namak dan

Kor manakala kumpulan ketiga terdiri dari populasi lembangan Kavir dan Tigris.

Data morfologi menunjukkan perbezaan yang jelas di antara populasi Alburnoides di

Iran. Populasi Alburniodes dari Namak, Kor, dan selatan Laut Caspian menunjukkan

perkaitan morfologi yang lebih hampir berbanding dengan populasi dari lembangan

Tigris dan Kavir.

Sebanyak 115 sampel spirlin dari selatan Caspian telah diambil untuk kajian tabiat

pemakanan. Hasilnya menunjukkan spirlin secara spesifiknya memakan diatom

(Bacillariophyceae) sebagai diet dominan. Diet lain termasuk detritus, serangga dan

alga mempunyai frekuensi kejadian yang tinggi, namun rendah dari segi peratusan

bagi menunjukkan ciri diet umum serta ia tidak khusus kepada taksa tertentu. Spirlin

mempunyai struktur usus yang pendek, yang mana sesuai untuk tabiat pemakanan

secara karnivor. Tiada perubahan yang signifikan bagi diet pemakanan spirlin

berdasarkan tempoh masa persampelan. Namun, variasi bulanan diet membuktikan

bahawa spirlin mempunyai kemampuan yang lebih tinggi untuk memilih mangsa

dengan lebih banyak dan pelbagai pada musim panas berbanding pada musim bunga.

Kajian ke atas nisbah jantina bagi 471 spesimen Alburnoides sp di selatan Laut

Caspian di utara Iran mendapati nisbah 1:1.24 (betina:jantan), iaitu hampir ke nisbah

1:1 (betina:jantan). Pemerhatian ke atas proses kematangan ovari spirlin

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menunjukkan kewujudan enam peringkat kematangan. Indeks pembiakan seperti

GSI, MGSI dan DI telah diukur ke atas ovari yang dikaji. Nilai GSI yang tinggi

direkodkan pada bulan Jun serta penurunan mendadak pada bulan Ogos

menunjukkan bahawa aktiviti pembiakan berlaku di antara bulan Jun–Julai. Saiz

spirlin betina semasa matang ialah 56-61 mm. Purata bilangan telur bagi 32 spirlin

betina yang dikaji ialah 1722.92 ( 653.88). Anggaran jumlah maksimum dan

minimum telur bagi individu betina dengan saiz panjang keseluruhan di antara 82.18

– 110.47 mm ialah 3042 dan 668.

Kajian ke atas umur, pertumbuhan, kematian dan ciri-ciri populasi bagi 1019

spesimen spirlin telah dijalankan di sungai Kesselian, selatan Laut Caspian. Data

frekuensi panjang telah dianalisa menggunakan FiSAT (FAO-ICLARM Stock

Assessment Tools) bagi menganggarkan beberapa parameter populasi. Panjang

asimtotik (L∞) dan ko-efisien pertumbuhan (K) adalah 104.48 mm dan 1.19/tahun.

Indeks prestasi pertumbuhan (Ø') ialah 4.113. Jumlah kematian (Z) dianggarkan

pada 3.40/tahun, manakala kematian akibat aktiviti perikanan (F) dan kematian

semulajadi (M) dijangkakan pada 2.43/thn dan 0.97/thn. Kadar eksploitasi (E)

adalah pada 0.71. Berdasarkan kepada kadar eksploitasi semasa (E = 0.70), spirlin

Caspian telah ditangkap secara berlebihan di sungai Kesselian.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I will always remember all the people who have played significant role in the

realization of my degree. I would like to express my deepest gratitude and

appreciation to my supervisor Professor Dr. Aziz Arshad for his guidance, and

assistance during this study. Also, my sincere thanks to my committee members

Assoc.Professor Dr. Siti Khalijah Daud, Professor Dr. Siti Shapor Siraj, Professor

Dr. Bahram Hasanzadeh Kiabi and Professor Dr. Hamid Reza Esmaeili for all the

advices they have given towards the completion of my study.

I extend my thanks to Dr. S. M. Nurul Amin, Mrs. Faezeh Yazdani, Moghadam, Dr.

Asghar Abdoli, Gholamreza Amiri, Kiavoosh Gholzarian, Narges Fardad, Narges

Nazari, Shiva Mirali for their assistance.

Lastly, my special thanks to my husband and family for their encouragement,

supports, patience, understanding, faith and inspiration given to me during the period

of my study in Malaysia. Without their assistance I would have difficulties

conducting the experiments.

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I certify that a Thesis Examination Committee has met on 10 February 2012 to

conduct the final examination of Mahvash Seifali on her Doctor of Philosophy thesis

entitled “POPULATION BIOLOGY OF Alburnoides JEITTELES 1861

(ACTINOPTERYGII: CYPRINIDAE) IN IRAN” in accordance with the

Universities Pertanian Malaysia (Higher Degree) Act 1971 and Universiti Putra

Malaysia [P. U. (A) 106] 15 March 1998. The committee recommends that the

student be awarded the Doctor of Philosophy.

Members of the Thesis Examination Committee were as follows:

Muta Harah Zakaria, PhD

Associate Professor

Faculty of Agriculture

Universiti Putra Malaysia

(Chairman)

Annie Christianus, PhD

Senior lecture

Faculty of Agriculture

Universiti Putra Malaysia

(Internal Examiner)

Mazlan Abd Ghaffar, PhD

Professor

Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

(Internal Examiner)

Mirosław Przybylski, PhD

Associate Professor

Faculty of biology

Universiti of Lodz, Banacha Poland

(External Examiner)

SEOW HENG FONG, PhD

Professor and Deputy Dean

School of Graduate Studies

Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date:

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This thesis is submitted to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia and has been

accepted as fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

The members of the supervisory Committee were as follows:

Aziz Arshad, PhD

Professor

Faculty of Agriculture

Universiti Putra Malaysia

(Chairman)

Siti Shapor Siraj, PhD

Professor

Faculty of Agriculture

Universiti Putra Malaysia

(Member)

Siti Khalijah Daud, PhD

Associate Professor

Faculty of Science

Universiti Putra Malaysia

(Member)

Bahram Hasanzadeh Kiabi, PhD

Associate Professor

Faculty of Biological science

Universiti Shahid Beheshti Teharn Iran

(Member)

Hamid Reaza Esmaeili, PhD

Associate Professor

Faculty of Science

University Shiraz Iran

(Member)

BUJANG BIN KIM HUAT, PhD

Professor and Dean

School of Graduate Studies

Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date:

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DECLARATION

I declare that the thesis is my original work except for quotations and citations which

have been duly acknowledged. I also declare that it has not been previously and is

not concurrently submitted for any other degree at Universiti Putra Malaysia or other

institutions.

MAHVASH

SEIFALI

Date: 10 February

2012

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

DEDICATION ii

ABSTRACT iii

ABSTRAK vi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ix

APPROVAL xi

DECLARATION xii

LIST OF TABLES xvi

LIST OF FIGURES xix

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xxiv

CHAPTER

1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background of the Study 1

1.2 Statement of the Problems 3

1.3 Objectives of the Study 4

2 LITERATURE REVIEW 6 2.1 External Morphology 6

2.2 Taxonomy 7

2.2.1 Key to Alburnoides species 10

2.2.2 Genus of Alburnoides Jeitteles, 1861 11

2.2.3 Alburnoides bipunctatus (Bloch, 1782) 14

2.2.4 Alburnoides eichwaldii De Filippii, 1863 15

2.2.5 Alburnoides idignensis Bogutskaya and Coad, 2009 16

2.2.6 Alburnoides namaki Bogutskaya and Coad, 2009 18

2.2.7 Alburnoides nicolausi Bogutskaya and Coad, 2009 19

2.2.8 Alburnoides petrubanarescui Bogutskaya and Coad, 2009 20

2.2.9 Alburnoides qanati Coad and Bogutskaya, 2009 22

2.2.10 Alburnoides taeniatus (Kessler, 1874) 23

2.3 Economic Importance 23

2.4 Conservation 24

2.5 Food and Feeding Habits 24

2.6 Geographic Distribution 25

2.7 Habitat 26

2.8 Reproductive Character 27

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2.8.1 Reproduction in natural conditions 27

2.8.2 Reproduction in laboratory conditions 28

2.9 Spawning and Fertilization 28

2.10 Egg and Fecundity 29

2.11 Length-Weight Relationships 30

2.12 Population Dynamics 30

2.13 Parasites and Predators 31

MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION AMONG GENUS OF Alburnoides

JEITTELES, 1861 (TELEOSTEI: CYPRINIDAE) IN IRAN 32 3.1 Introduction 32

3.2 Material and Methods 35

3.2.1 Traditional morphometric 35

3.2.2 Truss methods 40

3.2.3 Geometric morphometric 42

3.3 Results 45

3.3.1 Traditional morphometric 45

3.3.2 Meristics 52

3.3.3 Truss method 57

3.3.4 Geometric morphometric 63

3.4 Disscussion 67

3.5 Conclusions 73

4 FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF SPIRLIIN Alburnoides SP

(ACTINOPTERYGII: CYPRINIDAE) IN THE KESSELIAN

STREAM FROM SOUTH CASPIAN SEA BASIN IN IRAN 74 4.1 Introduction 74

4.2 Methodology 76

4.2.1 Study Area 76

4.2.2 Stomach examination 78

4.2.3 Stomach content analysis 78

4.3 Results 80

4.4 Discussion 92

4.5 Conclusions 97

5 SOME ASPECTS OF REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF SOUTH CASPIAN

SPIRLIN (ACTINOPTERYGII: CYPRINIDAE) IN THE KESSELIAN

STREAM FROM NORTH OF IRAN 98 5.1 Introduction 98

5.2 Methodology 100

5.2.1 Sample collection and preparation 100

5.2.2 Sex ratio 100

5.2.3 Ova diameter and maturity stages 101

5.2.4 Spawning season 102

5.2.5 Fecundity 103

5.2.6 Histological Studies 104

5.3 Results 105

5.3.1 Sex ratio 105

5.3.2 Ovarian maturity stages 107

5.3.3 Spawning season 117

5.3.4 Length at first maturity 121

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5.3.5 Fecundity 122

5.4 Discussion 125

5.5 Conclusions 130

6 GROWTH, MORTALITY AND POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS OF

SPIRLIN Alburnoides SP (ACTINOPTERYGII: CYPRINIDAE) IN THE

KESSELIAN STREAM FROM SOUTH CASPIAN SEA BASIN IN IRAN 132 6.1 Introduction 132

6.2 Materials and Methods 134

6.2.1 Study Area and Sampling 134

6.2.2 Laboratory Measurement 135

6.2.3 Length-Weight Relationship 135

6.2.4 Size Frequency Distribution 135

6.2.5 Growth Parameters 136

6.2.6 Mortality parameters 136

6.2.7 Recruitment Pattern 137

6.2.8 Relative Yield and Biomass per Recruit 137

6.2.9 Virtual Population Analysis (VPA) 137

6.3 Results 138

6.3.1 Length Weight Relationships 138

6.3.2 Size Frequency Distribution 139

6.3.3 Growth parameters 140

6.3.4 Age and Growth 143

6.3.5 Mortality and Exploitation 145

6.3.6 Recruitment Pattern 147

6.3.7 Relative Yield per Recruit and Biomass per Recruit 147

6.3.8 Virtual Population Analysis (VPA) 148

6.4 Discussion 150

6.5 Conclusions 152

7 GENERAL DISCUSSION, AND CONCLUSION 153 7.1 General Discussion 153

7.2 Conclusions 162

7.3 Recommendations 163

REFERENCES

165

BIODATA OF STUDENT 183