Seasonal Variation in the Biological Traits of Invasive Amazon Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys pardalis) in East Kolkata Wetlands, India

AJMAL HUSSAN; AT RAMACHANDRA NAIK; SUBHENDU ADHIKARI; ARABINDA DAS; FARHANA HOQUE; JITENDRA KUMAR SUNDARAY

doi:10.54894/JISCAR.41.2.2023.145553

Authors

AJMAL HUSSAN Field Station of Regional Research Station-Rahara, ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Rahara, Kalyani - 741 235, West Bengal, India
AT RAMACHANDRA NAIK Department of Aquatic Environment and Management, College of Fisheries, Mangaluru - 575 002, Karnataka, India
SUBHENDU ADHIKARI Regional Research Station, ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Rahara, Kolkata - 700 118, West Bengal, India
ARABINDA DAS Regional Research Station, ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Rahara, Kolkata - 700 118, West Bengal, India
FARHANA HOQUE Regional Research Station, ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Rahara, Kolkata - 700 118, West Bengal, India
JITENDRA KUMAR SUNDARAY ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar - 751 002, Odisha, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54894/JISCAR.41.2.2023.145553

Keywords:

Alien fishes, Condition factor, Length-weight relationship, Reproduction

Abstract

Invading sailfin catfish Pterygoplichthys spp. in East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW), India were studied for their length-weight relationship (LWR), condition factor and reproductive characteristics covering pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Using seine nets, fish samples were taken every month from May to December 2022 from five distinct EKW sites. Season-specific b-values for the LWR showed negative allometric growth, ranging from 2.663 to 2.809. Seasonal variation was negligible for Fulton's condition factor (Kc), which varied between 0.741 and 0.756. The mean relative condition factor (Kn) was likewise found to be near 1 in all seasons (0.999 - 1.041). The sex ratio (male to female) showed an average mean value of 1: 3.61, with no noticeable seasonal change. However, gonado-somatic index (GSI) of males (0.164±0.007) and females (7.174±0.225) during the monsoon months (July - September) was found to be considerably greater (p <0.001) than pre-monsoon and post-monsoon GSI of the respective gender. Females were observed to have a lower mean total length at maturity (31.6 - 35.3 cm) than males (36.2 - 37.1 cm). No significant difference in mean absolute fecundity (3914.63±103.70 nos. female^-1) of ripe females was observed, although gonad mass and relative fecundity (RF) differed considerably (p <0.05) by season. Seasonal interactions with study sites were found to have a considerable impact on ripe females' RF and egg size, as well as Kn and GSI of both sexes. It was also noted that the condition factors and reproductive characteristics of sailfin catfish varied each month. Overall, mean Kn values of close to 1 (~1) indicate that sailfin catfishes in EKW are in excellent condition of health and well-being. Additionally, the mean GSI of mature females was found continuously greater than three (>3) in each month of the study period, indicating that these fishes in EKW had a protracted breeding time.

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