Global Veterinaria 14 (4): 619-622, 2015 ISSN 1992-6197 © IDOSI Publications, 2015 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.gv.2015.14.04.93189 Growth Profile of an Indian Anchovy Species, Stolephorus indicus (van Hasselt, 1823) of Family Engraulidae from Keti Bunder, Sindh, Pakistan 1 Musarratulain, 2Zubia Masood, 2Rukhsana Bibi, 2Mussrat Bibi, 2Hina Gul, 1 Rehana Yasmeen Farooq and 3Nelofer Jamil 1 Department of Zoology, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan Department of Zoology, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University, Quetta, Pakistan 3 Department of Chemistry, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University, Quetta, Pakistan 2 Abstract: A study was carried out to analyze the growth patternof an Indian anchovy species, Stolephorus indicus belong to family EngraulidaeattheKetiBunder of Karachi Coast, Pakistan. During the year 2014, a total of 101 specimens were collected from the landing sites at KetiBunder. Cubic law (W= aTLb) was used to evaluate the growth profile of this species. The regression coefficientbvalue was greater than the ideal value that is b=3.0, hence shows the positive allometric growth pattern. While the mean value of condition factor (K) and relative condition factor (Kn) were 0.97 and 1.02, respectively. Further, the coefficient of correlation(r)value calculated for this specieswas also high (r>0.95).Thus, the results of the present study reveals that the growth conditions of S.indicusatKetiBunderof Karachi coast were favorable for this species. Key words: Indiananchovy (Stolephorus indicus) Growth profile Condition factor (K) Relative Condition Factor (Kn) the condition factor (K) is commonly used in fisheries science [10], while the relative condition factor (Kn) is used to evaluate the condition of fish ofsame population inside their size classesorthe condition of fishes in different seasons or to compare the growth conditions among differentfish species that are found in the identical environment [11]. INTRODUCTION Stolephorus indicus iscommonly known as ‘Indian anchovy’ is belonging to the family Engraulidae. This species includessmall sized fishes, most common in 12.0 cm in total length (TL) and are mostly found in creeks and estuaries [1]. Anchovies are mainly used as a fish meal because they rich in omega-3 oils, calcium and iron, hence, considered as a good food fish. These fishes alsouse as boiled and fried forms or can be used to make fish-based culinary products i.e. fish sauce or in curries throughout the world [2,3]. The growth profile of a fish can be easily estimated by linear regression analysis of length-weight data. This method helps to compute weight of a fish, growth rate and biomass using length observations. Seasonal variation in fish growth rate can also be calculated by Length-weight relationship of fish. Therefore, the parameters of length-weight relationship (LWRs) of various fish specieshad commonly used byseveral in fisheries throughout the world as well as inPakistan[49].In order to find out the fitness or wellbeing of the fish, Corresponding Author: Length-Weight Relationship (LWRs) MATERIALS AND METHODS Sample Collection: A total of 101 fish specimens of Indian anchovy (Stolephorus indicus) were collected from the landing sites at the KetiBunder of Karachi coast. Fish sample was immediately kept in ice cooler and bring to the laboratory for further analysis. Total length of fish was measured to the nearest 1mm with the help of measuring board, while the whole body weight of fish was weighed in grams by using digital balance. Statistical Analysis of Data: Growth profileof Indian anchovy (Stolephorus indicus) was collected by linear regression equation followed by Le Cren [12] as follows; ZubiaMasood, Department of Zoology, SardarBahadur Khan Women University, Quetta, Pakistan 619 Global Veterinaria, 14 (4): 619-622, 2015 W=aLb (1) In the above equation, the values of regression coefficient ‘b’ show the growth pattern in fish. If the value of b=3, this is called isometric growth. If b<3, the growth is called negative allometric growth and when b>3, growth is called positive allometric growth, as followed by Zubia et al. [7]. Logarithmic transformed model of equation 1 is used to linearize the data as follows: log W = log a + b log L (2) Fig. 1: Length-weight relationship of Stolephorus indicus Condition factor (K) was calculated with the following equationofLawson and Olagundoye [13] as follows: K = W x 100 / L3 greater than the ideal value that is 3.0, hence, this species showed the positive allometric growth pattern (Table 1& Figure 1). From the mean values ofcondition factor (K) and relative condition factor (Kn) of Stolephorus indicus revealed that this species was found in good conditionat KetiBunder of Karachi coast as shown in Table 2, respectively. (3) Relative condition factor (Kn) was calculated after Ranzani-Paiva et al. [14] as follows: Kn = Wt / We (4) DISCUSSION All statistical analysis was done with the help of computer software MS Excel 2013. Length-Weight Relationship (LWRs): The study of length-weight relationship (LWRs) have an great prominence in fishery science, as it isa powerful tool in understanding the general well- being and growth patterns in a fish population. Furthermore, it also throws light on the environmental conditions of the aquaticecosystem in which thefish is residing [15]. If b-value is equal to 3.0, than growth is isometric, but if is less than 3.0, than fish becomes more slender as it increase in length, therefore, its growth will be negative allometric that might be because habitat conditions are not suitable for its growth. On the other hand, if b-value RESULTS The results of the total length (Minimum to maximum), body weight (Minimum to maximum), value of constant a and regression coefficient b, coefficient of correlation ‘r’, coefficient of determination ‘r2’ and growth type of Stolephorus indicuswere noted in Table 1. The regression coefficient (b-value) was calculated by using cube law (W=aLb) and observed that the b value was Table 1: Parameters of Length-weight relation (LWRs) of IndianAnchovy (Stolephorus indicus) from the KetiBunder of Karachi coast, Pakistan. Total Length (TL) in cm. Weight (Wt) in grams Number of samples Regression Coefficient -------------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Min. Max. Min. Max. N a b r GT 7.5 1.5 4.6 101 -2.1 3.1 0.97 A+ 5.1 Growth type --------------- + Note: A Shows positive allometric growth pattern. Table 2: Condition and relative condition factors of IndianAnchovy (Stolephorus indicus) from the KetiBunder of Karachi coast, Pakistan. Total Length (TL) Weight (Wt) cm. grams Number of samples K Condition factor Kn ----------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- --------------------- ---------------------- Min. Max. Min. Max. 5.1 7.5 1.5 4.6 N 101 Relative condition factor Min. Max. Mean K-value Min. Max. 0.83 1.17 0.97 0.88 1.75 620 Mean Kn-value 1.02 Global Veterinaria, 14 (4): 619-622, 2015 is greater than 3.0, than fish becomes heavier and showed positive allometric patternof growth for their specific lengths, which may be due to optimum condition as described by Zubia et al. [7] on Karachi coast of Pakistan. In the present study, the value of b=3.1 was indicating thepositive allomatric growth pattern in Stolephorus indicus, which means that increase in weight is more rapid than increase in length. Bagenal and Tesch [16] give values of b between 2.9 to 4.8. According to Pauly and Gyanilo [17] the values of b may range between 2.5 to 3.5, Abdullah [18]also recorded these values between 2.5 to 3.4 for fishes caught by trawl of Alexandria in Egypt, Ecoutin et al. [19] record value of b between 2.8 to 3.4 for the fish populations of a relatively undisturbed tropical estuary at Gambia. 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