Population dynamics of Carasobarbus luteus in Shadegan International Wetland, Iran

Seasonal samplings were conducted over a year to study population dynamic of Carasobarbus luteus in Shadegan Wetland. Samples were collected from five sampling stations in Shadegan Wetland (Salmane, Rogabe, Khoroosi, Mahshahr and Atish) from April 2014 to March 2015. From total number of 1608 samples, 276 individuals were male and 1332 individuals were female. Length-weight relationship was W=0.013L3.0124 (R2=0.92) for males; and W=0.0136L3.0117 (R2=0.91) for females, showing an isometric growth pattern. Condition factor (K) was calculated to be 1.308±0.15 and 1.368±0.17 for the males and females, respectively, showing significant difference between the genders (p<0.05). Also, the results show that this species spawns in April-July with a long spawning period and sexual dormant period in autumn to early winter. Mean length at maturation was 161 and 174 mm for males and females specimens; whereas, weight of matured fish was 60 and 80 g for the males and females, respectively. Growth indices including L∞, growth coefficient and t0 were 305 and 301 mm, 0.67 and 0.55 per year and 0.23 and 0.29 for the males and females, respectively. Natural mortality, fishing mortality, total mortality, Munro Ф' and coefficient of exploitation were 1.22 and 1.02 per year, 1.61 and 1.45 per year, 2.83 and 2.47 per year, 2.79 and 2.72, and 0.57 and.59, respectively for the males and females.