Journal of Research in Biology
ISSN No: Print: 2231 –6280; Online: 2231- 6299
An International Scientific Research Journal
Original Research
Journal of Research in Biology
Length-Weight Relationships of 22 commercial fish from Margarita Island, Venezuela. Authors: Tagliafico A1, Rago N2 and Rangel MS1.
Institution: 1 Escuela de Ciencias Aplicadas del Mar, Universidad de Oriente, Boca de Río, Isla de Margarita, Venezuela. 2 Oceanografía y pesca, Fundación de Ciencias Naturales La Salle, Isla de Margarita, Venezuela.
ABSTRACT: Length-Weight Rela onships (LWR) were calculated for 22 commercial fish species caught by the ar sanal fishing fleet of Margarita Island, Venezuela. A total of 1,610 specimens were analysed, distributed in the following species: Lagocephalus laevigatus, Sphyraena guachancho, S. barracuda, Lutjanus purpureus, L. analis, L. griseus, Rhomboplites aurorubens, Lachnolaimus maximus, Priacanthus arenatus, Scomberomorus cavalla, S. brasiliensis, Euthynnus alle eratus, Auxis thazard, Sarda sarda, Thunnus atlan!cus, Rachycentron canadum, Caranx hippos, C. crysos, Selene setapinnis, Alec!s ciliaris, Trachinotus carolinus and Elops saurus. These length-weight rela onships can be used to improve fish sta s cs because of difficulty in obtaining weight of the fish in field. Keywords: Lutjanidae, Scombridae, Carangidae, Elopidae, Sphyraenidae, Rachycentridae
Corresponding author: Tagliafico A.
Ar cle Cita on: Tagliafico A, Rago N and Rangel MS. Length-Weight Rela onships of 22 commercial fish from Margarita Island, Venezuela. Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(3): 1707-1712
Web Address:
Dates: Received: 21 Jan 2015
http://jresearchbiology.com/ documents/RA0509.pdf
Accepted: 08 Feb 2015
Published: 16 May 2015
This article is governed by the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0), which gives permission for unrestricted use, non-commercial, distribution and reproduction in all medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Journal of Research in Biology An International Scientific Research Journal
1707-1712 | JRB | 2015 | Vol 5| No 3
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Tagliafico et al., 2015 INTRODUCTION
(Cuvier,
1828),
L.
griseus
(Linnaeus,
1758),
Estimation of biomass and regulation of catches
L. purpureus (Poey, 1866), Rhomboplites aurorubens
are necessary for fishery management; but the direct
(Cuvier, 1829), Lachnolaimus maximus (Walbaum,
measurement of the weight of each fish can be time
1792),
consuming or impossible to obtain in field. For
Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus, 1766); whereas Fork
convenience, just size is often measured in body length,
Length (FL) was used for Scomberomorus cavalla
but the information about body weight is also taken into
(Cuvier, 1829), Scomberomorus brasiliensis (Collette
consideration.
Length-Weight
et al., 1978), Euthynnus alletteratus Rafinesque 1810,
Relationship (LWR) are useful tools and have been
Auxis thazard (Lacèpede, 1800), Thunnus atlanticus
extensively used to estimate the weight from the length
(Lesson, 1831), Sarda sarda (Bloch, 1793), Caranx
of the organisms (Sinovčić et al., 2004, Froese 2006,
hippos (Linnaeus, 1766), C. crysos (Mitchill, 1815),
Froese et al., 2014, Xiong et al., 2014). However, LWR
Selene setapinnis (Mitchill, 1815), Alectis ciliaris
studies were only available for less than 12% (3,587
(Bloch, 1787), Trachinotus carolinus (Linnaeus, 1766)
species) from around 32,470 species of fishes contained
and Elops saurus (Linnaeus, 1766).
For
this
reason,
Priacanthus arenatus (Cuvier,
1829)
and
in FishBase (Froese et al., 2014), and even smaller if we
The parameters a and b of LWR were estimated
only consider Caribbean or Venezuelan waters, where
using the potential equation W=aLb; were W is the total
the information on the LWRs is mostly limited to a few
weight expressed in grams, L the total or fork length
species (Tagliafico et al., 2014). In this study LWRs
according to the species expressed in centimetres, ‘a’ is
were estimated for 22 commercial fish species of the
the intercept, and ‘b’ is the slope (Beverton and Holt,
region.
1957, Froese, 2006). The model fit to the data was measured by the coefficient of Pearson r-squared ( r2 )
MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was carried out in Margarita Island, Venezuela
test and 95% confidence level of the limits of a and b were determined.
(10º51’50"-11º11'06"N/63º46’40"-
64º24'32"W), from January 2006 to December 2007.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Fish landed at three fishing ports (Juan Griego, La Pared
A total of 1, 610 organisms belonging to 9
and El Tirano) and two fishing markets (Los Cocos and
families and 22 species were analyzed (Fig. 1). Values of
Conejeros) were sampled weekly. Specimens were
a and b, and their associated statistical information are
caught using traps, beach seines: purse seine, single line,
provided in Table 1. The coefficients of correlation of
and gillnets and long-lines, latter being both surface and
the regressions ranged between 0.82 and 0.998, and all
bottom. Detailed descriptions of vessels and fishing
were highly significant (P<0.0001).
gears are provided by Iriarte (1997) and González et al.,
The majority of the fish species studied show bvalues within the standard range (2.5-3.5) proposed by
(2006). The specimens were identified using the keys of Cervigón (1991, 1993, 1994, 1996). Fish were weighed
Froese (2006); only for Priacanthus arenatus (b=2.281), it was slightly lower than this range (Table 1).
to the nearest 0.1 g and measured to the nearest 0.1 cm.
In Venezuela, for the fish studied, LWRs have
Total length (TL) was used for Lagocephalus laevigatus
only been previously reported for Lutjanus analis,
(Linnaeus, 1766), Sphyraena guachancho (Cuvier,
L. griseus and Sphyraena guachancho. Similar b-values
1829), S. barracuda (Edwards, 1771), Lutjanus analis
to previous studies were found for Lutjanidae, but for
1708
Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(3): 1707-1712
Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(3): 1707-1712
Elopidae
Rachycentridae Carangidae
Labridae Priacanthidae Scombridae
Lutjanidae
Sphyraenidae
Tetraodontidae
45.4-71.4 40.1- 131 17.6-86.6 14.4-40.3 22.5-57.9 22.7-83.1 20.1-58.9
104 56 30 61 52 44 14
Thunnus atlanticus* Rachycentron canadum
Caranx hippos*
Selene setapinnis*
Caranx crysos* Alectis ciliaris*
Trachinotus carolinus*
39.7-77.1
30.0-69.9
90
Sarda sarda*
34
31.5-48.0 20.2-79.0 20.8-54.0
11 81 30
S. brasiliensis* Euthynnus alletteratus* Auxis thazard*
Elops saurus*
27.1-188.7
57
Scomberomorus cavalla*
20.8-40.3
95
Rhomboplites aurorubens 17.5-39.2 22.4-37.5
20.4- 132
33
Lutjanus griseus 26 50
24.4-85
31
Lutjanus analis
Lachnolaimus maximus Priacanthus arenatus
19.7-86.3
43
49.4-123.6
41
Sphyraena barracuda
Lutjanus purpureus
23.1-100.5
24.3-62.8
L(cm) range
251
376
n
Sphyraena guachancho
Lagocephalus laevigatus
Species
226.8-2891.6
190-3471.4
100.0-3100.0 280.0-8960.0
080.0-680.40
056.7-10404.2
2041.2-7285.8 170.1 - 19000
311.9-4167.4
150.0- 822.10 110.0-5790.0 080.0-2000.0
141.8- 16000
050.0-963.90 198.5-765.40
080.0-737.10
113.4- 28000
160.0- 8200.0
150.0- 9752.2
640.0- 12100
085.1-4252.4
198.5-3061.7
W (g) range
0.004
0.012
0.045 0.139
0.06
0.02
0.053 0.0004
0.022
0.003 0.012 0.003
0.005
0.002 0.172
0.034
0.022
0.005
0.026
0.002
0.015
0.039
a
0-0.091
0.007-0.021
0.019-0.106 0.075-0.259
0.021-0.175
0.009-0.042
0.028-0.102 0-0.002
0.009-0.057
0-0.097 0.008-0.019 0.001-0.009
0.001-0.027
0-0.014 0.062-0.481
0.015-0.076
0.011-0.042
0.002-0.011
0.014-0.050
0.001-0.006
0.011-0.020
0.025-0.059
95% CI a
3.092
3.189
2.731 2.479
2.566
2.979
2.765 3.654
2.86
3.264 3.046 3.487
3.046
3.708 2.281
2.699
2.921
3.265
2.82
3.182
2.704
2.737
b
2.316-3.869
3.052-3.326
2.483-2.978 2.316-2.642
2.228-2.905
2.786-3.172
2.603-2.927 3.331-3.977
2.610-3.109
2.292-4.235 2.924-3.167 3.142-3.832
2.648-3.444
3.048-4.368 1.977-2.584
2.459-2.939
2.743-3.099
3.032-3.498
2.643-2.998
2.960-3.404
2.626-2.783
2.621-2.854
95% CI b
0.82
0.998
0.953 0.978
0.892
0.986
0.957 0.951
0.925
0.93 0.984 0.969
0.9
0.921 0.909
0.918
0.986
0.983
0.981
0.978
0.974
0.922
r2
Table 1. Estimated lengthâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;weight relationship parameters for 22 commercial fish species caught in an artisanal Caribbean Fishery *Fork length
Tagliafico et al., 2015
1709
Tagliafico et al., 2015
Figure 1. Fish species analysed: a) Lagocephalus laevigatus, b) Sphyraena guachancho, c) S. barracuda, d) Lutjanus purpureus, e) L. analis, f) L. griseus, g) Rhomboplites aurorubens, h) Lachnolaimus maximus, i) Priacanthus arenatus, j) Scomberomorus cavalla, k) S. brasiliensis, l) Euthynnus alletteratus, m) Auxis thazard, n) Sarda sarda, o) Thunnus atlanticus, p) Rachycentron canadum, q) Caranx hippos, r) Caranx crysos, s) Selene setapinnis, t) Alectis ciliaris, u) Trachinotus carolinus and v) Elops saurus. 1710
Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(3): 1707-1712
Tagliafico et al., 2015 S. guachancho b-value was lower (n=251; b=2.704) than
Cervigón F. 1991. Los peces marinos de Venezuela. I.
the previously registered in the area (n=45; b=3.271)
Fundación Científica Los Roques. ISBN 9800713417,
(Etchevers, 1975). LWR in fish species could be affected
9789800713419. 185 p.
by many factors, such as gonad maturity, sex, health, age, habitat, stomach full-ness, length ranges used, preservation
methods,
season,
population,
and
Cervigón F. 1993. Los peces marinos de Venezuela. II. Fundación Museo del Mar. Caracas. 497 p.
environmental conditions (Tesch 1968, Pauly 1984,
Cervigón F. 1994. Los peces marinos de Venezuela. III.
Froese 2006).
Fundación Museo del Mar. Caracas.
Our study contributes to the expansion of knowledge on the Caribbean fish species. This area is globally acclaimed as a “hotspot of endangered
295 p.
Cervigón F. 1996. Los peces marinos de Venezuela. IV. Fundación Museo del Mar. Caracas.
254 p.
species” (Cheung et al., 2007). The IUCN Red List
Cheung WWL, Watson R, Morato T, Pitcher TJ,
catalogues the species Lutjanus analis and Lachnolaimus
Pauly D. 2007. Intrinsic vulnerability in the global fish
maximus as Vulnerable; other ten species are considered
catch. Mar Ecol Progr Series 333: 1-12
as Less Concern (Thunnus atlanticus, Scomberomorus cavalla, S. brasiliensis, Euthynnus alletteratus, Auxis thazard, Sarda sarda, Caranx hippos, C. crysos, Alectis ciliaris and Elops saurus), whereas the other 10 species
Etchevers S. 1975. La relación longitud-peso en siete peces de interés comercial en el nororiente de Venezuela. Bol Inst Oceanogr 14(2): 243-346
analysed in this work have not been categorized. In this
Froese R. 2006. Cube law, condition factor and weight–
regard, Tagliafico et al., (2012) previously demonstrated
length
that high frequency of all Lutjanidae species and Selene
recommendations. J Appl Ichthyol 22(4): 241-253.
setapinnis, captured in Margarita Island, were inferior to the maturity length. Considering the information available in FishBase, this work provides the first data of LWRs for 18 commercial species from Venezuela
relationships:
history,
meta-analysis
and
Froese R, Thorson JT, Reyes jr RB. 2014. A Bayesian approach for estimating length-weight relationships in fishes. J Appl Ichthyol 30(1): 78-85
(Froese and Pauly 2014) and represents an important
Froese R, Pauly D, editors. 2014. FishBase. World
baseline data for fisheries, making it useful for the
Wide
management and conservation of these species.
www.fishbase.org (accessed on 10 December 2014).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors thank all the fisherman and sellers for the patience in the measurement of the specimens. To Asdrúbal Lárez and INIA for the logistic cooperation.
Web
electronic
publication.
Available
at:
González LW, Eslava N, Guevara F. 2006 Catálogo de la pesca artesanal del Estado Nueva Esparta, Venezuela. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Oriente, Boca de Río, Venezuela. ISBN 9802341703 9789802341702 222p
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Monografía No. 42, Caracas. ISBN 9802350214
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Tagliafico et al., 2015 Pauly D. 1984. Fish Population Dynamics in Tropical Waters: A Manual for Use with Programmable Calculators. ICLARM Studies and Reviews 8. ICLARM, Manila. 325 p. Sinovčić G, Franičević M, Zorica B, Čikeš-Keč V. 2004. Length-weight and length-length relationships for 10 pelagic fish species from the Adriatic Sea (Croatia). J Appl Ichthyol 20(2): 156-158. Tagliafico A, Rago N, Lárez A, Rangel S. 2012. Estructura de talla de 20 especies de peces capturados por la flota artesanal de La Isla de Margarita, Venezuela. Ciencia 20(4): 217-232. Tagliafico A, Rago N, Rangel MS. 2014. LengthWeight Relationships of 21 species of Elasmobranchii from Margarita Island, Venezuela. J Res Biol 4 (7): 1458 -1464. Tesch FW. 1968. Age and growth. In: Methods for assessment of fish production in fresh waters. W. E. Ricker (Ed.). Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, pp. 93–123. Xiong W, Tao J, Zhang DC, Liu CL, He DK, Chen YF. 2015. Length–weight relationships for four small fish species caught in wetlands of central Yangtze River, China. J Appl Ichthyol 31: 219-220.
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