Relative Gut Length and Gastro-somatic Index of Acanthopagrus arabicus (Iwatsuki, 2013) from the Offshore Waters of Pakistan

Authors : Iftikhar AHMED, Azra BANO, Saima SİDDİQUE

Pages : 67-79

Doi:10.28978/nesciences.1098678

View : 21 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 2022-04-04

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Relative gut length, Zihler’s index, and Gastro-somatic index of Acanthopagrus arabicus were studied to investigate its feeding intensity and feeding habit, by collecting 240 samples of fishes from two fishing harbors of Pakistan from September 2017 to August 2018. According to the results, fish mean total length ranged from 16.26 ± 2.83 cm insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(in June); to 30.89 ± 5.16 cm insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(in September);, and mean total weight ranged from 77.70 ± 42.25 g insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(in June); to 486.80 ± 237.28 g insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(in November);. The total length and gut length of A. arabicus have a strong statistical relationship insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.05);. In A. arabicus, the overall relative gut length insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(RGL); values were ranged from 0.69 to 2.63 with a mean value of 1.57 ± 0.31. The RGL lowest insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1.35); and highest insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1.70); value was analyzed in the size groups ranging 12.0 - 16.0 cm TL and 24.1 - 28.0 cm TL respectively. However this value is not much greater than 1, A. arabicus could be described as an omnivorous feeding habit in coastal waters of Pakistan. The temporal changes in the feeding intensity of A. arabicus were found as the Gastro-somatic index insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Ga-SI); presented a significant difference during the twelve months insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ANOVA, P < 0.05);. The Gastro-somatic index lowest value was found in January insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1.55 ± 0.59); and highest in August insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(5.66 ± 3.26);. This type of study is beneficial for aquaculture as well as assessing the ecological role of A. arabicus along with its position in the food chain of Pakistani coastal waters.
Keywords : Acanthopagrus arabicus, gastro somatic index, relative gut length, Pakistan