Investigation of reproductive indicators, along with growth pattern and age determination of Boleophthalmus dussumieri in Musa stuary, Khuzestan province

Abstract

Introduction: Boleophthalmus dussumieri is one of the leading fish in tidal mud areas.
This species is larger than other mudskippers. It is mainly herbivorous and has been
reported to spread from Iraq to Pakistan and the west coast of India.
Materials & Methods: Sampling was performed in the spring of 1401-1400 from two
stations of Khor Jafari and Petroshimi (from Khoryat Musa Bandar Mahshahr,
Khuzestan province). A total of 36 fish were caught alive by hand and transferred to the
laboratory. After explaining the samples and extracting the sex gonads, the reproductive
characteristics of the gonad index and homogeneity were examined. With the dissection
of the skull, the cornerstones were removed and the annual rings were counted to
determine the age, and the relationship between age and body weight and length was
calculated.
Results: The study of the relationship between sexual characteristics with weight and
length showed a significant relationship with both traits, with the difference that the
correlation coefficient between sexual characteristics and weight was more prominent
than the correlation of indicators with total length. Comparison of sexual characteristics
in the two stations studied showed the superiority of Jafari station. In order to determine
the age, after dissecting the skull, ear stones were isolated and annual rings were counted
and the age of the samples was recorded. In determining the age and population growth
pattern in both stations, the fish were in the age range of 1-3 years, the highest frequency
was related to two-year-old fish and the maximum maturity age was recorded in both
three-year-old stations, with the difference that the relationship There was a higher
correlation coefficient between sex and age indices in Petroshimi station compared to
Jafari station.
Conclusion: At the Petroshimi station, due to contamination, the samples do not reach
the age of three and often at the age of two have a higher reproductive capacity compared
to the parsley.