{"title":"Demographics and reproductive characteristics of threatened Malabar pufferfish (Carinotetraodon travancoricus) from Western Ghats hotspot, India","authors":"Chelapurath Radhakrishnan Renjithkumar, Kuttanelloor Roshni","doi":"10.1071/mf23170","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Context</strong><p><i>Carinotetraodon travancoricus</i> is a threatened ornamental aquarium fish endemic to Western Ghats (WG) biodiversity hotspot of India and indiscriminate collection of this species resulted in a severe population decline.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>To understand the impacts of wild collection of <i>C. travancoricus</i> for aquarium-fish trade, information on their population status and reproductive characteristics is required.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>Specimens for the present study were collected from the Chalakudy River of WG and growth, mortality, exploitation and reproductive characteristics of <i>C. travancoricus</i> were investigated.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>The natural mortality of the species was higher than the fishing mortality. The peak spawning period of the species was from May to September. Length at first maturity (<i>L</i><sub>50</sub>) for males and females was estimated to be 18.4 and 18.1 mm respectively.</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>The stock of <i>C. travancoricus</i> in the Chalakudy River may be in near full exploitation under current harvesting strategy. The lower value of length of first capture than size at first maturity indicated that <i>C. travancoricus</i> is likely to be captured before it matures and breeds, subsequently contributing to declining recruitment.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>A combination of different strategies (closed fishing seasons, mesh-size regulation and no-fishing areas) will improve sustainable management and conservation of species.</p>","PeriodicalId":18209,"journal":{"name":"Marine and Freshwater Research","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Marine and Freshwater Research","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1071/mf23170","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"FISHERIES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Context
Carinotetraodon travancoricus is a threatened ornamental aquarium fish endemic to Western Ghats (WG) biodiversity hotspot of India and indiscriminate collection of this species resulted in a severe population decline.
Aims
To understand the impacts of wild collection of C. travancoricus for aquarium-fish trade, information on their population status and reproductive characteristics is required.
Methods
Specimens for the present study were collected from the Chalakudy River of WG and growth, mortality, exploitation and reproductive characteristics of C. travancoricus were investigated.
Key results
The natural mortality of the species was higher than the fishing mortality. The peak spawning period of the species was from May to September. Length at first maturity (L50) for males and females was estimated to be 18.4 and 18.1 mm respectively.
Conclusions
The stock of C. travancoricus in the Chalakudy River may be in near full exploitation under current harvesting strategy. The lower value of length of first capture than size at first maturity indicated that C. travancoricus is likely to be captured before it matures and breeds, subsequently contributing to declining recruitment.
Implications
A combination of different strategies (closed fishing seasons, mesh-size regulation and no-fishing areas) will improve sustainable management and conservation of species.
期刊介绍:
Marine and Freshwater Research is an international and interdisciplinary journal publishing contributions on all aquatic environments. The journal’s content addresses broad conceptual questions and investigations about the ecology and management of aquatic environments. Environments range from groundwaters, wetlands and streams to estuaries, rocky shores, reefs and the open ocean. Subject areas include, but are not limited to: aquatic ecosystem processes, such as nutrient cycling; biology; ecology; biogeochemistry; biogeography and phylogeography; hydrology; limnology; oceanography; toxicology; conservation and management; and ecosystem services. Contributions that are interdisciplinary and of wide interest and consider the social-ecological and institutional issues associated with managing marine and freshwater ecosystems are welcomed.
Marine and Freshwater Research is a valuable resource for researchers in industry and academia, resource managers, environmental consultants, students and amateurs who are interested in any aspect of the aquatic sciences.
Marine and Freshwater Research is published with the endorsement of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Australian Academy of Science.