Reproductive performance of Channa striata in wetland ecosystems: a fuzzy logic approach to water quality and eco-climatic factors for long-term sustainable management and aquaculture advancement

Abstract

The striped snakehead, Channa striata, is commercially and nutritionally important due to its medicinal properties, such as wound healing and antimicrobial abilities. This study investigated the reproductive biology of C. striata in relation to hydro-climatic changes using a fuzzy logic approach for long-term management in the wetland ecosystem (Gajner beel), Bangladesh. A total of 1200 C. striata individuals were collected monthly during January to December 2019 using various fishing methods. Measurements of total length (TL), body weight (BW), and gonad weight (GW) were taken with a precision of 0.01 cm and 0.01 g, respectively. The GSI (gonadosomatic index in %), MGSI (modified gonadosomatic index in %), and DI (Dobriyal index) were used to determine size at sexual maturity (L_m) and the spawning season. Results revealed a wide range of TL, ranging from 12.7 to 46 cm. The L_m was estimated between 21.7 and 25.33 cm based on various model as TL vs. GSI, MGSI, and DI; TL-fork length (FL) regressions; and maximum length (L_max) for this species. The spawning period was observed from April to July, peaking in May, indicated by higher GSI, MGSI, and DI values. Eco-climatic factors showed a significant relationship with GSI, except for total dissolved solids (TDS). Rising temperatures and declining rainfall could delay spawning of C. striata. A fuzzy logic approach was employed to predict future GSI changes over extended periods (e.g., 50 or 60 years), enabling anticipation of shifts in the timing and duration of the spawning season. Finally, the findings of our research might be effective to carry out specific conservation efforts of C. striata in response to climate variability in sub-tropical water.