Quantitative evaluation of spatial biometric parameters affecting body shape variation among three freshwater fish species

Abstract

The biometric assessment of three freshwater fish species, Mystus vittatus, Cirrhinus reba, and Pethia ticto, was conducted on four different sampling stations along the River Ganga to analyse the body shape and growth variation. A total of 679 fish specimens were sampled, and various biometric parameters were measured and analyzed. The Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) of truss landmark distances and some morphometric characters indicated that there were significant variations in the morphometric parameters of the selected fishes across different sampling locations. The study revealed that Length–Weight relationships (LWRs) and Length–Length relationships (LLRs) were statistically significant (p < 0.001) with coefficient of determination (R²) values close to 1 for all LLRs of selected fish species. Significant variations were found in growth trends and condition factors among the fish species across different sampling sites. Condition factor values for M. vittatus and C. reba were below 1 from the Kanpur and Bhagalpur sites and the condition factor values for P. ticto were significantly high from all sampling locations. The findings of the study provide valuable insights into the growth patterns and condition of these fish populations, essential for fisheries management, conservation efforts, and ecosystem sustainability. The study highlights the significance of biometric assessments in comprehending fish population dynamics and informing effective conservation strategies.