Life history traits of Mystus vittatus in the Ganges River, Bangladesh: recommendation for its sustainable management considering climate change

Zannatul Mawa; Md Yeamin Hossain; Md Rabiul Hasan; Md Ashekur Rahman; Sumaya Tanjin; Jun Ohtomi

doi:10.1007/s00484-022-02249-7

Life history traits of Mystus vittatus in the Ganges River, Bangladesh: recommendation for its sustainable management considering climate change

Int J Biometeorol. 2022 May;66(5):927-943. doi: 10.1007/s00484-022-02249-7. Epub 2022 Feb 25.

Authors

Zannatul Mawa¹, Md Yeamin Hossain², Md Rabiul Hasan¹, Md Ashekur Rahman¹, Sumaya Tanjin¹, Jun Ohtomi³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Fisheries, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh.
² Department of Fisheries, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh. yeamin2222@yahoo.com.
³ Faculty of Fisheries, Kagoshima University, 4-50-20 Shimoarata, Kagoshima, 890-0056, Japan.

PMID: 35211787
DOI: 10.1007/s00484-022-02249-7

Abstract

Freshwater catfishes are regarded primarily as a source of food and sport, so they are highly valuable economically. We comprehensively studied life history features of Mystus vittatus, including sex ratio (SR), population structure, growth pattern, condition, form factor (a_3.0), sexual maturity (L_m), spawning season, fecundity, mortality (i.e., total mortality (Z), natural-mortality (M_W), and fishing mortality (F)), optimum catchable length (L_opt), length at first capture (L_c), and environmental factors (temperature and rainfall) with management policies from the Ganges River during July 2017 to June 2018. SR (1:1.48) differed noticeably from the expected 1:1 ratio (p < 0.05). Total length (TL) ranged from 6.80-16.00 cm for males and 6.53-18.80 cm for females. The growth was negative allometric for both sexes. Fulton's condition factor was the best one and mean relative weight showed no significant difference from 100 for both sexes that indicates balanced population. L_m was 9.60, 9.70, and 8.80 cm based on the gonadosomatic index (GSI), logistic, and maximum length (L_max), respectively. Spawning season was April to September and the peak was May to July. Fecundity varied from 5942 to 49,852 (mean ± SD, 11,898 ± 5028) and a positively correlated with TL and BW. Z was 1.80 year^-1, M_w was 0.97 year^-1, and F was 0.83 year^-1. L_opt was 11.14 cm (TL) and L_c was ~ 8.47 cm (TL). Temperature and rainfall both were significantly related with GSI and suitable range of temperature and rainfall for spawning of M. vittatus was 28-34 °C and 200-390 mm, respectively. Long data series pointed that average air temperature was increasing and rainfall was decreasing. By considering all of the above parameters, we can take the proper management actions for M. vittatus and other freshwater catfishes on the Indian sub-continent, to ensure long-term self-sustainability and sustainable harvest for the benefit of fishers and communities.

Keywords: Environmental factors; Fecundity; Management policy; Mystus vittatus; Size at sexual maturity; Spawning season.

MeSH terms

Animals
Bangladesh
Catfishes*
Climate Change
Female
Life History Traits*
Male
Reproduction
Rivers