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O. . . .4.....o..3..$‘. .. ca - o I Q ~ ‘ . ~(a 7 n . I . ‘ ml I ._3fl.$ Egg. I. . . . . .mo‘.‘virl . «D r C O . ) utopfr—auup to. .‘sfir. _. . f . . r ..o 2.. 5‘ . 9 0 Av. I. ... 1 . . ‘ ..Z . o o .I. t .30. _ .0: . ..‘vv 9;. o. . do’. Q a Q o .- I.— d (O- & 1": n0. ON V a. .‘Q 1“.‘ ‘ .Il'l I 1'. l1 ..Ill ‘f'l nil: IHkS'Q.‘ , LIBRARY Michigan State Univcmt‘; 4,: .LIPF‘F'Sifi Q Mkafinvm a ABSTRACT AGE AND GROWTH STUDIES OF THE CLIMBING PERCH ANABAS TESTUDINEUS (BLOCH) IN LAM LOOK-GA FLOODED AREA CENTRAL PART OF THAILAND BY Thiraphan Bhukaswan The validity of age determination from scales of climbing perch is demonstrated. This study is based on 184 fish collected from Lam Look-Ga flooded area, Central Part of Thailand, from July 10, 1969 to May 22, 1970. The fish were from 116 mm to 206 mm, total length. Age groups I to III were represented in the samples. The maximum growth in length occurred in the first year of life. The calculated annual increments of growth in weight increased from 25.19 grams in the first year to a maximum 40.66 grams in the second. A relative abundance of sexes indicated females were dominant (2.07:1). AGE AND GROWTH STUDIES OF THE CLIMBING PERCH ANABAS TESTUDINEUS (BLOCH) IN LAM LOOK-GA FLOODED AREA CENTRAL PART OF THAILAND BY Thiraphan Bhukaswan A THESIS Submitted to Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Fisheries and Wildlife 1971 0!9“19 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I express my sincere thanks and deep appreciation to my major professor, Dr. Peter I. Tack, and to members of my graduate committee, Dr. Howard E. Johnson and Dr. Milton H. Steinmueller. I am grateful to personnel of the Royal Thai Fisheries Department who collected Specimens for this study, parti- cularly to Mr. Chirdchai Amatyakul, Director of Inland Fisheries Division. I appreciate the financial support of this study pro- vided by the Royal Thai Government. ii TABLE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . LIST OF TABLES . . . LIST OF FIGURES . . . INTRODUCTION . . . . OF CONTENTS General Geography of Thailand Description of Species Geographic Distribution Local Distribution COLLECTION OF MATERIAL FOR THE STUDY Collection of Specimens Technique of the Scale Collection ' THE SCALE METHOD FOR AGE DETERMINATION Preparation of Scale Impression Techniques to Identify Annulus . The validity of Fish Scales Age Determination AGE DETERMINATION . . Time of Annulus Formation Annulus Formation Annulus Determination Irregularities in Scale Structures Age Composition . for Length-Frequency Distribution iii Page ii < < on m qq q mun» H H [—1 15 15 23 29 37 40 Page GROWTH STUDY 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 4 4 Total length-Standard length Relationship . . . 44 Standard length-weight Relationship . . . . . 45 Condition . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Body-scale Relationship . . . . . . . . 55 Average lengths and weights of the Age Group . . 63 Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 SUWRY . O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 68 LITEMTURE CITED 0 O O O O O O O O O O O C 71 APPENDIX 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 74 iv Table 1. LIST OF TABLES Monthly mean temperature in degree centigrade of Don Muang during 1960-1969 . . . . . . Monthly rainfall in millimeters of Don Muang during 1960-1969 . . . . . . . . . . Range of variation of the length in millimeters of climbing perch for each age group at capture 0 O O O O O O C O O O O 0 Range of variation of total length in millimeters of climbing perch separated by sex for each age group at capture . . . The relation of logarithmic values of calculated standard length-weight of the climbing perch taken from Table 12 . . . Calculated values of coefficient of condition for the climbing perch taken from the standard length-weight relationship curve at different standard lengths . . . . . . Calculated and measured lengths of 184 climbing perch taken from Lam Look-Ga, Central Part of Thailand, from July 10, 1969 to May 22, 1970 . . . . . . . . . Average measured total length and weight of climbing perch according to sex at capture . Calculated weights of climbing perch at different annulus of each age group . . . . Total length, standard length, weight, annuli, scale radius and sexes of 215 climbing perch taken from Lam Look-Ga, Central Part of Thailand, from July 10, 1969 to May 22, 1970 . Page 20 21 38 39 51 56 64 65 66 75 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. The average values of marginal growth of scale radius from the last annulus to scale edge for the climbing perch at two month intervals . . . . . . . . . 2. Scale of Climbing Perch with one ring 10.7X (TL 131 mm) . . . . . . . . . . 3. Scale of Climbing Perch with two rings 1007X (TL 165 M) o o o o o o o o o o 4. Scale of Climbing Perch with three rings 1007X (TL 170 m) o o o o o o o o o o 5. Scale of Climbing Perch showing accessory annulus 10.7X (TL 146 mm) . . . . . . . 6. Scale of Climbing Perch showing spawning mark 10.7X (TL 137 mm) . . . . . . . . 7. Scale of Climbing Perch showing a regenerated central area 10.7X (TL 171 mm) . . . . . 8. Scale of Climbing Perch showing a skipped annulus 10.7X (TL 176 mm) . . . . . . . 9. Scale of Climbing Perch showing a rotated central area 10.7X (TL 137 mm) . . . . . 10. Total length frequency distribution and age composition of climbing perch taken from Lam Look-Ga flooded area, Central Part of Thailand during July 10, 1969 to May 22, 1970. 11. The regression coefficient of total length and standard length for 215 climbing perch vi Page 17 25 25 27 31 31 33 33 35 41 46 Figure 12. l3. 14. Standard length-weight relationship for 215 climbing perch . . . . . . . The regression coefficient of logarithmic values of standard length and weight for 215 climbing perch . . . . . . . Regression line for the total length-scale radius relationship for climbing perch collected from Lam Look-Ga, Central Part of Thailand . . . . . . . . . . vii Page 49 52 61 INTRODUCTION The age and growth of fish has been studied since the beginning of the twentieth century. A knowledge of correct age and rate of growth of fish is extremely useful in fishery biology and fishery management. They are together the most important basic of fishery study for solving life history problems such as longevity, sexual maturity or spawning time, catchable size, environmental conditions of natural water bodies, suit- ability of stocking and continuing studies in fisheries production. Several methods have been used in age and growth studies of fish. Among those, the scale method is the most popular aging technique. Scientists of many coun- tries have studied age and rate of growth in fish by means of the structure of scales. Several significant methods have been used in order to get precise results. However, the results of the studies are similar whether they used the same techniques of study or not, they also get a high degree of accuracy. The study of age and growth by the scale method is much more practical in the fish of the temperate zone especially in the western hemisphere. In contrast, in tropical countries, it is rarely used because the unclear sculptural appearance of annuli on scales of tropical fish makes an accurate interpretation of age difficult. Among the more useful publications on this topic are the reports of Menon (1953) and De Bont (1967). The objectives of this study are: 1. To study age and growth of the climbing perch, Anabas testudineus by the scale method. 2. To evaluate the scale method for aging technique applied to tropical fish. General Geography of Thailand The Kingdom of Thailand is located in the Indochina peninsula of Southeast Asia, between 5° and 21° N lati- tude and 97° and 106° E longitude with an area of nearly 200,000 square miles. It is bounded on the west and northwest by Burma, on the north and northeast by Laos, on the southeast by Cambodia, and on the south by Malaysia. The country is tropical and presents regionally varied landscapes in which the dominant features are forested mountains in the north and south, relatively dry plateaus in the northeast and fertile river plains in the central. The climate is a tropical monsoon with clearly defined wet and dry seasons. The rainy season runs from May to October, a cool dry season from November to February, and a hot dry season from March to May, except in the south where there is no pronounced dry season. There is little temperature variation throughout the year; seasonal variations are effected by the direction and force of the prevailing winds. It is coolest in December and January and hottest in April. The diurnal range is comparatively wider, especially in the higher altitudes of the north where the temperature may drop dur- ing the cool season to 50°F and rise during the summer to above 100°F (Nuttonson, 1963). The rainfall of Thailand is largely influenced by the monsoons, Seasonal variations in rainfall for the Central,Northern and Northeastern Thailand are as follows: a light rainfall in March, a dry April, light rains in May and June, heavy rain in July, August, September and most of October. This contrasts with showers in October, heavy rains in November, December and January, and light rain in February for the South. The annual precipitation varies from 30 to as much as 165 inches (Smith, §E_al., 1967). In the Central region, (where the Specimens were taken) at least 90 percent of the rainfall occurs during the wet monsoon from May to October. From March to September, the period of the wet monsoon, the mean maxi- mum temperature is near 98°F with records of above 100°F; the minimum is about 80°F. During the dry season the maximum temperature is about 90°F with a mean considerably lower; the minimum temperature is near 57°F (Smith, et al., 1967). Description of Species The climbing perch or walking fish, Anabas testudineus (Bloch) is one of the most interesting and outstanding of the freshwater fish of Thailand. This species is very common in all kinds of freshwaters. Its common name refers to a mode of overland migration by means of pectoral fins and gill cover. Because of a supplementary breathing organ, it can thrive in water deficient of oxygen and is able to leave the water to migrate long distance on land especially at night and after showers. This fish is Very hardy and able to aestivate during the dry season. Buried in the mud, it passes into a resting stage similar to that observed in the African Lungfish (Forelius, 1957; Sterba, 1963). Characteristics.--It has a perch like-shape with Oblong body, posteriorly compressed, head and anterior part rather broad, mouth not protractile. Small conical teeth on jaws and vomer, gill covers serrated. Dorsal and anal fins rather long, compose Of Spiny spines and soft fin-rays. Dorsal and anal spines strong, soft portion higher than the spinous part, rounded in the dorsal, obtusely pointed in the anal. Caudal rounded. Scales are large, strongly ctenoid. Lateral line interrupted about 18th scale to caudal. Greyish black or dark brown along the dorsal, lighter below. Young and half grown with transverse dark stripes on hinderpart of body and tail, a similar longi- tudinal stripe running from the angle of mouth below eye to preopercle. A large dark spot at the base of caudal and a small one at hindborder of the operculum. In adults, the stripes disappear and the black blotches are often wanting. Fins are brownish or dusky. Length is up to 250 millimeters. The climbing perch is essentially a freshwater river and swamp fish, but in some regions is adapted to live in estuarine environments (Nicholes, 1943; Day, 1958; Bhuiyan, 1964; Srivastava, 1968). It breeds in confined waters, attains maturity when about 80 millimeters long, or approximately 6 months of age. Spawning period during the monsoon or rainy season, temperature for breeding 25-29°C. The eggs are stated to be laid at random, gener- ally at night. Eggs are yellow or whitish, abOut 0.8 mm average in diameter, bouyant, floating freely on the sur— face until they hatch. Embryos hatch out after 24 hours at a temperature of 28°C (Hora and Pillay, 1962). Larvae and young fry feed on phytoplankton and zooplankton. Large fry and adult fish feed on crustaceans, worms, molluscs and insects, algae, soft higher plants and organic debris (Hora and Pillay, 1962; Bhuiyan, 1964). Geographic Distribution The original range of the climbing perch was con- fined to the areas affected by the monsoon. It lives in lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, ditches and estuaries of Singapore; Sumatra; Nias; Bintang; Banka; Java; Bawean Island; Borneo; Madura; Bali; Sumbawa; Sumba; Rotti; Timor; Celebes; Ambon; Batjan; Halmahera; Philippines; Vietnam; South China; Laos; Cambodia; Thailand; Malaysia; India; Burma; East Pakistan and Ceylon (Weber and De Beaufort, 1922; Nicholes, 1943; Smith, 1945; Munro, 1955; Forselius, 1957; Day, 1958; Sterba, 1963; Bhuiyan, 1964). Local Distribution In Thailand the distribution is wide in all kinds of freshwaters, including large streams, but it flourishes most in canals, ditches, lakes, ponds, swamps and reser- voirs over the whole country. The climbing perch is a valuable food fish in Thailand, India, Burma, Malaysia, China and the Islands lying off the southeast coast of Asia (Smith, 1945). Over most of Thailand this fish is known as pla mor, sometimes, as in the Central region, amplified to pla mor-thai. In parts of northern Thailand it is called pla sadet, and pla kheng is common in the Northeastern. COLLECTION OF MATERIAL FOR THE STUDY Collection of Specimens The specimens were collected from Lam Look-Ga flooded area, Pratumthani province, about 30 miles north of Bangkok, Thailand. The samples were captured every two months, one year round by draining ponds. About 40 fish were selected for study each time of the collection. Total length, standard length, weight, sex and stage of maturity of the fish were measured and determined. Data were recorded, and the scales were taken from the fish for continuing study. Technique of the Scale Collection The scales of the climbing perch were collected after the fish had been weighted and its length measured. Scales were taken from the middle of the body below the origin of the dorsal fin and just below the lateral line. The scales were removed with a knife, passing it from posterior to anterior where the scales were to be taken. Ten to twenty scales were taken from every fish. Collected scales of individuals were pressed between a piece of paper held together by the mucus on the scales, then, put in collec- tion envelops. Reference data were recorded on the envelop telling of locality, weight, length, sex, maturity, time of capture, temperature, method Of capture, date and collector. After the scales were collected, the fish was Opened, the sex and ripeness of the sexual products (roe and milt) determined and recorded. THE SCALE METHOD FOR AGE DETERMINATION Preparation of Scale Impression Impression method is the most practical technique at the present time for aging fish from its scales. Because the plastic impression has many advantages such as saving time, no cleaning is needed, and no effect of pitting or other irregularity on the inner surface of the scales interfered with age determination. A roller press is used. The size of its rollers is 8 cm in diameter. The gap between the rollers is adjusted by two special screws, situated on both sides of the upper plate of the metal frame (above the upper roller). The rollers are rotated by means of a handle with gearing and it is quite easy to pass the cellulose acetate stripe between them. Clear cellulose acetate is considered as the best material for scale impression because of its low flama- bility properties, unbreakable and very durable (Arnold, 1951). Cellulose acetate of 0.020 inch thickness and the slide size of 1-1/2 by 2 inches were used in this study. 10 The size of the opening between the rollers is adjusted according to the thickness of cellulose acetate plate. Smith (1954) gave the formula to determine the Opening between rollers of 3 inches in diameter that will exert a pressure at the crushing point of cellulose ace- tate as follows: P = (0.9156T) - 0.00258 where: P is the Opening between rollers T is the thickness of the cellulose acetate plate. After setting the scale press for the thickness of plastic used, scale impressions were made of 6 to 12 scales from each fish. The scales were placed, sculptured sur- face upward on one plastic slide and covered with another slide, then passed between the press rollers. The marking were pressed into the plate and the scales were put back into the scale envelop for further reference. The slides were labeled. Completed impression slides were kept in the envelops from which the scales were taken in order to keep them with their respective collection information. Techniques to Identify Annulus The identification of annuli is sometimes very diffi- cult because of unclear characteristics of the scales. Several hypotheses of how to find true annulus were given by many prominent scientists. Lagler (1952) had listed the recommendation for identifying annulus as a true year 11 mark on the scales of the fish. Firstly, the discontinuous ridges on the scale located between two continuous one; secondly, the feature of "cutting over" which resulted from incomplete circuli formation during the seasonal cessation against the resumption Of growth; and thirdly, the relative approximation of the circuli, are usually closer together just inside the line which marks the annulus and farther apart jUSt outside of it. Another valuable criterion how to identify an annulus and where it Should be located on the scales of different fish species were given by Tesch (1968) are as follows: 1. A zone of closely-spaced ridges is followed by a zone of widely spaced ridges; the annulus is considered to be at the outer border of the closely-spaced ridges. 2. A clear zone, devoid of ridges (perhaps with ridges absorbed), occurs between a zone of closely—spaced ridges and a zone of widely-spaced ridges. 3. Ridges become markedly discontinuous. 4. "Cutting over" occurs where one or two ridges appear to cut across several others. This is usually discernible on the dorso-lateral and vetro—lateral parts Of the scale. 5. In Clupeidae, where the ridges form two broad arcs across the anterior field of the scale, the annual mark is indicated by a slight bend or waviness in the ridges. 12 6. (In some scales, especially ctenoid scales, the radii end or bend at the annual marks. The Validity of Fish Scales for Age Determination Practically, the fish scales used for age determina- tion should be collected from specific given area of each Species. The characteristics of scale sculpture useful in age determination are variable and have been described for several species. Van Oosten (1929) presented the basic requirements of scale growth necessary to their use- fulness in aging fish. 1. The scales must remain constant in number and identity throughout the life of the fish. 2. Growth of the scales must be proportional to the growth of the fish. 3. The annulus must be formed yearly and at the same approximate time each year. Recently, Regier (1962) has given some valuable sug- gestions for recognition on the validation of the fish scales for age determination as follows: 1. A check with a zone of relatively widely-spaced circuli proximal to the focus, and closely-spaced circuli distally, is usually an accessory check. This feature is usually closest in an anterolateral angle of the scales. 1 2. Lack of extensive anastomosis of circuli with the check, and limited extension of the check across the posterolateral field frequently characterize accessory checks. In annuli, circuli proximal to the check are 13 usually discontinuous, distal circuli continuous, in accessory checks the reverse is sometimes true, or some circuli may be continuous through the check. 1 3. Loss Of a scale may produce on accessory check on adjacent scales, although such check can usually be distinguished from annuli. In locating location of acces- sory checks with regenerated portions in adjacent scales, it should be noted that scars on such scales are usually smaller than the size of the scale lost, except perhaps on a starving fish. 4. A given annulus is usually well defined on all scales of an individual fish, but an accessory check may not be. 5. Accessory checks are sometimes more conspicuous than annuli on the anterior field of the scale. 6. Particularly a dark band on a scale Should be treated with suspicion. Erosion pits on the nonsculptured under surface sometimes obscure scale ridge. 7. Consider a questionable check to be an annulus provisionally. If the individual's growth history as estimated from scale proportions does not approximate the growth pattern of its provisional year class, then the check stands suspect. Use of the growth pattern as a cri- terion presupposes that the fish population has been dis- crete during the period under investigation. 8. Recognition of the first annulus is sometimes difficult if the annulus is less than 0.25 millimeter from 14 the focus. Cutting over may be confined to a single cir- culus, may be present on some scales and absent on others of the same fish, or may be absent entirely. Where cutting over is absent, the annulus may be marked only by small segments of a circulus in the anterior field, or only by a relatively wide-spaced between circuli. 9. Scale abnormalities are apparently more common in fish growing at unusually rapid or slow rates than those growing at the average rate. 10. The only clear indications of recent annuli in a large, slowly growing fish may be in an anterolateral corner of the scales. Larger fish in starving population may not form annuli, or portion of scales on which annuli were formed may be resorbed. AGE DETERMINATION The scales of the climbing perch were read at least twice and at different time, by using a scale projector of 22.5X magnification, two reading of age usually agreed. Whenever, the two age determinations were different, scales were read a third time. When consistent interpre- tation was impossible, that specimen was discarded. Annuli were counted and their number marked on a scale card. The number of counted annuli from scales indicate directly the number of years through which the fish has lived. Time of Annulus Formation Age determination for this study was made by analyzing the scales of each fish collected for the presence of annuli. Knowing the time at which annual rings are laid down is very important for age study of fish. It is well known that in fish of different ages the period in which annual rings are laid down occurs at different time, also in different localities. Generally, the annulus or winter mark is laid down during winter months for the fish in temperate zone--as the results of growth cessation during 15 16 the periods of decreasing temperature. In the tropical regions where the winter is warm, the annuli develop as the result of cessation of growth during the periods of seasonal deterioration of food conditions caused by water level reduction during the dry periods and in connection with gonad maturation. The annuli which formed during the monsoon period some authors named "monsoon ring" (Menon, 1953). The determination of time of annulus formation on the scales of the climbing perch was determined by com- paring the frequencies of marginal growth of scale radius between the last annulus and the scale edge (June and Roithmayr, 1960). The measurements were made at the time of scale reading. The time of annulus formation was inferred from the frequency distribution curve. Backiel (1962) recommended that the existence of one minimum marginal growth in the year testifies that only once a year a new annulus is formed on the scales of the fish. He also assumed that time of annulus forma- tion can be determined by means of locating the minimum marginal growth. The average values of marginal growth of scale radius from the last annulus to the scale edge of the climbing perch collected every two months were plotted and a curve drawn (Figure l). The curve Shows that the minimum and maximum average marginal growths are in January and Novem- ber respectively. Therefore, the time of annulus formation 17 Figure l.--The average values of marginal growth of scale radius from the last annulus to scale edge for the climbing perch at two month intervals. 18 l Nov. I Sep 0 I Jul. y ..m 0 [P m C ..m J . _ — « 1 5 0 5 0 5 0 5 O 3 3 2 2 1. 1.. as 5 Nn.- mam 35m 09 mabzfi. and HE. E mozdfimHQ TIMEINHONTH Figural 19 on the scales of the climbing perch is assumed to be some- where between the end of November to January. By this time, Thailand falls into the cool season. Temperature and amount of rainfall continuing decrease, reach the lowest point about January. 'The difference between the maximum and minimum of monthly average tempera- ture is approximately 5°C. There is much greater differ- ence of rainfall between the peak in August, September and October as compared with November, December and January (see the values of 10 year average in Table l and 2). A report of Menon (1953) referred to the works of Chevey (1930a,b,c, and 1932) who made an interesting study on the value of the method of age determination by scales as applied to the fish of Indo-China, Cochin-China and Cambodia. He found the concentric zones of growth in the samples collected from Tonkin in North Vietnam where the temperature of the surface water was 27°C to 28°C in summer and 23°C to 24°C in winter. He concluded that a difference of 4°C to 5°C seems to be sufficient to provoke the Slowing of growth in fish and the marking of the scales." He also made a very interesting observation on the effect of the flooding of the Grand Lac and Tonle-Sap. He found that in the scales of fishes from both these freshwater areas, the growth checks occurred with lowering of the water level and as this lowering of water level occurred only once every year. Those checks were valid indices of the age of the fish. 20 .pcuadaga .xoxmcsm .ucoeunamon Heedmoaouoovoz no mpuooou ponufiaosncs one ponnuabsn no pomam .oonsom mcfluso mass: :00 mo moonmflucmo monomo cfl onsumummfiop om.o ma.o «3.0 sm.o no.0 sm.o Hm.o ~m.o mm.o am.o as.o ~:.s .son .su GH.GN ma.am am.mm mm.m~ mo.m~ oa.mm mm.m~ mm.mm ofi.om om.mm ma.a~ as.mm cam m:.m~ a.s~ a.o~ a.m~ m.m~ s.m~ w.mm o.m~ 3.0m 3.0m m.mm o.m~ a.a~ moms G~.m~ s.am “.mm o.mm a.mm m.mm m.am ~.am m.mm m.mm m.wm m.o~ m.mm woos mm.m~ H.m~ a.am w.am e.m~ a.mm H.mm m.m~ a.mm m.om s.am m.m~ H.om seas Hm.m~ m.am fi.wm ~.m~ m.mm «.mm m.mm 3.0m m.mm m.om N.om m.mm o.a~ moms m~.mm m.a~ a.am m.mm H.mm o.m~ H.mm m.mm m.m~ H.0m m.wm m.a~ m.s~ mom“ oo.mm m.:m H.om s.m~ ~.w~ m.m~ m.mm :.mm a.m~ 0.0m m.m~ m.am H.mm sows sa.a~ m.m~ N.wm m.m~ «.mm m.m~ o.m~ m.m~ a.om m.am m.mm m.m~ o.m~ moms mm.a~ m.sm o.am m.a~ a.k~ :.m~ m.m~ H.mm m.mm m.om a.m~ o.o~ o.mm mead mm.w~ m.a~ m.mm s.mm a.wm a.mm m.m~ s.mm o.m~ m.om m.m~ m.a~ o.mm Hem“ mo.m~ 0.0m o.mm N.w~ w.m~ m.m~ s.m~ a.m~ m.om s.om m.m~ m.a~ m.om coma can: .oon .>oz .poo .aom ows¢ .afiw .:5% max .um< .auz .bmm 1 .suw snow 1 .msaauosma cams Seances--.a shame 21 .psuadqga .xoxmsmm .u:o£puuaon HandwOHouoopoz mo upuooou ponmfiabsmna one ponmwabbn no pommm .o0hsom Hw.mfi 0a.:m 00.~0 00.amfi an.ao 0.m0 sfi.mn 0m.mm ss.ms ea.~a s0.~m mm.0fi .>00 .epm 00.0fl wa.mm mL.HH~ Nw.s0m 00.0mm 0~.AOH mm.mNH as.mmH 0:.am Na.mH N0.m~ 0H.s omauo>¢ sm.00 :.- L.00 0.00 H.0mm m.ssm 0.00 m.mmfi m.HHH 0.00 m.0~ m.H 0.3m moms 0d.sofi s.0 0.0m m.sm m.fimm H.m0m N.H~fi m.HmH m.aso ¢.ms n.0N m.m0 0.: moms 00.HNH 0.0 m.~: m.m0fi ~.m0m H.msfl a.w~m 0.m0 m.mmm n.0ma H.H H.0 0.0 500“ 0m.00H n.0m m.m 0.00m m.afis H.~0H s.:mH w.mmfi m.mmm N.LN m.m« a.mm “.0 coma mm.aofi m.a 0.mH 0.NOH ~.0os n.0HN n.5m m.ma m.Hmm H.0m 0.3: 0.00 0.0 mood 00.0HH 0.wH a.0 n.00H H.me 0.0mm 0.amm N.NOH ~.mom n.3m 0.mm m.mfi 0.0 :00“ m0.0~H ~.0~ «.mm m.m0~ m.aos 0.mad n.301 m.m0H m.mmfi 0.0m 0.0L 0.0L 0.0 moms ma.m~« 0.fi N.NH m.00n A.mmn m.msm s.fiofi w.mwd m.001 n.03 «.mfl 0.0 0.0 Nomfi H~.0HH H.aH 0.mm 0.0mm H.0a «.msm n.00H 0.0mm m.mms 0.0SH N.0~ m.m0 H.~ Homs mn.0fifl n.: 0.ms m.mmm 0.0m: 0.00N m.msfi 0.0m ~.mm n.0m 0.m 0.0 0.0 000“ ommno>< .oom .>oz .poo .mom .ms< .HSS .::w as: .nm4 .nmx .bom .:00 use» .msmauoomfi 00AH00 000:: coo mo msmumsflflafls as Hamwcflmu Sagucozuu.m mamas 22 It seems to me that the annulus formation on the scales of the climbing perch is the result of decreasing temperature together with lowering water level during the cool season, from November to January. Firstly is the difference of 5°C between temperature in the summer and the cool season. Secondly, the wet monsoon (southwest monsoon) causes heavy rain in the central region of Thailand, at least 90 percent of the rainfall occurs from May to October (Smith, et;al,, 1967). It causes flooding over lower plains along the Chao Phraya Basin for many months. The water level is nearly constant throughout the rainy season. Lowering water level begins at the end of the wet monsoon approximately late October or early November. It takes about two months, more or less for lowering period. Then, the fish move to lower areas or to the river channels for feeding. During this period of movement the fish probably have less food available to them and their feeding activity may be restricted. The effects of decreasing temperature and food shortage dur- ing lowering period seem to be sufficient reasons for the time of annulus formation on the scales of the climbing perch taken from Thailand. The average distances between the last annulus and the scale edge of the samples Show that the widest were taken on November 23, 1969 and the narrowest taken on January 22, 1970. Association of decreased distance from last annulus to scale edge with decreasing temperature 23 and lowering water level at this period should indicate that "the annulus was laid down on the scales of the climbing perch somewhere between November 23rd and Janu- ary 22nd. Considering the marginal growth of scale radius of the specimens taken in January shows that the fish have made some growth after the last annulus was laid down and keep on growing. This makes me believe that the annulus might be laid down at the end of November or at the begin- ning of December (Figure 1). Annulus Formation The scales of climbing perch are typically ctenoid, more or less crenulated, and strongly imbricated. Its shape rather concentric, broader anteriorly and posteriorly rounded. There are many ctenii on the posterior field. Scales are hard and thick especially in older fish. The focus near the center Of the scale is a small clear area. Ridges or circuli are clear and numerous, more or less concentric around the focus. Ridges are continuous and homogenous with the general bony surface resulting from elevation of the ostoid marginal area. Radii are variable on the anterior field, cutting across the ridges surface of the scale from the focus zone to anterior margin (Figure 2). Annulus formation is dependent upon the cessation of growth. Significant factors affecting the growth of fish are available food, space of living, temperature, rainfall and including the concentration of dissolved organic 24 matters, salts and gas in water, the fertility and physical nature of the bottom, the configuration of the basin or stream bed, the elevation of surrounding land, rate and volume of stream flows, water level and water pollution (Van Oosten, 1929). These factors also affect the annulus formation on the scales of fish both directly and indirectly. As mentioned previously, the annulus formation on the scales of the climbing perch taken from the central part of Thailand is the result of change in temperature together with lowering water level during the cool season. Annulus Determination Recognition Of annuli on the scales of the climbing perch is based on recurrent interpretations of the uni- formly spaced ridges in the anterior field. Such areas of discontinuous and irregular ridges form narrow, continuous, light band which normally stands out in sharp contrast to the bold, continuous and regular ridges on either side. Occasionally, there are gaps between ridges along the lateral field, in this case, some ridges are partly des- troyed. "Cutting over" is observed in the lateral field as the ridges passing from the anterior of the scale wedge out, being cut across when they reach the annulus. Annuli are present in the same relative position on the scales of an individual fish. They are roughly parallel to the margin and may be traced around the entire sculptured portion of the scale (Figures 2-4). 25 Figure 2.--Scale of Climbing Perch with one ring 10.7X (TL 131 mm). Figure 3.--Scale of Climbing Perch with two rings 10.7X (TL 165 mm). 26 27 Figure 4.--Sca1e of Climbing Perch with three rings 10.7X (TL 170 mm). 28 V~~ 3‘L‘? 36.3 \\ N; 11W) W \A '_\\\“:\-" \\ h‘ “In: 1...- -~ . I I “I; ‘.___/’,' Figure 4 29 Sometimes the annulus is indistinct. It must then be identified with the densest part of the dark—colored zone of narrow crowded ridges; the ridges on the dark- colored zone gradually expand towards both the focus and outward. Irregularities in Scale Structures Age determination of climbing perch from their scales is always difficult because of an unclear sculpture appear- ance of annuli. Abnormalities of growth are reflected on the scales and lead to the formation of an accessory annulus and the "false" annual ring frequently results in an error of age determination. The principal factors that make the scale unsuitable for age determination of climbing perch I are as follows: 1. Accessory Annuli. These rings frequently appear as folds in the sculptured pattern, and the ridges cross- ing such folds show a continuity and regularity of the defined age ring. They usually occur at irregular inter- vals between regularly Spaced and more or less close to next annulus (Figure 5). However, they are not present on scales of all individual fish. In the climbing perch, the formation of accessory rings is connected with the Spawning period. They may be observed and identified only before the following annual increment has appeared on the scale. As mentioned pre- viously, because the climbing perch reach maturity at the age of 6 months, spawning marks may be located before the 30 first annulus for the young of age group O and I, and are between two annuli for the fish of two years and older. Their positions vary in different years, however, they are usually nearer the outward annulus (Figure 6). 2. Regenerated Scales. The most common irregular- ity in the scales of climbing perch occurs in the central area of the anterior field where the distinct, regularly spaced ridges are replaced with short, discontinuous scars. This area is generally granular in appearance, irregular in outline, and highly variable in relative Size, and some- times remains blank (Figure 7). Scales with such an area were considered to be regenerated scale and are not used in the age determination. The major reason for regenerated scales in the climbing perch might be the result of losing scales during overland migration. 3. Skipped Annuli. Some scales have no annulus formation apparent at the position where it should be located each year. The circuli are very uniform, widely spaced and parallel to the margin of scale. No bands of closely spaced circuli being regarded as indicating slow growth during one growing season (Figure 8). This condi- tion indicates that under environmental conditions the fish grew rapidly throughout the year. 4. Dislocated Scales. Some scales appeared to be a smaller scale set off center in a larger scale, the two with foci in different positions and main axes at differ- ent angles (Figure 9). This condition is presumed to be 31 Figure 5.-—Scale of Climbing Perch showing accessory annulus 10.7X (TL 146 mm). Figure 6.--Scale of Climbing Perch showing spawning mark 10.7X (TL 137 mm). 32 my U ////l,' ”flAél ‘ .' 1;,lnui/{II/H 114/5 /W I; | _ , 1., , “,- ' ‘ fl .' 'I in} 2, v; ' , ._ m. --'. ... 1 ~~ W I,“ ’ifi' . ~twmtgggf 0‘]... [I lit“ 1",!“ o . o6? fiflrw .: ..‘.Q " I .: . '0‘. . : ‘9‘... “b .‘1 ' wfifV“§3 ' O . ' V I I. ~ . e . .l’ 3%... “.. .... I 5...“. . .1. ... . ‘ ‘ . . .. 0 a“ . ' ('0. ." ~O ,\_ . ' . 'l‘v ‘ 2" :“o':.:: I ...o I" Figure 5 Figure 6 33 Figure 7.-—Scale of Climbing Perch showing a regenerated central area lO.7X (TL 171 mm). Figure 8.—-Scale of Climbing Perch showing a skipped annulus 10.7X (TL 176 mm). 34 Figure 7 Figure 8 35 Figure 9.--Scale of Climbing Perch showing a rotated central area 10.7X (TL 137 mm). 36 Figure 9 37 the result of a younger scale being dislocated and rotated slightly in the scale pocket (Van Oosten, 1929). Age Composition The age composition of catches is one of the most important elements in the study of the population dynamics of fish and in the prediction of catches. Practically, the age of each fish was determined by the scale method and the number of fish of each age group counted. The number of specimens in each age group is expressed as a percentage of the total in the sample, although the sexes may be expressed separately (Chugunova, 1963). The age composition of 184 climbing perch determined by the scale method, varied from over one year old to more than three years Old. The largest fish caught was a female of age 3, measuring 206 millimeters in total length and weighing 202 grams. The smallest fish was male of age one with total length of 116 millimeters and Of 29 grams in weight. The variation Of the length for every age group and percentage of age composition of the specimens, both non—separated and separated males and females are presented in Table 3 and 4 respectively. As a result, age composition of the samples composed of 51-63; 40.76 and 7-61 percent for the fish of age group I, II and III respectively. The total number of each age group decreased continuously as the fish increased in age and size. The percentage of females is greater than those of males of every year class. This phenomenon shows 38 TABLE 3.--Range Of variation of the length in millimeters each age group at capture. of climbing perch for _—— -: 1 L Total length Group (mm) Age-Year Total 1 2 3 116 -. 120 2 2 121 - 125 6 6 126 - 130 12 12 131 - 135 19 19 136 - 140 15 15 141 - 145 13 1 14 146 - 150 13 2 15 151 - 155 11 4 15 156 - 160 4 8 1 13 161 - 165 13 1 14 166 - 170 14 4 18 171 - 175 12 2 14 176 - 180 8 .. 3 181 - 185 6 1 7 186 - 190 7 1 8 191 - 195 2 2 196 - 200 .. .. 201 - 205 1 1 2m5-2u) 1 1 bar of Specimens 95 75 14 184 orcentage 51.63 40.76 7.61 100 39 TABLE 4.—-Range of variation of total length in millimeters of climbing perch separated by sex for each age group at capture. Age-Year Total length Group (mm) 1 2 3 Total Male Female Male riihalo Male thale 116 - 120 2 2 121 - 125 1 5 6 126 - 130 2 10 12 131 - 135 4 15 19 136 - 140 5 10 15 141 - 145 8 5 1 14 146 - 150 8 5 2 15 151 - 155 4 7 1 3 15 156 .. 160 2 2 4 4 1 13 161 - 165 6 7 1 14 166 - 170 6 8 4 18 171 — 175 2 10 2 14 181 - 185 6 1 7 186 - 190 7 1 8 191 - 195 2 2 196 - 200 - - 201 - 205 1 1 206 - 210 1 1 r of cimens 36 59 23 52 1 13 184 reentago 19057 32.07 12050 28.26 0.54 70% 100 40 that the females of climbing perch are more dominant in natural population than the males. Length-Frequency Distribution Length frequency distribution is valuable for aging determination. The method is based on the fact that the length of fish of one age tends to form a normal distribu— tion (Rounsefell and Everhart, 1953). Counting the peaks of the sample help to estimate the age of the fish. This method has been adequate for the first 2 to 4 years of life, but has failed in the older age groups, because of increasing overlap in length distribution. Generally, it is used as a check on the scale method of age determination, especially for the younger age group. The length frequency distribution curve was plotted by using 5-mm intervals of 184 climbing perch. Their total length were plotted against a number of specimens for each length. Age groups in the catch are determined by the number of peaks in the frequency distribution curve which shows that they could be composed of the fish popu- lation range from one year old to three years old (Figure 10). The modal lengths of age groups I and II probably might stand out in the length frequency distribution of most random samples of the population. In age group III, however, length is an exceedingly poor index of age, since most of specimens were covered by the age group II. The extensive overlap of the length frequency distributions 41 Figure lO.--Tota1 length frequency distribution and age composition of climbing perch taken from Lam Look-Ga flooded area, Central Part of Thailand during July 10, 1969 to May 22, 1970. 42 Maw 23 98.3 2H 5.023 32. m H mm.“ m a 0 6-4 N H .3 H 39121 30113811101! S cm 53 ‘a’ 43 of the age groups is the combined result of the decline in growth rate in the later years of life and the extremely large range of length in the individual age groups. Age group III had the greatest range of length with an extreme of 206 millimeters, total length. GROWTH STUDY The growth of the fish is very important to modern fishery productivity and management. Most of the studies of growth in fish have been restricted to a determination on the annual increments in length (or weight) of the different age groups sampled from the population. A know- ledge of growth rate is of notable significance and leads to an effective and conclusive assessment of maintenance of maximum productivity of the fishery. Total length-Standard length Relationship Length relations of fish are useful for converting length information on growth and change in body form of fish during development, generally in terms of total length and standard length. Determination of relations is made by the method of least squares. The regression coefficient was calculated by using the formula: ZXY _ (xx)(zY) b= “2 2x2 _ (2X) n 44 45 where: X,Y represent total length and standard length of the fish respectively, n is number of specimens. Data of 215 climbing perch were plotted and a regres- sion line drawn (Figure 11). The relation shows a high degree of correlation (r2 = 0.8987). ~Calculation resolved that the slope (b) of the regression line was 0.7724, and the ratio between total length to standard length was 1.2947 (TL = 1.2947SL). Standard length-weight Relationship The length-weight relationship of fish has interested fishery biologists because it affords an opportunity to study changes in body form as the fish grows. It serves as the basis for the calculation of unknown weight of fish of known length or to determine the length of fish of known weight. The relationship between length and weight in fish has been calculated by the parabolic equation: where: W is weight in grams, L is standard length in millimeters, c and n are constants. Beckman (1948) expressed this equation in logarithmic form so it became a straight line: log W = log c + n log L. The values of log c and n are determined by fitting a straight line to the logarithmics of L and W. 46 Figure ll.--The regression coefficient of total length and standard length for 215 climbing perch. 47 S 26E mag 2H EOE A4909 emu 8m om: ow“ 6% mm“ 6.3 1 '00.“ r em." 10+: r 00a owe 1mm NI HIDNS’I (DRUMS 48 The standard length-weight relationship of climbing perch was determined from 215 fish of the collection taken at different times of the year. The fish ranged from 83 mm to 165 mm in standard length. Data were plotted by using separated symbols for sex. A single regression line was drawn by inSpection (Figure 12). Ten points uniformly Spaced with reSpect to length were selected, logs of those values were plotted, a regression line drawn (Table 5; Figure 13). This regression line was determined by the equation: Y-Y= 2 l(x-xl). 1 where: Y equals log W; X equals log L; X1, Y1; and X2, Y2 logarithmic regression line. represent two points along the The regression coefficient was calculated to be 3.443. Standard length-weight relationship for climbing perch of both sexes can be expressed mathematically as log W = 3.4438L - 5.3726. The result indicated that the weight of climbing perch will vary as the cube of its standard length, and the shape of the fish remains constant with increase of length over the length covered. Condition The values of the coefficient of condition or con- dition factor are interpreted as expressing the relative plumpness of the fish. They have also been used as an 49 Figure 12.--Standard length-weight relationship for 215 climbing perch. WEIGHT IN GRAN 50 200.. . [ I I I I, 180' + male / 0 female I I ’I 160- I ’ . . I ~1- I I o 140- . . /. I I. o I . 12G . . I . I ’ I I. .1: I . 10° +..; :1" - ° ' Q"... .7, . . 801 +':+ # f + ++ 7’ ' . ./ ,4- o I, ~ 60-1 . I +' : .fl’ ' a; + ++ : + 3“‘.‘.”/"+"*'+"1r ++ ‘42. +. + «H- M“ 6 $67 + + o. I 000 o I. I + V4 + I, 20- ’1’ ’I 1” O 40 60 8b 160 120 140 160 180 STANDARD LEIGTH IN HIILDETER Figure 12 51 TABLE 5.--The relation of logarithmic values of calculated standard length-weight of the climbing perch taken from Table 12. Standard length in millimeters ‘Weight in grams X=SL logX raw logW 50.0 1.6990 3.0 0.4771 66.8 1.8248 8.1 0.9102 86-0 109365 1907 1.2948 100.0 2.0000 32.6 1.5134 112.5 2.0511 48.9 1.6893 123.6 2.0920 67.6 1.8302 132.5 2.1222 85.9 1.9341 140.0 2.1461 103.9 2.0164 147.0 2.1673 122.8 2.0894 153.0 2.1847 141.0 2.1493 The regression line determined hy'the equation: 1r2 " Y1 Xz-X1 The regression coefficient was calculated to be 3.443. Then, the standard lengthdweight equation is: Y" Y1: 01- X1). log N = 3.443811 " 5.37260 52 Figure 13.--The regression coefficient of logarithmic values of standard length and weight for 215 climbing perch. 53 2.5 ,¥ 2.0 -1 + [I 1- I / / 1.5 1 + / '50 / *3 5t " / u: / ,9. / / 1.0 d l/ I 2‘ / / / / / O 5 ‘/ / ./ ./ / / 0.0 I I I I I I ' 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.2 log standard length Figure 13 54 adjunct to age and growth studies. Lagler (1952) reported that the values of the coefficient condition are not only used to express the relative plumpness of the fish, but are also used in age and growth studies to indicate the suitability of an environment for a species by a comparison with the value for a specific locality or area. Moreover, the coefficient of condition is used to define the seasonal changes in the condition of fish in relation to the age and sex of the fish, and differences between the condition of the same species in different waters, which might also serve as an index of the productivity of the water mass (Nikolsky, 1962). The usual mode of expression of the value of the condition is based on the cube law, the equation is: W x 105 L3 where: W represents weight in grams, and L represents standard length in millimeters. The coefficient of condition of the climbing perch was determined from actual average weights and lengths as calculated from the standard length-weight data. The logarithmic equation proposed by Beckman (1948): log K a + m log L where: a m u n s I f” 55 Log c and n were obtained from the previous calculations of the standard length-weight relationship. Calculation values of coefficient conditions for climbing perch of every 10 millimeter intervals in the range covered of standard length are shown in Table 6. The average K-value is 3.584. The result indicates that the climbing perch has become relatively heavier than its increase in length. However, the coefficients of condi- tion are not directly comparable for fish of various lengths and only poorly describe conditions. It must be concerned with many affecting factors. For instance, when the whole body weight is used in calculating the condition coefficient. The weight of the gonad and the intestinal contents might often alter the value of the condition coefficient and mask the true dynamics of the condition of the fish (Nikolsky, 1962). Body-scale Relationship Since the scales increase in size with the growth of the fish, a definite relation is found between the fish length and the length of scale. It is therefore possible to compute the length of a fish from the size of the special scale. Creaser (1926) had studied the relation between body and scale growth of bluegill and concluded that "there is little deviation from the direct proportion during the short scale increment of about 0.20 millimeter." He also suggested that for the establishment of the rela- tion of scale length increase to fish length increase in 56 TABLE 6.--Calculated values of coefficient of condition for the climbing perch taken from the standard lengthdweight relationship curve at different standard lengths. Cal+ ~ted1nflnes +‘ swafi-md 3111381 mwfégfdgm owiuorztfondiuon K SL Ihm;SL W 19311 80 1 .9031 15. 13 1 .1798 2.979 90 1 .9542 22.69 1 .3557 3.113 100 2.0000 32.61 1.5134 3.261 110 2.0414» 45.28 1.6559 3.402 120 2.0792 61.10 1.7861 3.536 130 2.1139 80.46 1.9056 3.664 140 2.1461 103.90 2.0164' 3.785 150 2.1761 131.70 2.1197 3.904 160 2.2041 164.40 2.2161 4.065 170 2.2304 202.60 2.3067 4.126 kmmmgo«mandhnadcxnmflnflent«umdflmsn1nflne a any». 57 the common sunfish, a definite scale from an area where the scale are quite uniform in size was measured with size of the fish. When the scale measurements are plotted against the fish length, a regression line is formed. If the proportion between scale length and fish length were a simple direct, a straight line originating at the zero- zero point would result. Van Oosten (1929) had given the scale method of determining the length of fish at successive years of its life and its annual growth increment depends on the validity of the scales as discussed previously. The methods of calculation of the body-scale rela- tionship have been discussed for many years. Several methods were given by prominent scientists. The following summaries are taken from Lagler (1952), Nikolsky (1962), and Hile (1970). 1. Lea Method. This method assumed that the length of the scale and that of the fish increased in direct pro- portion to each other. The proportionality is of a linear character, and could be represented by the equation: where: L is the measured length of the fish, V is the scale radius, Ln is the calculated length of the fish at age n years, Vn is the distance between the annual ring and the focus at age n years. 58 2. Lee Method. This method assumed that only the increment in the length of the fish and in the size of the scale are proportional to each other, and not their actual sizes. The main factor which disturbs the prOpor- tionality between the length of the fish and that of the scale is the fact that the scale is not laid down at the birth of the fish, but somewhat later, when the fish has already attained a certain length. Rosa Lee therefore proposed to introduce into Lea's formula, the correction length "a" corresponding to the length of the fish at the moment the scale began to be laid down. Then, Lee gave a new body-scale equation: L = a + bS or L = n V (L -a) + a where: a and b are constants. 3. Sherriff Method. This method assumed that the mathematical relationship between body length and scale length is expressed by the equation: L = a + bS + cS2 where: L is the body length, S is the scale length, a, b and c are empirically determined constants. 4. Carlander's Third-Degree Polynomial Method. This method is based on a detailed examination of the actual size 59 of the scale at body length, and involves no assumptions of a fixed mathematical relationship between body length and scale length. Carlander described the body-scale relation by the equation: L = a + bS + cS2 + dS3 where: a, b, c and d are constants. 5. Monastyrsky_Logarithmic Method. This method assumed that, for a certain fish the relationship between the growth of the scales and that of the body has a cur- vilinear character. The method holds that the increase in the logarithm of the length of the scale is proportional to the increase in logarithm of the body length. The equation which expressed this relationship is the general parabola: or log L = log a + n log S. where: L is the length of the fish, S is the corresponding length of the scale, a is intercept of the straight line on the axis of the ordinate, and n is the slope. 6. Fry's Modification of the Monastyrskngethod. Fry believed that the constant a, corresponds to the length at scale formation is, of course, subject to the same criticism outlined previously. He added a constant to the Monastyrsky equation to give it the following formula: 60 log (L - a) = log b + n log S. The new constant, a, was defined as length at first scale formation. The introduction of the additional con- stant creates the difficulty of mathematical fitting of the equation and is impractical. In practice, the one giving the closest fit being determined by inspection, and the value of b and n, must be estimated from graph. The relations between length of the fish and length of scales are usually expressed in terms of scale radius— total length relationship. In this study, scale samples used were the same set as used for the scale method of age determination. From the sample of scale impressions for each fish selected at random, non regenerated scales were used. The microprojector technique is used to measure annulus and scale radius. The measurement was taken from the mid-point of focus to each annulus and to the margin of the scale along standard axis from the focus to the middle of the front margin at longest distance. The exact position of the annulus has to be measured precisely and consistently to the same morphological position. Scale radius and annulus measurements were observed at a magni- fication of 22.5X and recorded on scale cards which were calibrated in millimeter (see appendix). The relation of total length and scale radii of 215 climbing perch is shown in Figure 14. The regression coefficient was calculated by the computor. Data given an intercept of 69.622 and the slope of the regression line is 0.996. 61 Figure l4.--Regression line for the total length-scale radius relationship for climbing perch collected from Lam Look-Ga, Central Part of Thailand. 62 + m + + ++ U + +... 1 +4 “r. +++ +++ 4 + 4+ » + :0; + +... H 1 + + + + + +H+1H$+ + 4 #1:... 4». + + I w 5 +..... + +... +... fl... +++ ++++a+ +++ s. + + +. + ++ 4:11.». + u.» + + + + + +fl+ hr +... +... + + 5 +++ + ++ 7 + +... + +4... I" + + + 5 ++++.. ++fi++ + 6 + 5... + 1.. + +... +... +... «55 I? + 1% . _ . _ p _ . _ .1 n 5 5 5 5 0 9 8 7 “w “45 M5 MD no; .6 2 1 1 1 1. 1 1 1. 1 1 ”Wang 2H mauznfl .3909 SCALE RADIUS 22.511 Figure14 63 The Lee method was employed to determine the total length of the climbing perch at respective annuli. The calculated values of the total length-scale radius rela- tionship of 184 climbing perch taken from Lam-Look-Ga flood plain, Central part of Thailand, were presented in Table 7. Average lengths and weights of the age groups Comparisons of the average total lengths and weights of male and female climbing perch indicated that the females were larger than the males of the same age excepting the first year of life when males are larger than females (Table 8). The data demonstrated that males of the aver- age size of the age group I were 3.70 millimeters longer and 4.28 grams heavier than females of the same age. The average for age group II and III females were 10.72 and 20.62 millimeters longer and 17.51 and 44.46 grams heavier than males of the same age reSpectively. It should be noted, however, that sex differences of age group III may not be significant because of the small sample with a single male in this year class. Growth The study of the calculated growth of the climbing perch was determined from the combination of the data for all age group calculated over the span of one year samples. 64 TABLE 7.--Calculated and measured lengths of 184 climbing perch taken from Lam Look-Ga, Central Part of Thailand, from July 10, 1969 to May 22, 1970. Average calculated TL (mm) Number Age Average TL at at each annulus 01' Ca tured Sample Grmp p (n) 1 2 3 95 I 139.06 117.54 75 II 169.69 115.65 154.68 14 III 179.14 111.24 143.00 168.19 Mean total length in.millimeters 114.81 148.84 168.19 Incremental growth 34.03 19.35 Specific growth 0.2964 0.1300 65 TABLE 8.—-Average measured total length and weight of climbing perch according to sex at capture. Agrdbmr {Hile Sex 1 2 3 Tbtal length male 141.36 162.36 160.00 in millimeters female 137.66 172.98 180.62 both 139.06 169.69 179.14 -------- bud-q)-------r------q-----nu ‘Weight in grams male 54.53 86.43 75.00 female 50.25 103.94 119.46 both 49.20 98.52 116.29 66 Growth in length.--The calculated lengths of the climbing perch show their greatest growth in length occurred during the first year of life (117.54 mm). The annual increments of length decreased rather rapidly after the first year. Growth in length in later years was rela- tively slow. Growth in weight.--The weights in Table 9, which were computed by means of the general standard length- weight equation (log W = 3.443SL-5.3726) and the total length-standard length equation (TL = 1.2947SL). Calcu- lated weight was determined from the average calculated total length of fish at annulus (1-3) of each age group in Table 7. TABLE 9.--Calculated weights of climbing perch at different annulus of each age group. Age group €71: Muted 1° 8: (mm) Calculated (at annulus) TL SL weight (2111) 1 117.54 92.77 25.19 2 154.68 122.08 65.85 3 168.19 132.74 86.40 The calculated weights were relatively greater than the corresponding changes in calculated lengths. The rela- tively large increases of weights in the later years is in contrast with the small increases of length in correSponding 67 years. The calculated weights, sexes combined were greatest in the first two years of life and declined in the third year. The annual increments of weight decreased after the second year and so on. Growth rate.--The annual growth of climbing perch is different consistently with seasons. The general trends in the annual fluctuations in growth rate can be determined by the examination of the growth of scales of Figure l. The fish start growing rapidly in late rainy season to early cool season, September to November. During this period, the central plain of Thailand where the fish were taken were flooded. Of course, flooded waters have abun- dant organic matter which is food for this fish, and slowly decreasing temperatures still do not effect food consump- tion of the fish, therefore rapid increase in growth results. In the cool season, temperature continues to decrease, till reaches minimum point somewhere between late November to early December. This critical period causes the fish to quit eating and stop growing. As a result an annulus was formed on the scales as described previously. There- after, the fish grew rapidly in late December to January and more slowly from February to March. Growth rate increased slowly through summer and early rainy seasons. SUMMARY 1. Scales for assessment of the validity of annuli as age indicators were obtained from 184 climbing perch taken from the central region of Thailand. Scale samples were collected over one year, from July 10, 1969 to May 22, 1970. 2. Scales of climbing perch are typically ctenoid with strongly sharp spines on the posterior field. The anterior field is sculptured with rings running parallel to the anterior margin. Six to nine scales were impressed on plastic (cellulose acetate) by roller press for the study. Scales were examined, the measurements made of the distances from the focus to each ring and to the scale margin with a scale projector at a magnification of 22.5X. All scales were read at least twice, and differences in scale reading either were reconciled or the scales dis- carded. 3. Time of annulus formation was determined by com- paring the extent growth of scale radius between the last annulus and the scale margin. It should be assumed that 68 69 annulus formation on the scales of climbing perch takes place somewhere between late November and December. Annulus formation is the effect of decreasing temperature together with lowering water level during the cool season. 4. Annuli or year marks were identified by the interruptions of the ridges (cutting over) in the anterior field. Such area of discontinuous and irregular ridges form dark band, occasionally with gaps between ridges along the lateral field. Annuli are parallel to scale margin and occur in the same relative position on the scales except regenerated or damaged scales of an individual fish. The principal condition of the validity of scales for age determination was based on scale measurements. The study showed that (a) each annulus on the scales was located in the same relative position, (b) the scales increased in length with the number of rings, (c) the distance between outer annuli decrease with age, and (d) the distance between the last annulus and the scale margin increased rapidly during flood season and after lowering period, reaching a maximum in early cool season. 5. Age composition of the climbing perch of the samples composed of the fish age group I 51.63 percent, age group II 40.76 percent, and age group III 7.61 per- cent. The total number of each age group in the sample decreased continuously with age. The percentage of females is greater than those of males of every year class. 70 6. The growth study of the climbing perch was com- puted by many methods. The total length-standard length relationship was determined by the method of least squares to be TL = 1.2947SL. The standard length-weight rela- tionship was calculated by the parabolic equation to be log W = 3.443 log SL - 5.3726. The condition factor is based on the cube law gave an average value of 3.584. The body-scale relationship was determined by a linear regression of total length on scale radius for 215 climbing perch ranging from 116 mm to 206 mm in length. The regression coefficient was determined by computor yielded an intercept of 69.622 and slope of 0.996. The total length at each annulus was determined by the Lee Method which best fit the available data. The calculated lengths for combined sexes at the first, second and third annuli were 117.54, 154.68 and 168.99 mm respectively. The average length and weight increments decreased continuously as the fish grew older. The growth rate declined consistently as the fish increased in age and size. LITERATURE CITED Arnold, E. L., Jr. 1951. An impression method for pre- paring fish scales for age and growth analysis. Prog. Fish-Cult}, 13(1):ll-l6. Backiel, Tadeusz. 1962. Determination of time of annulus formation of fish scales. ACTA Hydrobiology. Krakow. 4:393-411. Beckman, William C. 1948. The length-weight relationship, factors for conversions between standard and total w lengths, and coefficients of condition for seven Michigan fishes. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 75(1945): 237-256. Bhuiyan, Abdul A. 1964. Fishes of Dacca. Asiatic Society of Pakistan, Dacca. 148 p. Chugunova, N. I. 1963. Age and growth studies in fish. National Science Foundation, Washington, D. C. 131 p. Creaser, Charles W. 1926. The structure and growth of the scales of fishes in relation to the interpreta- tion of their life-history, with Special reference to the sunfish, Eupomotis gibbosus. Univ. Mich., Mus. Zool., Misc. Publ. No. 17, 82p. Day, Francis. 1958. Fishes of India. Vol. I. William Dawson and Sons Ltd. 778 p. De Bont, A. F. 1967. Some aspects of age and growth of fish in temperate and tropical waters. The Biological Basis of Freshwater Fish Production, p. 67-88. Shelby D. Gerking (ed.). Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford and Edinburgh. 495 p. Forselius, Sten. 1957. Studies of Anabantid fishes. I - III. Zoologiska Bidrag fran Uppsala. 32:93-598. 71 72 Hile, Ralph. 1970. Body-scale relation and calculation of growth in fishes. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 99(3): 468-474. Hora, S. L. and T. V. R. Pillay. 1962. Handbook on fish culture in the Indo - Pacific region. FAO Fisheries Biology Technical paper No. 14. Fisheries Division, Rome. 204 p. June, F. C. and C. M. Roithmayr. 1960. Determining Age of Atlantic menhaden from their scales. Fish. Bull. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 60(ll7):323-342. Lagler, Karl F. 1952. Freshwater fishery biology. Wm. C. Brown Co., Dubuque, Iowa. 421 p. Menon, M. Devidas. 1953. The determination of age and growth of fishes of Tropical and sub—tropical waters. Jour. Bombay Natural History Society. 51:623-635. Munro, Ian S. R. 1955. The marine and freshwater fishes of Ceylon. Department of External Affairs, Canbera. 351 p. Nicholes, John T. 1943. The freshwater fishes of China. Natural History of Central Asia vol. IX. The American Museum of Natural History. 322 p. Nikolsky, G. V. 1962. The ecology of fishes. Academic Press, Inc., New York. 352 p. Nuttonson, M. Y. 1963. The physical environment and agriculture of Thailand. American Institute of Crop Ecology. Washington, D. C. 256 p. Regier, H. A. 1962. Validation of the scale method for estimating age and growth of bluegills. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 91(4):326-374. Rounsefell, George A. and W. Harry Everhart. 1953. Fishery science; its methods and applications. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 444 p. Smith, Harvey H., Donald W. Bernier, Federica M. Bunge, et al. 1968. Area handbook for Thailand. DA Pan No. 550 - 53. U. S. Gov. Printing Office, Washing— ton, D. C. 558 p. Smith, Hugh M. 1945. The freshwater fishes of Siam or Thailand. U. S. Government Printing Office, Wash- ington, D. C. 622 p. 73 Smith, Standford H. 1954. Method of producing plastic impressions of fish scales without using heat. Prog. Fish-Cult., l6(2):75-78. Sterba, Gunther. 1963. Freshwater fishes of the world. A Studio Book. The Viking Press, New York. 878 p. Tesch, F. W. 1968. Age and growth. Methods for assess- ment of fish production in freshwaters. IBP Handbook No. 3. W. E. Ricker (ed). Blackwell Scientific Publication. Oxford and Edinburgh. 313 p. Van Oosten, John. 1929. Life history of the lake herring, (Leucichthyg artedi Le Sueur), of Lake Huron as revealed By its scales, with a critique of the scale method. Bull. U. S. Bur. Fish., 44:265-428. , and Ralph Hile. 1950. Age and growth of the lake Whitefish, Corregonus clupeaformis (mitchill) in Lake Erie. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc., 77(1947):l78-249. Weber, Max and L. F. De Beaufort. 1922. The fishes of the Indo - Australia Archipelago. V01. IV. E. J. Brill Ltd. Leiden, Holland. 410 p. APPENDIX A 74 75 TABLE A-l.--Total length, standard length, weight, annuli, scale radius and sexes of 215 climbing perch taken from Lam Look-Ga, Central Part of Thailand, from July 10, 1969 to May 22, 1970. Annulus Sex TL SL w Age SR I II III Male Female 171 139 71 - 80 t 165 128 64 - 83 * 142 1 22 50 1 46 65 * 145 114 45 2 37 61 68 * 144 115 50 1 46 75 * 159 129 54 2 51 70 75 ‘ 150 119 49 1 55 70 * 141 123 43 1 50 71 * 191 164 103 3 44 84 105 117 * 185 160 94 3 41 75 93 101 * 176 163 98 - 98 * 152 130 55 1 62 89 * 150 128 55 2 39 61 84 t 148 126 52 1. 64 89 * 149 127 58 1 63 84 *- 148 126 49 1 50 68 * 146 123 59 1 62 84 * 147 123 51 1 49 73 * 134 122 44 1 50 75 * 149 117 50 1 44 63 * 164 129 68 - 86 t 152 117 54 1 61 85 * 144 110 45 1 55 79 * 143 111 50 1 62 ‘83 * 145 112 44 1 46 69 t 136 105 46 1 48 74 * 128 99 30 1 54 64 * 144 111 50 1 61 84 * 134 102 43 1 61 84 * 136 105 46 1 47 68 t 138 120 44 1 53 79 * 138 106 43 1 51 7o * 140 107 42 1 60 72 * 150 110 48 1 51 75 * 151 130 61 1 59 73 * 152 107 54 1 63 91 * 152 116 48 1 55 76 * 1 54 130 58 1 52 85 .1 157 128 51 1 59 76 t 133 116 40 1 55 71 * 133 116 38 1 35 59 ‘ 125 100 40 1 37 65 * TABLE A-l.--Continued. 76 Annulus Sex TL SL w Age SR I II III Male Female 123 100 38 1 48 59 * 138 114 53 1 56 64 . 135 109 50 1 36 55 * 134 102 43 1 42 66 * 143 110 52 1 42 72 . 131 102 46 1 41 68 * 140 110 44 1 48 68 * 133 104 41 1 47 63 * 129 104 40 1 40 52 . 123 94 4o 1 40 68 * 130 102 41 1 42 63 .. 130 102 42 1 46 60 . 136 110 46 1 40 69 .. 130 104 41 1 43 55 4 124 99 38 1 44 62 . 128 102 40 1 44 65 * 133 104 39 1 44 68 t 131 105 36 1 48 64 1- 131 114 38 1 41 67 * 127 100 40 1 4o 63 * 116 91 29 1 38 58 * 128 102 41 1 41 62 t 131 113 38 1 45 67 * 139 103 40 1 51 64 .1 122 98 35 1 40 58 * 138 101 39 1 50 62 * 127 94 32 1 46 60 * 140 112 47 1 45 70 . 149 115 50 1 49 78 . 142 114 55 1 40 78 *- 135 108 47 1 48 78 * 144 116 56 1 49 78 * 146 120 53 1 48 71 t 131 105 36 1 46 64 . 131 103 46 1 35 59 * 148 119 44 1 42 66 * 132 105 47 1 43 72 .. 134 111 48 1 46 64 . 129 102 41 1 32 46 * 137 106 45 1 51 73 * 142 111 48 1 53 77 * 133 105 48 1 43 61 1* 133 108 38 1 41 67 * 122 94 32 1 50 69 * 120 95 29 1 43 59 .1 157 125 90 1 37 91 * 150 120 62 1 7o 95 * 162 124 88 2 55 77 109 . 145 113 64 1 38 89 "' 162 124 88 - 100 * 160 128 90 1 66 98 * 77 TABLE A-l.--Continued. Annulus Sex TL SL w Age SR I II III Male Female 89 * 152 113 70 51 2“ _ 97 * 151 121 80 135 108 ' 50 142 110 55 128 100 48 137 105 50 137 108 58 175 145 126 161 130 93 146 116 65 152 121 80 152 123 88 154 126 75 155 120 82 155 121 78 155 125 70 167 128 102 183 146 125 135 108 59 140 113 58 163 126 92 165 127 100 175 140 112 165 128 90 168 130 100 165 132 92 174 139 88 160 124 96 171 140 82 183 152 99 170 132 106 163 130 90 167 133 104 157 125 100 155 122 80 170 135 102 168 126 95 165 130 99 168 130 100 166 134 106 183 153 95 188 156 101 182 145 105 164 138 102 165 128 96 166 134 103 162 130 93 160 125 88 160 126 90 150 117 80 174. 138 104 174 137 86 8 m 45 m 1a 105 101 101 S 839§ 85 97 *i.****fi§*§§§*§§§§***§§ 102? 8 8 4 4 93 102 * 2 892828388288988 93 ’2’ i 39 96 101 95 * 110 109 102 107 §8£53 §2388 8 £8 88 S? I~ 100 101 92 * NNNNNNNNWNNNNNNNQNNNNUNNNNNWNI I It"! NNNNHHHHHI NHHHHHHH £$¥3€ 3 88983 88 Ir 1} I' U H CO 0 13 1|! TABLE A-l.--Continued. 78 Annulus Sex TL SL W Age SR I II III Male Female 174» 142 76 2 45 88 97 t 170 135 98 2 36 86 94 4 170 135 98 2 41 101 . 11o * 172 130 105 3 43 69 102 109 t 183 145 112 2 45 83 97 t 179 144 89 2 36 87 92 * 165 131 95 2 56 86 9o * 171 138 69 3 36 56 81 87 * 172 . 130 100 2 38 92 100 * 165 132 94 2 31 83 101 * 176 133 115 - 85 * 171 130 90 - 89 w 170 127 95 - 93 * 172 126 100 - 91 * 174 131 100 - 88 t 161 119 82 - 80 * 167 129 98 2 39 77 88 * 161 120 72 - 82 t 164 132 83 - 90 t 175 133 101 - 99 * 170 130 90 - 97 t 161 122 70 - 91 t 162 120 78 - 89 t 174 131 100 - 93 . 176 133 94 2 55 84 96 * 172 134 94 2 42 78 100 * 166 122 88 2 49 79 107 t 166 125 94 2 55 91 105 * 180 135 108 2 45 102 111 * 168 122 90 2 54 77 103 t 164 129 86 - 100 t 175 132 103 2 45 75 93 * 175 134 104 2 51 78 90 * 162 126 82 - 92 * 163 121 86 - 89 * 160 121 75 3 34 61 85 88 * 157 118 75 1 70 79 * 167 126 89 - 94 * 168 127 98 3 29 64 93 97 * 160 112 85 1 64 98 * 190 152 150 2 74 96 114’ * 206 161 202 3 51 85 108 130 * 190 150 148 2 61 105 114 * 170 135 90 - 94 * 192 151 148 - 111 * 190 150 148 2 52 87 107 * 163 129 81 2 28 55 92 * 204 161 155 - 114 * 202 165 144' 3 52 83 107 116 * 190 151 130 2 47 85 99 * 185 150 128 2 4o 72 77 ‘ 79 TABLE A-1.--Continued. Annulus Sex TL SL W Age SR I II III Male Female 195 161 154 3 39 76 103 110 ‘ 186 150 138 3 49 74 102 125 * 187 138 138 2 44> 73 - 94 * 190 155 128 2 56 76 95 * 176 140 115 2 52 77 105 * 176 139 120 2 47 77 98 * 180 142 125 2 46 80 110 * 178 142 120 2 47 84 112 * 173 141 118 2 55 89 111 * 171 138 98 2 58 100 108 * 162 130 93 2 60 95 99 * 176 141 102 2 56 80 102 * 158 129 80 2 54 99 109 * 161 128 80 - 88 * 163 136 84 2 53 97 101 * 166 130 82 2 52 83 91 * 156 123 80 2 58 85 93 * 166 13 5 83 2 47 82 96 * 165 130 80 2 56 82 95 * **fifitttttt**¥¥¥$t#¥**$t¥* IIIIIILIIIIILIILILIILIIIII IIIIIII IILIILI IIIII ILIILIILILIIIIIIII 003