Growth and Diet of Alburnoides tzanevi Chichkoff, 1933 (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in the Istranca Stream, Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to provide initial data on the growth and feeding characteristics of Albumoides tzanevi Chichkoff, 1933. Monthly sampling surveys were carried out at six sampling sites in the Istranca Stream from March 2012 to June 2013. A total of 155 specimens was collected by electrofishing. The total length and body weight of samples varied between 2.8-11.0 cm and 0.17-15.83 g, respectively. The age composition of the population ranged from 0+ to 5+. The length-weight relationship, condition factor and von Bertalanffy growth equation were calculated for all specimens as In W=-5.100+3.241 InTL, K=0.94 and L-t=22.93 (1e(-0.092(t+1.196)) respectively. To present the feeding habits of the species, the indices of relative importance (MI% and IRI%) of each uncountable (major groups such as plant, detritus, etc.) and countable (insect groups) food items were estimated. The diet spectrum of A. tzanevi contained a total of four major groups as food type: insect (Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Odonata, Trichoptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera), plant (terrestrial plants and algae), arachnid (Araneae and Acari) and detritus. Insects (73.8%) was the most prevalent food type in terms of frequency of occurrence (F%).