The investigatin of growth characteristics in Hazar bleak (Alburnus heckeli Battalgil, 1943)

This study was aimed to determine the growth characteristics of Hazar bleak (Alburnus heckeli Battalgil, 1943) from Hazar Lake (Elazığ). For this purpose, total 260 Alburnus heckeli individuals were collected from Hazar Lake between February 2009 and October 2009. They were transferred Fırat University Fisheries Faculty Fish Anatomy laboratory and examined. Firstly age, sex, length and weight of them were determined. From data obtained, age and sex compositions, length-weight relationship, age-weight relationship, age-length relationship, condition factors, relative and instantaneous growth rates and von Bertalanffy growth equations were found.Age of the population examined was found between 3 and 7. Percentage of male and female in all fish samples were found 54.23% and 45.77% respectively. Male/female ratio was found as1.18/1. Data analyses showed that more number of individuals were in age groups 4 (43.5%).Weight, standard, fork and total lengths of fish samples were determined 4.00-13.80g (6.55±1.15g), 7.00-10.00cm (6.55 ±1.15cm), 8.00-11.30cm (8.14±0.47cm) and 8.98-12.40cm (10.06±0.57cm) respectively.A logarithmic relationship was found between weight and lengths of fish. The regression equations for weight-total length, weight-fork length and weight-standard length were determined as Log (W) = -1.742+2.547Log (TL) (R²=0.7338), Log (W) = -1.625+2.543Log (FL) (R²=0.7418) and Log (W) = -1.465+2.500Log (SL) (R²=0.7335) respectively.A linear relationship was determined between age-weight and age-length of fish. The regression equations for these relationships were found as y=0.318x+5.057 (R²=0.979) and y=0.162x + 9.311 (R²=0.994) respectively.The condition factors were calculated the lowest (0.629) in age group 3 and the highest (0.642) in age group 5. Mean condition factor value for all population was found as 0.640.The relative and instantaneous growth rates were higher in the early ages and slowed down in later ages of fish.von Bertanlanffy growth equations were found as Wt=7,9791[1-e-0,2483(t+2,5024)] for weight and Lt=11,4342[1-e-0,1262(t+12,3531)] for length of fish. The weights and lengths of fish calculated by means of von Bertanlanffy growth equations were found very close to real measured values.Key Words: Hazar Bleak, Alburnus heckeli, Hazar Lake, Growth charecteristics.