MORPHOMETRIC AND MERISTIC FEATURES AND LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATION OF ESOX LUCIUS LINNAEUS, 1758 POPULATION LIVING IN MOGAN LAKE (ANKARA)

Abstract

This study deals with the determination of the morphometric and meristic features and length-weight relation of Esox lucius population in Mogan Lake (Ankara). Mogan Lake, an important recreational area for Ankara inhabitants, has been one of the many wetlands under the threat of some environmental pollutants in recent years. The study was carried out upon 32 samples caught between January and December 2014. The length-weight relation and the variation coefficients of anatomical features and their relation levels with standard length were determined. Some of the data were as follows: Average weight and total length were 641.91±200.58g (317-1064) and 468.31±67.17mm (286-640). The functionalequation W-L equation was W=0.0064L1.8702 with a correlation coefficient of R2=0.8291. Within the morphometric features the smallest and highest ratios to the standard length were determined in eye diameter and anal distance with 3.63% and 77.02 %. Among these features the lowest and the highest changes were observed in dorsal distance 8.86% and eye diameter with 18.80%. The lowest and highest correlation coefficients in the relations of the morphometric features with standard length were observed to be interorbital distance with 0.3522 and dorsal distance with 0.9201. The vertebrae and linea lateral scale numbers were found to be 59 and 115-130. The corresponding values in meristic features were found to be scale number under linea lateral with 0.98% and pelvic fin unbranched rays with 20.51%.