The Reproduction Biology of Barbel (Barbus plebejus (Bonaparte, 1832)) and Chub (Leuciscus cephalus, Linne 1758) in Almus Dam Lake

Authors: Mehmet KARATAŞ, İhsan AKYURT

Abstract: The reproduction biology of Barbel (Barbus plebejus) and Chub (Leuciscus cephalus) were studied from August 1993 to July 1995 in the lake of Almus in Tokat province. The sex and age composition of Barbel and Chub were determined. Males and females in Barbel and Chub become sexually mature at the third year of their life span. Spawning time of Barbel appears to within the months of April and July in first year, May and July in the second year, but that of Chub takes place between May and July in every year. The fecundity of Barbel and Chub varies from 973-5895 to 5382-28072 per female respectively. The average egg diameter was determined as a 1.04 mm in Barbel and 1.17 mm in Chub.

Keywords: Barbel, Chub, reproduction biology, fecundity, maturity age, spawning time, GSI