Determination of Entrance Seasons of Elvers (Anguilla anguilla L.,1766) in Gözlen Creek and Assessment of Different Catching Methods

Authors: FAHRETTİN KÜÇÜK, ERKAN GÜMÜŞ, İSKENDER GÜLLE

Abstract: This study was carried out in Gözlen Creek, located on the Fethiye-Muğla boundary Turkey, between March to July, 1998, and January to July, 1999. Elvers were collected using trap-nets, drift nets, hand scoop nets and electrofishing equipment. Examination indicated that the highest yield was obtained using hand scoop nets (P < 0.05) and electrofishing equipment. Elvers entered Gözlen Creek between February and July. A total of 214 specimens entering the creek were examined and 3 different groups were established according to their morphological characteristics: average weight (W) group I; 0.166 ± 0.007 g, group II; 0.392 ± 0.02 g, group III; 0.800 ± 0.06 g and average total length (L) group I; 56.16 ± 0.06 mm; group II; 64.39 ± 0.11 mm and group III; 82.02 ± 0.18 mm. The length-weight relation of elvers was calculated using regression analysis and was determined as follows: group I; W = 0.0020*L^{2.5327}, group II; W = 0.0015*L^{2.9516}, and group III; W = 0.0023*L^{2.7090}. The condition factor (C) was determined as 0.209 ± 0.009 for group I; 0.154 ± 0.004 for group II and 0.251 ± 0.009 for group III.

Keywords: Eel, elver, catching methods, Gözlen Creek, Turkey

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