Length-Weight Relationship Analysis and Condition Factor of Fish in Lake Chini: Reason For Population Depletion

Ahmad Abas  Kutty; Haslawati  Baharuddin; Hani Kartini  Agustar; Herryawan Ryadi Eziwar Dyari; Wan Maisarah  W Muhamad; Nur Amelia  Abas

doi:10.55230/mabjournal.v55i1.3428

Authors

Ahmad Abas Kutty
abas@ukm.edu.my
Department of Earth Science and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Tasik Chini Research Centre, The Centre for Natural and Physical Laboratory Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Tasik Chini, 26690 Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia
Haslawati Baharuddin Glami-Lemi Fisheries Research Institute, Titi, 71650 Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Hani Kartini Agustar Department of Earth Science and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Herryawan Ryadi Eziwar Dyari Department of Earth Science and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Tasik Chini Research Centre, The Centre for Natural and Physical Laboratory Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Tasik Chini, 26690 Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia
Wan Maisarah W Muhamad Department of Earth Science and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5891-6038
Nur Amelia Abas Tasik Chini Research Centre, The Centre for Natural and Physical Laboratory Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Tasik Chini, 26690 Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

Keywords:

Environmental condition factor, fish diversity, fish growth pattern, lake ecosystem

Abstract

Lake Chini's fish are important as a pool of ichthyodiversity of the Pahang River drainage and a natural food resource for the native community nearby. However, the fish population was shrinking after a disastrous flood in 1995, and it is still a puzzle as to the cause of the decline of the fish population. This study aims to estimate the fish growth pattern using the length–weight relationship (LWR) analysis and condition factor. The study evaluated b and K values from the LWR analysis equation. B value is the slope of the LWR, which indicates the growth pattern (e.g., isometric or allometric), while K value refers to the condition factor, which shows the overall health of fish. Fishes were sampled using a gill net and identified to species level, and water quality was analysed using standard methods. Lake Chini was found to have a good to moderate water quality status, ranging from category A to category C according to the Malaysian Lake Water Quality Standard (NLWQS). The Carlson trophic index has classified the lake water bodies into an early eutrophic status. The LWR analysis on four selected fish species showed the mean b value ranged between 2.07 and 4.02, implying negative isometric growth for most of the species and isometric and positive growth for one species, which is K. cryptopterus and C.rapasson respectively. Fish length significantly influenced weight, with coefficients of determination ranging from 69% to 98%. The K value ranged from 1.00 to 1.08, indicating that the fish is in a moderate condition of well-being. This study indicates that water quality, food sources, and habitat are not the significant factors that cause fish depletion in Lake Chini.

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