Describing biological parameters of several endemic Salmo species from the Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf basins

Abstract

Salmonids are a crucial component in aquatic ecosystems due to their trophic roles in nutrient cycling. They are also significant sources of food and salmonid fisheries make important contributions to local economies, while also being of cultural and recreational importance in many regions. To investigate the biological and population parameters of Salmonids in the Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf basins of Türkiye, we studied six endemic Salmo species. We sampled individuals from Salmo araxensis, S. ardahanensis, S. baliki, S. fahrettini, S. munzuricus, and S. murathani collected between 2006 and 2021 to analyse length-weight relationships and condition factors of these species. The total length of these Salmo specimens ranged from 3.60 cm to 27.40 cm, and their total weight varied from 38.00 g to 250.02 g. A high coefficient of determination (r² ≥ 0.97) was observed in the species' populations. The study found that the growth parameters a and b varied across all populations between 0.0076-0.0118 and 3.003-3.444. The results of this study provide valuable data on endemic Salmo species in Türkiye's ecosystems and beneficial baseline information for future conservation efforts concerning these species.