Growth and reproduction of a stream population of Cobitis turcica in central Anatolia (Turkey)

Abstract

Cobitis turcica is endemic to Anatolia, and being of a bottom-dwelling nature is highly influenced by habitat degradation. Due to drought and water pollution, in 2006 this species was included in the IUCN Red List as endangered. Therefore in order to develop conservation strategies, knowledge of its life history traits is important. The study presents first time data on the basic life history traits of C. turcica captured in a small stream flowing from Pınarbaşı Springs to Kozanlı Gök Lake in central Anatolia. In total, 1356 specimens were caught between March 2003 and August 2004. The overall sex ratio (M : F) was 1 : 0.62. Longevity in females, which reaches a maximum age of 6+, is 1 year longer than for males. Females are longer and heavier than males of the same age group. Maximum observed total lengths were 103.6 mm in a 5+ year-old male and 126.75 mm in a 6+ year-old female. Length–weight relationships were calculated for males, females, and juveniles, with the b exponent of the relationships as 2.9068, 2.8326, and 3.6859, respectively. Spawning was fractional, beginning in April and continuing until the end of July. Mean total fecundity was 2238 at age 5+.

Full text

Growth and reproduction of a stream population of Cobitis turcica in central
Anatolia (Turkey)
By S
ß. G. Kırankaya
1
and F. G. Ekmekc
ßi
2
1
Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Science, D€
uzce University, D€
uzce, Turkey;
2
Hydrobiology Section, Department of
Biology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
Summary
Cobitis turcica is endemic to Anatolia, and being of a bot-
tom-dwelling nature is highly influenced by habitat degrada-
tion. Due to drought and water pollution, in 2006 this
species was included in the IUCN Red List as endangered.
Therefore in order to develop conservation strategies, knowl-
edge of its life history traits is important. The study presents
first time data on the basic life history traits of C. turcica
captured in a small stream flowing from Pınarbasßı Springs to
Kozanlı G€
ok Lake in central Anatolia. In total, 1356 speci-
mens were caught between March 2003 and August 2004.
The overall sex ratio (M : F) was 1 : 0.62. Longevity in
females, which reaches a maximum age of 6+, is 1 year
longer than for males. Females are longer and heavier than
males of the same age group. Maximum observed total
lengths were 103.6 mm in a 5+year-old male and 126.75 mm
in a 6+year-old female. Length–weight relationships were
calculated for males, females, and juveniles, with the bexpo-
nent of the relationships as 2.9068, 2.8326, and 3.6859,
respectively. Spawning was fractional, beginning in April and
continuing until the end of July. Mean total fecundity was
2238 at age 5+.
Introduction
Anatolia (Turkey) has a rich freshwater fish fauna as a result
of its past and present climatic, geographic, and hydrologic
characteristics (Kosswig, 1955). As reported by Smith and
Darwall (2006), there are a high number of endemic and
threatened species in the Mediterranean basin. Turkey has
the richest freshwater fish fauna in this basin with more than
300 species, including at least 54 endemics (Froese and
Pauly, 2013). The genus Cobitis is represented by a total of
77 species (Froese and Pauly, 2013), 14 of which are in
Turkey, and with many endemic to Anatolia (Erk’akan
et al., 2008). Cobitis turcica is an endemic loach distributed
throughout central Anatolia (Crivelli, 2006) and inhabits
marshes, lakes and rivers. Very little is known regarding the
biology of the Mediterranean Cobitis, as stated in an exam-
ple given in Kottelat and Freyhof (2007). Although there is
no information on its life history, C. turcica is considered an
IUCN endangered species due to human-induced habitat loss
and degradation, introduction of invasive species, pollution,
and a declining population (Crivelli, 2006). Climate change
and drought represent important threats for fish species
(Markovic et al., 2012), especially for small non-migratory
fish such as Cobitis in central Anatolia, which is a semi-arid
region with weak precipitation and hydrology. Intensive agri-
cultural activities are also carried out in the region. Black
spot disease is an additional threat to the C. turcica popula-
tion (Kırankaya and Ekmekc
ßi, 2011).
This bottom dwelling C. turcica population inhabits
Kozanlı G€
ok Lake and the small creek flowing slowly into
the lake. Although the lake has several local names such as
Lake Kozanlı and Lake Saz (Erk’akan et al., 2013), the offi-
cial name is Kozanlı G€
ok Lake (Magnin and Yarar, 1997).
After the general account of Ekmekc
ßi and Erk’akan (2003),
the present study is a detailed examination of the growth and
reproduction of a Cobitis species from Anatolia, based on
material compiled periodically. Cobitis turcica first appeared
on the Red List in 2005. Knowledge of the life history of a
threatened fish is essential for management and conservation
programs. The basic life history traits of a Cobitis species
living in a vulnerable environment are presented in this
18-month study, with information that can possibly lead to
the development of conservation strategies for C. turcica.
Materials and methods
Study area
Cobitis turcica is distributed throughout the Tuz Lake Basin
in central Anatolia with fragmented and small threatened
populations (Ekmekc
ßi et al., 2009). The examined population
inhabits a small brook fed by the Pınarbasßı Spring (39°14′
21″N, 32°44′59″E), which discharges into Kozanlı G€
ok Lake,
an important bird sanctuary. Water flows from Pınarbasßı
Spring to Kozanlı G€
ok Lake through the salty Samsam
Lake. There was a natural connection between the two lakes
before Samsam Lake was drained. Currently, Pınarbasßı
Spring flows into Kozanlı G€
ok Lake via an artificial canal
that runs through the drained Samsam Lake. The Cobitis
population can be found in both Kozanlı G€
ok Lake and the
creek, but catching fish in the slow-flowing creek water was
easier than doing so in the lake; as such, the study specimens
were collected from the creek.
The study area was a 100-m section of the watercourse.
Water depth was a maximum of 1.5 m, but sampling was
performed from the creek banks at a depth of 50–80 cm and
U.S. Copyright Clearance Centre Code Statement: 0175-8659/2014/3002–322$15.00/0
J. Appl. Ichthyol. 30 (2014), 322–328
©2014 Blackwell Verlag GmbH
ISSN 0175–8659
Received: December 14, 2012
Accepted: August 20, 2013
doi: 10.1111/jai.12375
Applied Ichthyology
Journal of

a width of 2–3 m. The bottom substrate is muddy and
sandy, with some large stones. Area fish fauna consisted of
Pseudophoxinus crassus,Aphanius danfordii and Oxynoema-
cheilus eregliensis (Ekmekc
ßi et al., 2009). The study area
hydrology is typical of a semiarid area in which a continental
climate prevails. Mean flow was 600 L s
1
. Water tempera-
ture was between 8.2°C (March 2003) and 19.3°C (June
2004). Water was slightly alkaline, with a pH value between
7.59 and 8.96. Conductivity of the water ranged from 363 to
521 lScm
1
. Minimum and maximum dissolved oxygen
content was 4.35 mg L
1
(May 2003) and 11.49 mg L
1
(April 2004), respectively.
Collection and evaluation of samples
Monthly sampling was performed between March 2003 and
August 2004 using a 1-mm mesh dipnet. In total, 1356 fish
specimens were caught. Cobitis turcica specimens were sorted
out of the muddy and sandy bottom material, and anesthe-
tized using MS 222. To examine the reproduction character-
istics in each sampling, about 20 anesthetized fish were
preserved in 4% formaldehyde solution and transported to
the laboratory. The remaining specimens were released back
into the creek after measuring for total lengths (L
t
) and body
weights (W).
Sex was determined morphologically in the field, and via
visual or microscopic observation of gonads in the labora-
tory. The presence of Canestrini’s scales on the pectoral fin
as well as the more-pointed shape of their pectoral fins easily
differentiated males. Scales were used to determine age
(Slavik and Rab, 1995; Soriguer et al., 2000; Oliva-Paterna
et al., 2002; Eros, 2003) and the Bhattacharya method avail-
able in the FISAT software (Gayanilo et al., 2005) was used
for age validation. For age determination, scales below the
first radius of the dorsal fin and above the lateral line were
removed and placed on two slides after cleansing with 4%
KOH and read independently by two researchers with a
binocular microscope (Lagler, 1966).
Total length (L
t
) and standard length (L
s
) were measured
to the nearest 0.05 mm. Body weight (W) was recorded to
the nearest 0.001 g. The specific growth rate (G) (Wootton,
1990) was calculated as G
L
=(log
e
L
Tf
L
Ti
1
)t
1
and G
W
=
(log
e
W
f
W
i
1
)t
1
, where G
L
is length growth rate, G
W
is
weight growth rate, L
Tf
and W
f
are final L
T
and final W,
respectively, L
Ti
and W
i
are initial L
T
and W, and tis time
interval. The relationship between L
t
(mm) and W(g) was
estimated separately for males, females, and immature indi-
viduals. Fulton’s condition factor (K) was calculated
monthly, based on K=W10
5
/L
t3
(Tesch, 1971).
The fish were dissected in the laboratory and grouped by
sex to determine their reproductive properties; ovaries were
removed and weighed to the nearest 0.001 g and preserved in
4% formalin. Eggs in the ovaries were divided into three
groups according to color and size: immature, maturing, and
mature (Thompson and Hannah, 2010), examined under a
stereomicroscope, with the images captured and saved on
BAB-Bs200Pro PC-based image analysis software. Egg diam-
eters were measured and the mean egg diameter calculated
using this software. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) was
calculated using the equation, GSI =(G
W
/W)9100. Sex
ratio was estimated and the degree of significance of the
obtained results analyzed using chi-square at value of
P<0.05. Estimation of fecundity was complicated because
small previtellogenic oocytes dominated throughout the year;
however, assuming that all oocytes could mature during the
spawning season, total fecundity was determined as the num-
ber of all oocytes in the ovaries (Valladolid and Przybylski,
2008). Total fecundity was examined gravimetrically in 288
mature females (2003 reproductive period: n =189; 2004
reproductive period: n =99). ANOVA were used to determine
if the total length, condition factor and GSI differed signifi-
cantly between the sexes or varied monthly (Zar, 1996). The
level of statistical significance was set at P <0.05.
Results
Determination of age based on the scales showed that there
were seven age groups (0+to 6+) in females, vs six (0+to 5+)
in males (Table 1). Males were dominant at ages 2+and 3+,
but females were more abundant in older age groups. Overall
M : F ratio was 1 : 0.62, which was significantly different
than the ideal sex ratio of 1 : 1 (812 males to 501 females,
v
2
=73.66, P <0.05). The sex ratio varied within age classes
(Fig. 1); at ages 0+and 1+, 77.8% of mature specimens were
female vs 22.2% males, and males were dominant at ages 2+
and 3+(71.7 and 64.9%, respectively). The older age groups
were primarily composed of females (all specimens were
female at age 6+).
The relationship between L
t
and L
s
was based on
L
s
=0.8931L
t
2.4125 (r
2
=0.99; P <0.05). Total lengths in
males ranged between 34.55 and 103.6 mm, vs 42.60 and
126.75 mm in females, and 20.80 and 30.52 mm in juveniles.
The length frequency distribution in the Cobitis population
showed that the most frequent size classes in males were
70–80 mm (about 89%), vs 90–100 mm (about 60%) in
females (Fig. 1). Body weights of the specimens ranged
between 0.020 and 9.824 g.
The relationship between total length (L
t
) and body weight
(W) was estimated individually for mature males, mature
females, and immature fish (Table 2). There were significant
differences in coefficient bbetween mature females and mature
Table 1
Sex ratio in C.turcica population in Pınarbasßı Springs, March 2003-
August 2004 (n: number of specimens, n%: percentage of specimens)
Age
Male Female
Sex Ratio
v
2a
n n% n n% M : F
0 4 20.2 14 77.8 1 : 3.5 5.56
1 53 38.4 85 61.6 1 : 1.60 7.42
2 443 71.7 175 28.3 1 : 0.40 116.2
3 292 64.9 158 35.1 1 : 0.54 39.9
4 19 27.1 51 72.9 1 : 2.68 14.62
5 1 6.7 14 93.3 1 : 14 11.3
6 0 0 4 100 ––
Total 812 501 1 : 0.62 73.7
a(a=0.05 d.f =1, all vaules are significant).
Growth and reproduction of Cobitis turcica 323

males (Student’s t-test: t=0.3583, P <0.05). Significant
differences between the calculated bexponents and the value
for isometric growth were expected to be 3; however, negative
allometric growth was observed in males and females,
whereby the bvalue was higher than 3 (3.69), indicating a
positive allometric growth in juveniles (Table 2).
Mean total length in females at age 0+was 52.02 mm, and
at age 6+was 121.54 mm. Mean total length in males was
39.25 mm at age 0+, gradually increasing to 89.6 mm at age
4+(Table 3). Females were significantly longer than males in
all age groups.
Specific growth rate values indicated little difference in
growth rates between males and females. During the first
year of life the growth rate was very fast, both in terms of
length (30–44%) and weight (94–141%). The tendency was
for the growth rate to decrease with age (Fig. 2).
In both sexes significant changes were noted in the
monthly variation in the somatic condition (ANOVA: [males]
F=372.5, P <0.05; [females] F =14.76, P <0.05); a similar
somatic condition cycle was observed in both sexes (Fig. 3).
Both sexes reached maturity at age 1+. Total length in the
smallest mature male specimen was 40.75 mm, vs 43.40 mm
in the smallest mature female.
According to the monthly changes in mean GSI (Fig. 4),
during the development of the ovaries three phases were
identified: quiescence, maturation, and reproduction. Follow-
ing a quiescent period of 4 months (August–November), ova-
ries began to develop during the winter season (December to
February). A prolonged breeding period was observed from
March to July. In 2003, the mean peak GSI was in April
(12.04) and July (11.47), whereas highest mean GSI values
were 14.56 and 14.97 in April and May 2004, respectively.
The GSI decreased sharply to a mean value of 4.55 in August
2003. During the second year of the study mean GSI values
were slightly higher, however only one peak was observed in
May 2004, and in April 2004 the highest individual GSI in
Table 2
Descriptive statistics and length-weight relationhip parameters for
juvenile, male and female C. turcica from Pınarbasßı Springs, March
2003-August 2004
naSE (a)bSE (b)r
2
P-value
Juveniles 54 3 910
7
0.02 3.69 0.001 0.98 <0.05
Female 473 1 910
5
0.23 2.83 0.0024 0.92 <0.05
Male 789 8 910
6
0.13 2.91 0.0017 0.81 <0.05
n, number of specimens; SE, standard error; a, intercept of the
regression line; b, regression coefficient; r
2
, determination coefficient;
P, P-value.
Table 3
Total length (mean SD) in different ages of C. turcica from Pınar-
basßı Springs, March 2003-August 2004 (SD, Standard deviation)
Age
Total Length (mm)
ANOVAMale Female
0+37.71 2.34 52.02 4.45 F=49.969, P <0.05
1+58.30 4.55 70.27 6.89 F=84.154, P <0.05
2+75.99 3.06 91.35 3.89 F=265.03, P <0.05
3+81.84 2.28 101.46 3.20 F=314.49, P <0.05
4+89.60 3.33 110.68 2.63 F=465.16, P <0.05
5+103.6 117.45 2.25 F=34.419, P <0.05
6+–121.54 4.15 –
(a)
(b)
Fig. 2. Spesific Growth Rate in (a) length (G
L
) and (b) weight
(G
W
) for different age groups of C. turcica population from
Pınarbasßı Spring, March 2003-August 2004
Fig. 1. Length frequencies of juveniles, males and females in C. tur-
cica population from Pınarbasßı Springs, March 2003-August 2004
(n: sample size, n%: percentage of specimens)
324 S
ß. G. Kırankaya and F. G. Ekmekc
ßi

females was observed (23.24). The GSI in males varied within
a narrow range throughout each year (1.66–2.58 in 2003 and
1.67–2.10 in 2004).
The variation in GSI values for both sexes was similar
during both spawning periods (ANOVA:F
1,444
=0.767,
P=0.88 for females; F
1,401
=1.01, P =0.48 for males).
Ovaries simultaneously contained eggs of three different
developmental stages, including immature, maturing and
mature. Egg diameter varied between 0.19 and 1.64 mm.
Immature eggs appeared transparent and were <0.75 mm.
Maturing eggs were yellowish, translucent, or opaque, rang-
ing in diameter from 0.76 to 1 mm. Mature eggs were yel-
low-opaque and ≥1 mm in diameter. Most ovaries exhibited
a multimodal distribution in March, with transparent imma-
ture and maturing eggs, and yellow mature eggs, which were
probably eggs to be spawned that year. During the first
study period (March to December 2003) 70% of examined
eggs in March were immature. The ratio of mature eggs
increased beginning in April, accounting for up to 65% in
May and June. After July, ovaries contained mainly imma-
ture eggs, indicating the post-release phase.
Total fecundity was calculated based on 288 mature
C. turcica females. The smallest female with mature eggs had
an L
t
of 73.35 mm and Wof 1.8 g (age 1+). Maximum
fecundity of 4.161 eggs was observed in a 5+fish with an L
t
of 117.8 mm and Wof 8.7 g. The relationship between total
fecundity and body size (both length and weight) was not
statistically significant (r
2
=0.17, P >0.05 for L
t
and
r
2
=0.13 P >0.05 for W). The number of mature eggs in the
ovaries represented the batch fecundity, and the relationship
between batch fecundity and body size was not significant
(r
2
=0.17, P >0.05 for L
t
and r
2
=0.24, P >0.05 for W).
Mean total fecundity increased with age (Fig. 5).
Discussion
Scales were used to determine age in the present study and
validated via the Bhattacharya method; scale readings facili-
tated comparison with results of other studies that used
scales for determining age in Cobitis species in Europe (e.g.
Eros, 2000; Ritterbusch and Bohlen, 2000; Soriguer et al.,
2000; Oliva-Paterna et al., 2002). In the present study,
(a)
(b)
Fig. 3. Seasonal variations in condition factor (K) for (a) females
and (b) males of C. turcica from Pınarbas¸ ı Springs, March 2003–
August 2004 (data points: monthly mean Kvalues, error bars: stan-
dard errors, n: monthly sample size)
Fig. 4. Seasonal variations in GSI for females and males of C. turcica
from Pınarbas
ßı Springs, March 2003–August 2004 (data points:
monthly mean GSI values, error bars: standard errors, n: monthly
sample size)
Fig. 5. Changes of total fecundity in C. turcica from Pınarbas
ßı
Springs, March 2003–August 2004 (data points: mean values, error
bars: standard errors, n: sample size)
Growth and reproduction of Cobitis turcica 325

C. turcica age varied between 0+and 6+; the most abundant
age groups were 2+and 3+, both in males and females. Max-
imum age of C. turcica in the present study was higher than
that observed in other Cobitis populations (Table 4). In the
older age groups (above age 3+) the proportion of males was
lower than for females. According to the data, the studied
C. turcica population has a short lifespan and females live
longer than males.
Maximum total length in C. turcica may reach 126.75 mm.
Maximum L
t
in C. turcica in the present study was markedly
higher than that in most other Cobitis populations (Table 2).
The water temperature of the stream varied between 8.2 and
19.3°C during the year, whereby this narrow range may have
a positive effect on growth. Growth is considered to be a
complex stochastic process, which on the one hand is adap-
tive to existing conditions, yet on the other hand is deter-
mined by a genetically conditioned reaction norm (Bakanov
et al., 1987).
Sexual dimorphism –due to the presence of the Canastrini
scale and longer pectoral fins in males –is evident in many
loach species; body size is one of the dimorphic characters,
and females are clearly longer than males (Lodi and Malacar-
ne, 1990). A common trend seen in many Cobitis populations
(Table 4), females were significantly larger than males in the
C. turcica population.
As seen in other Cobitis populations (Robotham, 1981;
Lobon-Cervia and Zabala, 1984; Slavik and Rab, 1995) the
C. turcica growth rate was highest during the first year of
life. The rate of increase in L
t
the first year of the present
study was as high as 30.07% in females and 43.57% in
males, but after attaining sexual maturity the growth rate
decreased sharply; a similar trend was also observed for
W. In terms of the length–weight relationship, the bvalue
was higher in juveniles and similar values were estimated for
the mature fish. Although positive allometric growth was
noted in juveniles, which means growth in weight was faster
than in length, negative allometric growth was observed in
males and females. Soriguer et al. (2000) and Oliva-Paterna
et al. (2002) also reported higher bvalues for juveniles in
C. paludica populations. Each life stage has it own type of
growth, and the juvenile period is usually characterized by
rapid growth (Jobling, 1995). Linear growth is commonly
most rapid in immature fish, while the largest weight gain
occurs in mature fish (Nikolskii, 1980). The estimated bval-
ues of mature C. turcica in the present study were similar to
other reports (Robotham, 1981; Przybylski and Valladolid,
2000; Ritterbusch and Bohlen, 2000; Ekmekc
ßi and Erk’akan,
2003; Zanella et al., 2003).
The somatic condition cycle reflects seasonality, and is
related to feeding and reproduction. The condition factor
range values observed in the present study are similar to
those given for Cobitis in Europe (Ritterbusch and Bohlen,
2000; Eros, 2003; Zanella et al., 2003; Ivelic et al., 2007).
The overall sex ratio in the present study showed that male
C. turcica were dominant, whereas in most Cobitis popula-
tions, the sex ratio is slightly biased toward females (Bohlen,
2000; Eros, 2000; Przybylski and Valladolid, 2000; Schneider
et al., 2000; Soriguer et al., 2000; Bohlen and Ritterbusch,
2000; Oliva-Paterna et al., 2002; Zanella et al., 2003; Boron
et al., 2008; Valladolid and Przybylski, 2008; Mousavi Sabet
et al., 2011; Patimar et al., 2011). The biased sex ratio favor-
able to females seems to be a result of polyploidy (Bohlen
and Ritterbusch, 2000). Polyploidy is a common characteris-
tic in European loach populations (e.g. Lees and Saat, 2003;
Vasil’ev et al., 2003). Lodi and Malacarne (1990) also stated
that C. taenia have a wide range of sexual patterns due to
unbalanced protandrous hermaphroditic and gonochoric
populations. In the present study males were predominant
only in the 2+and 3+age groups; in the older age groups,
females dominated. Bohlen and Ritterbusch (2000) have pro-
posed that males are more vulnerable to predation due to
their smaller size, but in our case no specific predator was
observed in the stream. Lodi (1967) stated that Cobitis taenia
is hermaphroditic, with a percentage of males turning into
females after they have acted as males. More detailed histo-
logical studies are needed to reveal the reproductive strategy
of C. turcica.
Both females and males reached sexual maturity the spring
following hatching, as in C. taenia (Marconato and Rasotto,
Table 4
Age and length structures in different European population of genus
Cobitis (f: females, m: males)
Species Sex
Age
groups
Max.
Length
(mm) References
C. taenia F4+73.1 Robotham (1981)
M3+54
C. taenia F4+108 Marconato &
Rasotto (1989)M4+
C. taenia F5+112.3 Slavik & Rab
(1995 and 1996)M3+70.7
C. merdionalis F 121 Crivelli & Lee (2000)
M77
C. elongatoides F4+98 Eros (2000)
M2+64
C. paludica F5+81 Przybylski &
Valladolid (2000)M3+51.2
Cobitis sp.F5+115 Ritterbusch &
Bohlen (2000)M3+76
Cobitis sp. F 4+100.4 Schneider
et al. (2000)M2+
C. paludica F5+90 Soriguer et al. (2000)
M4+85
C. paludica F4+91.2 Oliva-Paterna
et al. (2002)M3+83.2
C. elongatoides F4+Eros (2003)
xC. tanaitica M3+
C. narentana F, M 4+100.4 Zanella et al. (2003)
C. taenia F5+Juchno & Boron (2006)
C. taenia F5+Boron et al. (2008)
M4+
C. calderoni
a
4–5 Valladolid &
Przybylski (2008)
Cobitis sp. F 5+87.34 Mousavi Sabet
et al. (2011)M3+56.28
C. cf. satunini F, M 4 +103 Patimar et al. (2011)
C. keywani F5+92 Mousavi-Sabet
et al. 2012M4+90.1
C. turcica F6+121.54 The present study
M5+103.6
a
Sexes were not separated.
326 S
ß. G. Kırankaya and F. G. Ekmekc
ßi

1989; Boron and Pimpicka, 2000; Juchno and Boron, 2006),
C. paludica (Oliva-Paterna et al., 2002), and C. simlicispina
(Ekmekc
ßi and Erk’akan, 2003). According to the life history
theory, the cost of early maturity entails a reduction in life
span (Oliva-Paterna et al., 2002).
Differences in the GSI between males and females in the
present study indicated that the gonads in males were smaller
than those in females, as also reported in other Cobitis species
(Ekmekc
ßi and Erk’akan, 2003; Kostrzewa et al., 2003). Both
monthly changes in GSI values and in the number of mature
eggs in ovaries indicated that spawning occurred between
April and July. A similarly long reproductive period has been
reported in most Cobitis populations, but the spawning period
of C. turcica was longer than that of C. taenia (Robotham,
1981; Marconato and Rasotto, 1989; Boron and Pimpicka,
2000; Juchno and Boron, 2006), C. paludica (Lobon-Cervia
and Zabala, 1984; Oliva-Paterna et al., 2002), C. merodionalis
(Crivelli and Lee, 2000), C. calderoni (Valladolid and Przybyl-
ski, 2008), C. simplicispina (Ekmekc
ßi and Erk’akan, 2003) and
Cobitis sp. in the southern Caspian Sea Basin (Mousavi Sabet
et al., 2011). The breeding season of fish species depends on
several environmental factors such as the photoperiod and
water temperature (Wootton, 1990); hence, populations of a
species in different geographic locations may exhibit differ-
ences in their breeding periods. On the other hand, the pro-
longed spawning period is a key characteristic of multiple
spawners (Rinchard and Kestemont, 1996).
The population of C. turcica in Pınarbasßı Spring is a mul-
tiple spawner that released batches of eggs between April
and July. Multiple spawning has also been reported in
C. taenia (Robotham, 1981; Marconato and Rasotto, 1989;
Boron and Pimpicka, 2000; Juchno and Boron, 2006),
C. paludica (Lobon-Cervia and Zabala, 1984; Oliva-Paterna
et al., 2002), C. elongatoides (Eros, 2000; Halacka et al.,
2000), C. merodionalis (Crivelli and Lee, 2000), C. calderoni
(Valladolid and Przybylski, 2008), and C. simplicispina
(Ekmekc
ßi and Erk’akan, 2003). This tactic is advantageous
in fluctuating environments, as the progeny are not at risk
following only one reproductive event when a climatic catas-
trophe can destroy the entire spawning for a particular year
(Oliva-Paterna et al., 2002). Although the ovaries have an
asynchronous growth rhythm with oocytes in different stages
of vitellogenesis, three maturation cycles of yolky eggs were
observed in the present C. turcica population. Thus, a female
may be able to spawn at least two batches of eggs per breed-
ing season (Oliva-Paterna et al., 2002).
Mature oocyte diameter in C. turcica (max 1.64 mm),
higher than Cobitis sp. and C. keyvani (max 1.4 mm) (Mous-
avi Sabet et al., 2011; Mousavi-Sabet et al., 2012), C. satun-
ini (1.10 mm) (Patimar et al., 2011) and lower than C. taenia
(2.5 mm) (Lodi and Malacarne, 1990). Egg size vary within a
species as well as interspecially and is related to both the lati-
tude and mode of spawning. Large eggs are likely to have an
adaptive advantage if the food supply for the larvae is sparse
or variable (Wootton, 1990).
Total fecundity ranged between 580 (age 1+) and 4161
(age 5+). Mean fecundity increased until age 5+, then sharply
decreased at age 6+; very few 6+specimens were collected,
which may have been due to a reduction in reproductive
potential in aged individuals (Nikolsky, 1963; Nikolskii,
1980). The present data show that female C. turcica were as
fecund as C. elongatoides (Eros, 2000; Halacka et al., 2000)
and C. taenia (Juchno and Boron, 2006), Cobitis sp. (Mous-
avi Sabet et al., 2011) and C. keyvani (Mousavi-Sabet et al.,
2012). Fecundity is affected by many factors, including the
size and age of females, life history strategy, food supply,
and water temperature (Nikolskii, 1980).
In conclusion, the life history pattern of C. turcica in a
small spring in Turkey was characterized by early maturity,
a short life span, significant temporal variation in the condi-
tion factor, a high growth rate during first years of life, and
high egg production via multiple spawnings (at least two
batches per female). The longevity and total length in the
studied C. turcica population was higher, and the sex ratio
was different that those reported in most of the known Cobi-
tis populations in Europe and Iran. These findings provide
important information that can contribute to enlightening
the biological and ecological properties of a threatened ende-
mic fish species.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Dr. Mehmet Ekmekc
ßi for his help during
sampling. This study was supported by the HU-BAB (Scien-
tific Research Centre) Project no: 0302601009.
References
Bakanov, A. I.; Kiyaskho, V. I.; Smetanin, M. M.; Strel’nikov,
A. S., 1987: Factors affecting fish growth. J. Ichthyol. 27,
124–132.
Bohlen, J., 2000: Behaviour and microhabitat of early life stages of
Cobitis taenia. Folia Zool. 49(Suppl. 1), 173–178.
Bohlen, J.; Ritterbusch, D., 2000: Which factors affect sex ratio of
spined loach (genus Cobitis) in Lake M€
uggelsee? Environ. Biol.
Fish. 59, 347–352.
Boron, A.; Pimpicka, E., 2000: Fecundity of spined loach, Cobitis
taenia from the Zegrzynski Reservoir, Poland (Osteichthyes,
Cobitidae). Folia Zool. 49, 135–140.
Boron, A.; Jelen, I.; Juchno, D.; Przybylski, M.; Borzuchowska, E.,
2008: Age and growth of karyologically identified spined loach
Cobitis taenia (Teleostei, Cobitidae) from a diploid population.
Folia Zool. 57, 155–161.
Crivelli, A.J., 2006: Cobitis turcica. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. Available at: http://www.
iucnredlist.org (accessed on 16 August 2013).
Crivelli, A. J.; Lee, T. W., 2000: Observations on the age, growth
and fecundity of Cobitis meridionalis, an endemic loach of Pres-
pa Lake (Greece). Folia Zool. 49, 121–127.
Ekmekc
ßi, F. G.; Erk’akan, F., 2003: Preliminary data on growth and
reproduction of Cobitis simplicispina from Turkey. Folia Biol.
51, 183–186.
Ekmekc
ßi, F. G.; Kırankaya, S
ß. G.;
€
Ozel, N., 2009: Investigation of
growth and reproduction properties of two endemic fish species,
Pseudophoxinus crassus (Cyprinidae) vs Cobitis turcica (Cobiti-
dae) living in Pınarbasßı Creeks-Haymana. Project Report,
Hacettepe University Reseach Fund, Project No: 0302601009,
Ankara, pp. 86.
Erk’akan, F.;
€
Ozeren, S. C.; Nalbant, T. T., 2008: Cobitis evreni sp.
nova –a new spined loach species (Cobitidae) from southern
Turkey. J. Fish. Int. 3, 112–114.
Erk’akan, F.;
_
Innal, D.;
€
Ozdemir, F., 2013: Length-weight relation-
ships for ten endemic fish species of Anatolia. J. Appl. Ichthyol.
29, 683–684.
Growth and reproduction of Cobitis turcica 327

Eros, T., 2000: Population biology of Cobitis elongatoides in a low-
land stream of the Middle Danube (Hungary). Folia Zool. 49,
151–157.
Eros, T., 2003: The reproductive characteristics of a spined loach
population (Osteichthyes, Cobitidae) based on gonadal analysis.
Biol. Bratislava 58, 245–252.
Froese, R.; Pauly, D., 2013: FishBase. World Wide Web electronic
publication.Available at: http://www.fishbase.org, version (accessed
on 2 June 2013).
Gayanilo, F. C.; Sparre, P.; Pauly, D., 2005: The FAO-ICLARM
Stock Assessment Tools (FISAT) II User’s guide. FAO Com-
puterized Information Series, Rome.
Halacka, K.; Luskova, V.; Lusk, S., 2000: Fecundity of Cobitis
elongatoides in the Nova Rise Reservoir. Folia Zool. 49, 141–
150.
Ivelic, D.; Jablan, I.; Svjetlicic, S.; Piria, M., 2007: About loach in
the Sava River. Ribarstvo Croatian J. Fish. 65,99–110.
Jobling, M., 1995: Environmental biology of fishes. Chapman &
Hall, London, pp. 403–408.
Juchno, D.; Boron, A., 2006: Comparative histology of the testes of
the spined loach Cobitis taenia L. and allotetraploids of Cobitis
(Pisces, Cobitidae). Hydrobiologia 573,45–53.
Kırankaya, S
ß. G.; Ekmekc
ßi, F. G., 2011: Frequency of black spot
disease in Cobitis cf. turcica from Pınarbasßı Springs (Haymana,
Turkey). Folia Zool. 60, 350–354.
Kosswig, C., 1955: Zoogeography of the near East. Syst. Zool. 4,
49–73+96.
Kostrzewa, J.; Przybylski, M.; Marszal, L.; Valladolid, M., 2003:
Growth and reproductive biology of loaches Cobitis sp. in Lake
Lucien, Poland. Folia Biol. 51(Suppl.), 179–182.
Kottelat, M.; Freyhof, J., 2007: Handbook of European freshwater
fishes. Kottelat, Cornol, Switzerland and Freyhof, Berlin,
Germany, pp. 300–327.
Lagler, K. F., 1966: Freshwater fishery biology. WMC Brown Com-
pany, Dubuque.
Lees, J.; Saat, T., 2003: Oocyte final maturation in tetraploid spined
loaches (Cobitis) from the Moscow River (Russia). Folia Biol.
51(Suppl.), 75–78.
Lobon-Cervia, J.; Zabala, A., 1984: Observation on the reproduction
of Cobitis paludicola De Buen, 1930 in Jarama River. Cybium 8,
63–68.
Lodi, E., 1967: Sex reversal of Cobitis taenia L. (Osteichthyes, Fam.
Cobitidae). Experientia 23, 446.
Lodi, E.; Malacarne, G., 1990: Reproductive behaviour of the spined
loach Cobitis taenia L. (Pisces, Cobitidae). Ann. Sci. Nat. Zool.
11, 107–111.
Magnin, G.; Yarar, M., 1997: Important bird areas in Turkey. Do
gal
Hayatı Koruma Derne
gi,
_
Istanbul, Turkey, 173 pp.
Marconato, A.; Rasotto, M. B., 1989: The biology of a population
of spined loach, Cobitis taenia L. Boll. Zool. 56,73–80.
Markovic, D.; Freyhof, J.; Wolter, C. 2012: Where are all the fish:
potential of biogeographical maps to project current and future
distribution patterns of freshwater species. PLoS ONE 7:
e40530, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0040530.
Mousavi Sabet, H.; Kamali, A.; Soltani, M.; Bani, A.; Esmaeili, H.
R.; Rostami, H.; Vatandoust, S.; Moradkhani, Z., 2011: Age,
reproduction and fecundity of a population of Cobitis sp.
(Actinopterygii: Cypriniformes: Cobitidae) from the Babolrud
River in the southern Caspian Sea basin. Acta. Ichthyol. Piscat.
41, 117–122.
Mousavi-Sabet, H.; Kamali, A.; Soltani, M.; Bani, A.; Esmaeili, H.
R.; Khoshbavar Rostami, H.; Vatandoust, S.; Moradkhani, Z.,
2012: Reproductive biology of Cobitis keyvani (Cobitidae) from
the Talar River in the southern Caspian Sea basin. Iran. J. Fish.
Sci. 11, 383–393.
Nikolskii, G. V., 1980: Theory of fish population dynamics. Otto
Koeltz Science Publishers, Koenigstein, pp. 31–88.
Nikolsky, G. V., 1963: The ecology of fishes. Academic Press, Inc.,
London, pp. 145–287.
Oliva-Paterna, F. J.; Torralva, M. M.; Fernandez-Delgado, C., 2002:
Age, growth and reproduction of Cobitis paludica in a seasonal
stream. J. Fish Biol. 6, 389–404.
Patimar, R.; Amouei, M.; Mir-Ashrafi Langroudi, M., 2011: New
data on the biology of Cobitis cf. satunini from the southern
Caspian basin (northern Iran). Folia Zool. 60, 308–314.
Przybylski, M.; Valladolid, M., 2000: Age and growth of Cobitis
paludica in the Lozoya River (Central Spain). Folia Zool. 49,
129–134.
Rinchard, J.; Kestemont, P., 1996: Comparative study of reproductive
biology in single- and multiple-spawner cyprinid fish. I. Morpho-
logical and histological features. J. Fish Biol. 49, 883–894.
Ritterbusch, D.; Bohlen, J., 2000: On the ecology of spined loach in
Lake M€
uggelsee. Folia Zool. 49, 187–192.
Robotham, P. W. J., 1981: Age, growth and reproduction of a popu-
lation of spined loach, Cobitis taenia (L.). Hydrobiologia 85,
129–136.
Schneider, D.; Mustafic, P.; Mrakovcic, M.; Mihaljevic, Z., 2000:
Some aspects of the biology of the Neretvan spined loach. Folia
Zool. 49, 159–165.
Slavik, O.; Rab, P., 1995: Effect of microhabitat on the age and
growth of two stream-dwelling populations of spined loach,
Cobitis taenia. Folia Zool. 44, 167–174.
Slavik, O.; Rab, P., 1996: Life history of spined loach, Cobitis taenia
in an isolated site (Psovka creek, Bohemia). Folia Zool. 45,
247–252.
Smith, K. G.; Darwall, W. R. T., 2006: The status and distribution
of freshwater fish endemic to the Mediterranean Basin. IUCN,
Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK, v+34 pp.
Soriguer, M. C.; Vallespin, C.; Gomez-Cama, C.; Hernando, J. A.,
2000: Age, diet, growth and reproduction of a population of
Cobitis paludica (de Buen, 1930) in the Palancar Stream (south-
west of Europe, Spain) (Pisces:Cobitidae). Hydrobiologia 436,
51–58.
Tesch, F. W., 1971: Age and growth in fish production in freshwa-
ters. In: Methods for assessment of fish production in freshwa-
ter. W. E. Ricker (Ed.). Internat. Biol. Programme, Blackwell,
Oxford, pp. 98–130.
Thompson, E. J.; Hannah, R. W., 2010: Using cross-dating tech-
niques to validate ages of Aurora rockfish (Sebastes Aurora):
estimates of age, growth and female maturity. Environ. Biol.
Fish. 88,77–88.
Valladolid, M.; Przybylski, M., 2008: Life history traits of the endan-
gered Iberian loach Cobitis calderoni in the River Lozoya,
Central Spain. Folia Zool. 57, 147–154.
Vasil’ev, V.; Akimova, N.; Emel’yanoya, N.; Pavlov, D.; Vasil’eva,
E., 2003: Reproductive capacities in the polyploid males of
spined loaches from the unisexual-bisexual complex occurred in
the Moscow River (Russia). Folia Biol. 51(Suppl.), 67–73.
Wootton, R. J., 1990: Ecology of teleost fishes. Chapman & Hall,
London, pp. 107–173.
Zanella, D.; Mrakovcic, M.; Schneider, D.; Mustafic, P.; Caleta, M.;
Radic, I., 2003: Growth of Cobitis naretana Karaman, 1928 in
the Neretva River, Croatia. Folia Biol. 51(Suppl.), 155–157.
Zar, J. H., 1996: Biostatistical analysis, 3th edn. Prentice Hall,
Prentice-Hall International Inc., New Jersey, pp. 317–369.
Author’s address: F. G€
uler Ekmekc
ßi, Hydrobiology Section, Depart-
ment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe Uni-
versity, Beytepe Campus, Ankara 06800, Turkey.
E-mail: gulere@hacettepe.edu.tr
328 S
ß. G. Kırankaya and F. G. Ekmekc
ßi