Length–weight and length–length relationships of 139 Indo‐Pacific fish species (Teleostei) from the Davao Gulf,Philippines

Length–weight relationships (LWRs) of 139 coral reef and pelagic fish species (representing 34 fish families) were calculated based on 3806 individuals measured at local fish markets near the Davao Gulf in the southern Philippines during weekly visits between March 2009 and July 2011, as well as in June 2012. Fishes were caught with a variety of fishing methods, corroborated by abrasions and injuries. Forty‐seven of 139 LWRs were firstly reported and new to science. The mean slope b of the LWRs was 3.035, indicating that the majority of studied species followed isometric growth. Standard length – total length relationships were calculated for all measured fish species. Additionally, standard length – fork length relationships are presented for 108 species. Moreover, fifteen new records of maximum fish length and weight are reported.     

Length‐weight relationship of two Ambassid fish species,Parambassis dayi (Bleeker, 1874) and Parambassis thomassi (Day, 1870) from River Pamba,Southern Western Ghats,India

The present study provides the length‐weight relationships (LWRs) of two Ambassid fish species, Parambassis dayi (Bleeker, 1874) and Parambassis thomassi (Day, 1870) from River Pamba in Southern Western Ghats, India. Fishes were collected on a monthly basis between April 2014 to March 2015 using gill nets (1.0–3.0 cm), cast nets (1.0–2.0 cm) and seine nets (1.0 cm). The b values in the LWRs were estimated as 3.01 for P. dayi and 3.14 for P. thomassi. No previous information is available on LWRs for these two species in FishBase.     

Length–weight and length–length relationships of four native fish species from the Yalong River,China

Length‐weight and length‐length relationships were estimated for four native fish species from the Yalong River and its tributaries, China. A total of 976 specimens were collected monthly using trap nets and electric fishing in May 2013 and July 2015 to February 2016. This study presents the first references on LWRs (length–weight relationships) and LLRs (length–length relationships) for three species (Gymnocypris firmispinatus, Paracobitis variegatus and Euchiloglanis kishinouyei). Moreover, maturation length, absolute fecundity and predominant food items for the four species were also described in the study.     

Cube law, condition factor and weight–length relationships: history, meta-analysis and recommendations

This study presents a historical review, a meta‐analysis, and recommendations for users about weight–length relationships, condition factors and relative weight equations. The historical review traces the developments of the respective concepts. The meta‐analysis explores 3929 weight–length relationships of the type W = aL^b for 1773 species of fishes. It shows that 82% of the variance in a plot of log a over b can be explained by allometric versus isometric growth patterns and by different body shapes of the respective species. Across species median b = 3.03 is significantly larger than 3.0, thus indicating a tendency towards slightly positive‐allometric growth (increase in relative body thickness or plumpness) in most fishes. The expected range of 2.5 < b < 3.5 is confirmed. Mean estimates of b outside this range are often based on only one or two weight–length relationships per species. However, true cases of strong allometric growth do exist and three examples are given. Within species, a plot of log a vs b can be used to detect outliers in weight–length relationships. An equation to calculate mean condition factors from weight–length relationships is given as K_mean = 100aL^b?3. Relative weight W_rm = 100W/(a_mL^bm) can be used for comparing the condition of individuals across populations, where a_m is the geometric mean of a and b_m is the mean of b across all available weight–length relationships for a given species. Twelve recommendations for proper use and presentation of weight–length relationships, condition factors and relative weight are given.     

Length–weight relationships and length–length relationships of 13 fish species in Rongcheng Bay,China

The present study provides the length–weight relationships (LWRs) of 13 fish species belonging to eight families that were collected in Rongcheng Bay, March 2009 to December 2014. The r² values ranged from 0.953 to 0.994 and values of b varied from 2.542 to 3.454. The study also describes the total length – standard length relationships (LLRs) for these fish species. This is the first record of length–weight and length–length relationships for the fish species in this area.     

Length–weight relationships of three fish species from Liaodong Bay,Bohai Sea,China

Length–weight relationships (LWRs) in the present study were determined for three fish species: Collichthys niveatus Jordan & Starks, 1906; Ctenotrypauchen chinensis Steindachner, 1867 and Liparis tanakae (Gilbert & Burke, 1912), collected from Liaodong Bay, Bohai Sea, China using bottom trawl nets from June to August 2014. The b parameters in the fitted LWRs for the three fish species were 2.882, 2.991 and 3.353, respectively. A new maximum total length (15.6 cm) for C. chinensis was recorded. The LWRs for the three fish species are first reported in FishBase.     

Length–weight relationships of three Gobiidae species from the Rupsha River in southwestern Bangladesh

This study reports the length–weight relationships (LWRs) of three Gobiidae fish species (Acentrogobius viridipunctatus, Apocryptes bato, and Odontamblyopus rubicundus) from the Rupsha River, southwestern Bangladesh. A total of 388 individuals were sampled using cast nets (mesh size ranges from 1.5 to 3.0 cm), gill nets (mesh size ranges from 2.0 to 3.0 cm) and square lift nets (mesh size ~1.5 cm) from December 2014 to November 2015. Allometric coefficient (b) values were 3.23 for A. viridipunctatus, 2.70 for A. bato, and 2.67 for O. rubicundus, respectively. The first LWRs records for these three Gobiidae species, they can be used online for FishBase as well as in future studies.     

Length–weight and length–length relationships of 26 fish species from the Yiluo River,a tributary of the Yellow River,China

From February to October 2016, a total of 9,754 fish specimens were collected from the Yiluo River, a tributary of the Yellow River, China's second longest river. Based on these samples, length–weight relationships (LWRs) and length–length relationships (LLRs) were estimated for 26 species. Among these data, LWRs for 1 species, LLRs for 11 species, and maximum total lengths for six species were not previously recorded in FishBase. The a values of the LWRs varied between 0.0019 and 0.0116, and b values from 2.805 to 3.883. All regressions for LWRs and LLRs were highly significant (p < .001). These results will be useful for sustainable management and conservation of the fish resources in the Yiluo River and the Yellow River ecosystem.     

Length‐weight relationships of four species captured off Ratnagiri (Arabian Sea; West Coast of India)

This study presents the length‐weight relationships (LWRs) for four marine finfishes namely, Alepes kleinii (Bloch, 1793), Cynoglossus macrostomus Norman, 1928, Epinephelus diacanthus (Valenciennes, 1828) and Opisthopterus tardoore (Cuvier, 1829) collected from Ratnagiri, West Coast of India. A total of 2149 specimens were measured for obtaining the LWRs. The range of slope b (2.473–3.252) was almost within the expected range of 2.5–3.5 (Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 22, 241, 2006). The intercept a ranged from 0.0031–0.0184.     

Length–weight relationships of three fish species from the Yangtze River,China

Length–weight relationships (LWRs) were determined for three endemic fish species [Gobiobotia filifer (Garman, 1912), Homatula potanini (Günther, 1896) and Xenophysogobio boulengeri (Tchang, 1929)] from the Yangtze River in China. Samples were obtained between April 2008 and June 2012 using various types of fishing gear and electroshock fishing techniques. For each species, the sample size, length range, weight range, LWR, 95% confidence intervals of a and b, and coefficient of correlation were determined. Prior to this study, the LWRs for two species [Gobiobotia filifer (Garman, 1912) and Homatula potanini (Günther, 1896)] were unknown.     

Length‐weight relationships of three fish species from Beibu Gulf in China

The length–weight relationships (LWRs) were analyzed for three fish species collected from Beibu Gulf between October 2012 and March 2013. The study used bottom trawl with 40 mm mesh size. The values of parameter b varied from 2.8495 to 3.0277.     

Length‐weight relationships of three freshwater fishes from Hoiya River in South Korea

The length‐weight relationships (LWRs) for three freshwater fish species in catchment area of Hoiya River, Republic of Korea, were analyzed. Fish samples were collected quarterly using scoop‐nets (5 mm mesh size), casting nets (7 mm mesh size) from 2017 to 2018. For LWRs using the general equation from Froese (2006), the parameter b ranges from 3.14 (Oryzias latipes) to 3.37 (Iksookimia longicorpa). LWRs data of these two species have not yet been listed in FishBase.     

Length–weight relationships of eight Asian freshwater fish species in Nam Theun 2 Reservoir (Laos PDR)

Length–weight relationships (LWRs) were determined for eight Asian freshwater fish species that were not yet recorded in any peer‐reviewed journal indexed in the Web of Science or the FishBase database. Fish specimens from Nam Theun 2 reservoir in Lao PDR, were collected from April 2012 to August 2016 using several methods to cover a large size‐spectrum for each species. For LWRs using the general equation from Beckman (1948), the parameter b (slope value on the growth pattern) ranges from 2.908 (Puntius brevis) to 3.429 (Rasbora paviana). This study provides an update in maximum lengths for two species and first LWRs for eight common freshwater species found mainly in reservoirs, and thus represents a means for further population dynamic evolution analyses and local fisheries management.     

Length–weight relationships for six fish species in Iskenderun Bay (Eastern Mediterranean Sea coast of Turkey)

The length–weight relationships (LWRs) were estimated for six non‐indigenous fish species, namely, Apogon smithi (Kotthaus, 1970); Ostorhinchus fasciatus (White, 1790); Pomadasys stridens (Forsskål, 1775); Champsodon capensis Regan, 1908; Torquigener flavimaculosus Hardy & Randall, 1983; and Tylerius spinosissimus (Regan, 1908) from Iskenderun Bay, eastern Mediterranean Sea. Their length–weight relationship b values ranged from 2.902 to 3.501, and all regressions were found to be significant for all six species (P < 0.001). This study is the first reference on length–weight relationships for these six non‐indigenous fish species from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea coast of Turkey.     

Length–weight relationships of three fish species from the Arial Khan River,an outlet of the river Padma,Bangladesh

The present study narrated the length–weight relationships (LWRs) of three fish species Salmophasia sardinella (Valenciennes, 1844), Amblypharyngodon microlepis (Bleeker, 1853) and Macrognathus aral (Bloch & Scheider, 1801) from the Arial Khan River, a south‐eastward outlet of the river Padma, Bangladesh. Fish samples were collected monthly basis from fishermen who used cast nets (mesh size <0.5 cm) and set bag nets (mesh size 0.5 cm) for catching fish species from January to December, 2016. The growth coefficient b in LWRs were 3.004, 3.001 and 2.936 for M. aral, S. sardinella and A. microlepis, respectively.     

Length–weight relationships of 43 fish species from Haizhou Bay,central Yellow Sea

Specimens of 43 fish species belonging to 25 families were collected from seasonal bottom trawl surveys in Haizhou Bay from March to December 2011. The length–weight relationships (LWRs) of these fish species were estimated, with 22 species presented for the first time. Maximum total length records of ten species exceeded those in FishBase. The effects of sex, season and growth phase on the relationships for some of these species were taken into account whereby one species had significantly (P < 0.05) different LWRs by sex, and eight species exhibited significantly different LWRs by season. Two different growth stanzas were detected for two species using the double‐logarithmic plot of body weight versus total length.     

Length–weight relationships for 10 elasmobranch species from the Oman Sea

Length–weight relationships (LWRs) were estimated for ten elasmobranch species from Iranian waters of the Oman Sea. All specimens were collected by bottom trawl (mesh size 80 mm in the cod end) between May and December 2014. A total of 509 individuals (107 Torpedo sinuspersici, 68 Rhinobatos punctifer, 63 Chaenogaleus macrostoma, 72 Himantura walga, 80 Himantura gerrardi, 58 Gymnura poecilura, 4 Himantura uarnak, 4 Rhinoptera javanica, 14 Aetobatus flagellum, and 39 Pastinachus sephen) were sampled and studied. Results showed that most species had positive allometric or isometric growth but that more studies were needed for final decisions on growth patterns. Both the disk length‐body weight (DL/BW) and disk width‐body weight (DW/BW) relationships also showed a good fit, reinforcing the credibility of the data in relation to the LWRs. This study is the first report of LWRs for these elasmobranchs in the northern Oman Sea.     

Length–weight and Length‐length relations of four fish species from the Chilika Lake,East coast of India

This study reports the length–weight relationship (LWR) and length‐length relationship (LLR) estimated for four fish species inhabiting in Chilika Lake, India. Total 504 specimens were sampled from mono‐filament gill nets (mesh size 12 mm, 22–24 mm, 34–38 mm, 42 mm) during January 2015 to December 2015. The estimated b values from LWR ranged between 2.79 (T. biaculeatus) to 3.29 (C. praeustus). In all species, the relationships between length‐weight and length‐length were highly correlated (p < .05). The study provides first world reports on LWRs and LLRs for all the 4 studied species.     

Length–weight relationships of four fish species from the Niulan River,China

This study provides the length–weight relationships (LWRs) for four fish species [Leptobotia rubrilabris (Dabry de Thiersant, 1872); Opsariichthys bidens Günther, 1873; Xenocypris yunnanensis Nichols, 1925; and Sinogastromyzon sichangensis Chang, 1944] collected from the Niulan River, China. Samples were obtained between April 2008 and June 2011 using various types of fishing gear [drift gill nets (mesh: 5 × 5 cm), hook and electro fishing]. A total of 136 specimens belonging to four fish species were analyzed. For each species the sample size, length range, weight range, LWR, 95% confidence intervals of a and b, and coefficient of correlation were determined. Prior to this study, the LWRs for S. sichangensis and X. yunnanensis were unknown. New maximum sizes for S. sichangensis and X. yunnanensis are also provided.     

Length–weight relationships of three catfish species from a tributary of the Dhaleshwari River,Bangladesh

The present ichthyological report describes the length‐weight relationships (LWRs) of three catfish species (Eutropiichthys murius, Nangra nangra and Gagata viridescens) belonging to two families from the Kaliganga River, a tributary of the Dhaleshwari River, Bangladesh. The analyses included 306 specimens collected monthly from fishermen's catches during October 2015 to April 2016. Ranges of regression parameters a and b of the three species were within 0.0058–0.0099 and 2.900–3.142, respectively with highly correlated coefficients of determination (r² > .995; p < .001). The LWRs for all three species presented herein for the first time with a new maximum length record for N. nangra.