Estimates on Age, Growth, Sex Composition, and Mortality of <i>Silurus lanzhouensis</i> (Chen, 1977) in the Upper Yellow River, China

<i>Silurus lanzhouensis</i> is a large-sized commercial fish species endemic to the mid-upper reaches of the Yellow River, serving as a “Card of Aquatic Biological Species in the Yellow River”. However, due to factors such as overfishing and habitat changes, it has been listed as an enda...

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Main Authors: Peilun Li, Jiacheng Liu, Shuhan Xiong, Tai Wang, Yongjie Wang, Jilong Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Fishes
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/7/322
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author Peilun Li
Jiacheng Liu
Shuhan Xiong
Tai Wang
Yongjie Wang
Jilong Wang
author_facet Peilun Li
Jiacheng Liu
Shuhan Xiong
Tai Wang
Yongjie Wang
Jilong Wang
author_sort Peilun Li
collection DOAJ
description <i>Silurus lanzhouensis</i> is a large-sized commercial fish species endemic to the mid-upper reaches of the Yellow River, serving as a “Card of Aquatic Biological Species in the Yellow River”. However, due to factors such as overfishing and habitat changes, it has been listed as an endangered species. In order to protect and restore its wild resources, we conducted a detailed study for the first time from 2022 to 2024 on the age composition, growth characteristics, mortality rate, and current status of resource exploitation of the <i>S. lanzhouensis</i> population in the upper Yellow River. A total of 489 individuals underwent measurements for their total length (<i>L</i>) and body weight (<i>W</i>), with age determination conducted using lapillus otoliths. The collected samples exhibited a spectrum of total lengths spanning from 2.5 to 63.7 cm, body weights ranging from 0.11 to 1974.15 g, and ages ranging from 1 to 6 years. Further analysis of the length–weight relationships unveiled an allometric growth index (<i>b</i>) of 2.9562 for the overall samples, indicating an isometric growth pattern. Additionally, insights into the growth characteristics of <i>S. lanzhouensis</i> were provided by the von Bertalanffy growth function, revealing an asymptotic total length (<i>L<sub>∞</sub></i>) of 119.30 cm and a growth coefficient (<i>K</i>) of 0.1278 yr<sup>−1</sup>. The growth characteristic index (<i>φ</i>) totaled 3.2598, suggesting a moderate growth rate in comparison to other <i>Silurus</i> species. The total mortality rate (<i>Z</i>) recorded for the population of <i>S. lanzhouensis</i> was found to be 0.5296 yr<sup>−1</sup>. Through the application of three distinct methodologies on exhaustive samples, the average natural mortality rate (<i>M</i>) was calculated to be 0.3105 yr<sup>−1</sup>. Consequently, the fishing mortality rate (<i>F</i>) for the entire sample set was determined to be 0.2191 yr<sup>−1</sup>, leading to an exploitation rate (<i>E</i>) of 0.4137. Based on the survey findings, it is evident that the population of <i>S. lanzhouensis</i> has not been subjected to over-exploitation, attributable to ongoing stock enhancement. These results also provide foundational data for the protection and restoration of <i>S. lanzhouensis</i> in the upper Yellow River.
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spelling doaj-art-2b8ebb1ae98d430781dcc809de7eef072025-08-20T02:45:38ZengMDPI AGFishes2410-38882025-07-0110732210.3390/fishes10070322Estimates on Age, Growth, Sex Composition, and Mortality of <i>Silurus lanzhouensis</i> (Chen, 1977) in the Upper Yellow River, ChinaPeilun Li0Jiacheng Liu1Shuhan Xiong2Tai Wang3Yongjie Wang4Jilong Wang5Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Harbin 150070, ChinaNingxia Hui Autonomous Region Fisheries Research Institute (Co., Ltd.), Yinchuan 750001, ChinaHeilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Harbin 150070, ChinaGansu Fisheries Research Institute, Lanzhou 730030, ChinaNingxia Hui Autonomous Region Fisheries Research Institute (Co., Ltd.), Yinchuan 750001, ChinaHeilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Harbin 150070, China<i>Silurus lanzhouensis</i> is a large-sized commercial fish species endemic to the mid-upper reaches of the Yellow River, serving as a “Card of Aquatic Biological Species in the Yellow River”. However, due to factors such as overfishing and habitat changes, it has been listed as an endangered species. In order to protect and restore its wild resources, we conducted a detailed study for the first time from 2022 to 2024 on the age composition, growth characteristics, mortality rate, and current status of resource exploitation of the <i>S. lanzhouensis</i> population in the upper Yellow River. A total of 489 individuals underwent measurements for their total length (<i>L</i>) and body weight (<i>W</i>), with age determination conducted using lapillus otoliths. The collected samples exhibited a spectrum of total lengths spanning from 2.5 to 63.7 cm, body weights ranging from 0.11 to 1974.15 g, and ages ranging from 1 to 6 years. Further analysis of the length–weight relationships unveiled an allometric growth index (<i>b</i>) of 2.9562 for the overall samples, indicating an isometric growth pattern. Additionally, insights into the growth characteristics of <i>S. lanzhouensis</i> were provided by the von Bertalanffy growth function, revealing an asymptotic total length (<i>L<sub>∞</sub></i>) of 119.30 cm and a growth coefficient (<i>K</i>) of 0.1278 yr<sup>−1</sup>. The growth characteristic index (<i>φ</i>) totaled 3.2598, suggesting a moderate growth rate in comparison to other <i>Silurus</i> species. The total mortality rate (<i>Z</i>) recorded for the population of <i>S. lanzhouensis</i> was found to be 0.5296 yr<sup>−1</sup>. Through the application of three distinct methodologies on exhaustive samples, the average natural mortality rate (<i>M</i>) was calculated to be 0.3105 yr<sup>−1</sup>. Consequently, the fishing mortality rate (<i>F</i>) for the entire sample set was determined to be 0.2191 yr<sup>−1</sup>, leading to an exploitation rate (<i>E</i>) of 0.4137. Based on the survey findings, it is evident that the population of <i>S. lanzhouensis</i> has not been subjected to over-exploitation, attributable to ongoing stock enhancement. These results also provide foundational data for the protection and restoration of <i>S. lanzhouensis</i> in the upper Yellow River.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/7/322<i>Silurus lanzhouensis</i>agegrowthmortalityexploitation rateYellow River
spellingShingle Peilun Li
Jiacheng Liu
Shuhan Xiong
Tai Wang
Yongjie Wang
Jilong Wang
Estimates on Age, Growth, Sex Composition, and Mortality of <i>Silurus lanzhouensis</i> (Chen, 1977) in the Upper Yellow River, China
Fishes
<i>Silurus lanzhouensis</i>
age
growth
mortality
exploitation rate
Yellow River
title Estimates on Age, Growth, Sex Composition, and Mortality of <i>Silurus lanzhouensis</i> (Chen, 1977) in the Upper Yellow River, China
title_full Estimates on Age, Growth, Sex Composition, and Mortality of <i>Silurus lanzhouensis</i> (Chen, 1977) in the Upper Yellow River, China
title_fullStr Estimates on Age, Growth, Sex Composition, and Mortality of <i>Silurus lanzhouensis</i> (Chen, 1977) in the Upper Yellow River, China
title_full_unstemmed Estimates on Age, Growth, Sex Composition, and Mortality of <i>Silurus lanzhouensis</i> (Chen, 1977) in the Upper Yellow River, China
title_short Estimates on Age, Growth, Sex Composition, and Mortality of <i>Silurus lanzhouensis</i> (Chen, 1977) in the Upper Yellow River, China
title_sort estimates on age growth sex composition and mortality of i silurus lanzhouensis i chen 1977 in the upper yellow river china
topic <i>Silurus lanzhouensis</i>
age
growth
mortality
exploitation rate
Yellow River
url https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/7/322
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