Ecological Assessment of the Amazon Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys Pardalis) In the Langat River, Malaysia

This study identified the ecological characteristics of an exotic fish species, Pterygoplicthys pardalis that have successfully occupied Malaysian rivers. The objectives of the study were to investigate the existing environment of Langat River where this species were found which included the wate...

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Main Author:	Samat, Abdullah
Format:	Thesis
Language:	English
Published:	2008
Subjects:	Catfishes - Langat River - Malaysia Ecological assessment (Biology) - Langat River - Malaysia
Online Access:	http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/5152/1/FS_2008_36%20IR.pdf
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id	my-upm-ir.5152
record_format	uketd_dc
spelling	my-upm-ir.51522021-12-29T03:11:25Z Ecological Assessment of the Amazon Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys Pardalis) In the Langat River, Malaysia 2008-01 Samat, Abdullah This study identified the ecological characteristics of an exotic fish species, Pterygoplicthys pardalis that have successfully occupied Malaysian rivers. The objectives of the study were to investigate the existing environment of Langat River where this species were found which included the water quality, food availability and habitat types, and to understand the basic ecology of the fish species including feeding, growth, reproduction that have contributed to the successful colonisation. The prediction was if the existing environment is suitable for the species, then the survival of the species will be enhanced due to favorable growth and reproduction. The study was conducted in Langat River between January 2003 and December 2004, and seven sampling sites (S-1 to S-7) were established. Statistical inference was used to estimate certain parameters (physical and biological) that are important in hypothesis testing. The physicochemical parameters of the water except dissolved oxygen (< 5 mg/l), total suspended solid (> 400 mg/l), chemical oxygen demand (> 50 mg/l) and ammonia-nitrogen (> 0.2 mg/l) were within the tolerance levels to most indigenous fish species. In the existing environment, the P. pardalis showed a negative allometric growth dimension (b = 2.538 ± 0.039). The influence of seasonal rainfall (water level) on the condition of P. pardalis was not evident. Good structure and function of its digestive tract has enabled the consumption of many and various kinds of food materials. Small size food particles (< 500 μm) were preferred and detritus from sediment was its major diet composition. The percentage of the food items identified both in the stomach and on the river bottom was almost similar, indicating that this fish fed on the food available in the habitat. The reproductive performance of this species was based on the male-female ratio of 1:1.7 and continuously reproduced that peaked during the rainy season between September and January. The number of eggs (fecundity) varied from 1,297 to 18,791 per brood and they were asynchronic batch spawner. Eggs were deposited deep (about 1 m) in the burrow to hide them from predators. Pterygoplichthys pardalis is a hardy species and exhibited typical characteristics of an invasive species where it has successfully survived in the Langat River. Catfishes - Langat River - Malaysia Ecological assessment (Biology) - Langat River - Malaysia 2008-01 Thesis http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/5152/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/5152/1/FS_2008_36%20IR.pdf text en public doctoral Universiti Putra Malaysia Catfishes - Langat River - Malaysia Ecological assessment (Biology) - Langat River - Malaysia Science Md. Yusoff, Fatimah
institution	Universiti Putra Malaysia
collection	PSAS Institutional Repository
language	English
advisor	Md. Yusoff, Fatimah
topic	Catfishes - Langat River - Malaysia Ecological assessment (Biology) - Langat River - Malaysia
spellingShingle	Catfishes - Langat River - Malaysia Ecological assessment (Biology) - Langat River - Malaysia Samat, Abdullah Ecological Assessment of the Amazon Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys Pardalis) In the Langat River, Malaysia
description	This study identified the ecological characteristics of an exotic fish species, Pterygoplicthys pardalis that have successfully occupied Malaysian rivers. The objectives of the study were to investigate the existing environment of Langat River where this species were found which included the water quality, food availability and habitat types, and to understand the basic ecology of the fish species including feeding, growth, reproduction that have contributed to the successful colonisation. The prediction was if the existing environment is suitable for the species, then the survival of the species will be enhanced due to favorable growth and reproduction. The study was conducted in Langat River between January 2003 and December 2004, and seven sampling sites (S-1 to S-7) were established. Statistical inference was used to estimate certain parameters (physical and biological) that are important in hypothesis testing. The physicochemical parameters of the water except dissolved oxygen (< 5 mg/l), total suspended solid (> 400 mg/l), chemical oxygen demand (> 50 mg/l) and ammonia-nitrogen (> 0.2 mg/l) were within the tolerance levels to most indigenous fish species. In the existing environment, the P. pardalis showed a negative allometric growth dimension (b = 2.538 ± 0.039). The influence of seasonal rainfall (water level) on the condition of P. pardalis was not evident. Good structure and function of its digestive tract has enabled the consumption of many and various kinds of food materials. Small size food particles (< 500 μm) were preferred and detritus from sediment was its major diet composition. The percentage of the food items identified both in the stomach and on the river bottom was almost similar, indicating that this fish fed on the food available in the habitat. The reproductive performance of this species was based on the male-female ratio of 1:1.7 and continuously reproduced that peaked during the rainy season between September and January. The number of eggs (fecundity) varied from 1,297 to 18,791 per brood and they were asynchronic batch spawner. Eggs were deposited deep (about 1 m) in the burrow to hide them from predators. Pterygoplichthys pardalis is a hardy species and exhibited typical characteristics of an invasive species where it has successfully survived in the Langat River.
format	Thesis
qualification_level	Doctorate
author	Samat, Abdullah
author_facet	Samat, Abdullah
author_sort	Samat, Abdullah
title	Ecological Assessment of the Amazon Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys Pardalis) In the Langat River, Malaysia
title_short	Ecological Assessment of the Amazon Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys Pardalis) In the Langat River, Malaysia
title_full	Ecological Assessment of the Amazon Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys Pardalis) In the Langat River, Malaysia
title_fullStr	Ecological Assessment of the Amazon Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys Pardalis) In the Langat River, Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed	Ecological Assessment of the Amazon Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys Pardalis) In the Langat River, Malaysia
title_sort	ecological assessment of the amazon sailfin catfish (pterygoplichthys pardalis) in the langat river, malaysia
granting_institution	Universiti Putra Malaysia
granting_department	Science
publishDate	2008
url	http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/5152/1/FS_2008_36%20IR.pdf
_version_	1747810362344865792

Ecological Assessment of the Amazon Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys Pardalis) In the Langat River, Malaysia

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