A Study on Some Biological Parameters of Crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz, 1823) in Ulugöl, Samsun, Turkey

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate some morphometric traits, length-weight relationship, meat yield, fecundity and some biochemical compositions of Astacus leptodactylus, in one of the Bafra Fish Lakes named Ulugöl, Samsun, Turkey. A total of 378 A. leptodactylus (198 female and 180 male) were examined. The average carapace length was 50.96±0.46 mm for females, 51.31±0.66 mm for males and 51.13±0.40 mm for all sampled crayfish. Abdomen length was 52.36±0.49 mm for females, 49.26±0.62 mm for males and 50.87±0.40 mm for all sampled crayfish. Live weight was between 14.38 g and 105.03 g with an average of 38.26±0.73 g. The average weight of females was less than that of males. There was a strong relationship between length and weight. The weight of crayfish with pleopodal eggs ranged from 28.24 g, to 59.50 g with an average of 41.73±1.09g. The average number of eggs per individuals was 192.90±9.94 with an average number of 4.62±0.21 per unit of live weight. The average total egg weight was 3.35±0.19 g while the average egg diameter was 2.17±0.03 mm. Abdomen meat was lower for males comparing with females. Average moisture, crude ash, crude oil and crude protein of abdomen meat were 81.27%, 1.47%, 0.81% and 16.45%, respectively.

Keywords

• crayfish
• astacus leptodactylus
• biological parameters
• meat yield
• egg fecundity