Seasonal ovarian activity in female climbing perch, Anabas testudineus (Bloch, 1792) from the northern and eastern regions of Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

The present study was performed to describe the ovarian activity and plasma sex steroid levels in female climbing perch, Anabas testudineus in four states, comprised of northern and eastern regions in Peninsular Malaysia, in relation to the water quality parameters. A total of 720 adult-sized female fish were captured from the northern states (Kedah, Perlis) and eastern states, (Kelantan and Terengganu) between April 2013 and March 2014. Significant differences were found in the water quality parameters, gonadosomatic index (GSI) and sex steroid levels among states. The differences in the seasonal gonad cycle (GSI peaked in September to October in Kedah and Perlis, and November to December in Kelantan and Terengganu) and sex steroid levels (17β-estradiol and testosterone levels peaked in August and April, respectively in Kedah and Perlis states; and in December and July, respectively in Kelantan and Terengganu states) in relation to water quality particularly of a lower water temperature, suggests a direct influence of water temperature on the ovarian activity in female climbing perch of Peninsular Malaysia.

Keywords

• anabas testudineus
• ovarian activity
• 17β-estradiol
• testosterone
• water quality