Growth and Weight-Length Relationship of Burbot Lota lota (L.) (Lotidae) in the Danube River at Backa Palanka (Serbia)

Abstract

The basic life history data of the burbot inhabiting the Danube River at the Baoka Palanka locality were studied. Totally, 124 specimens (45.2\% males, 48.4\% females and 6.4\% of undeterminable sex) were collected from commercial landings. The total length and weight ranges were 22.5-63 cm and 92-1709 g, respectively, while the age range was 1-6 years (otolith readings). For each age class, there were no differences in the average length and weight between sexes. The average length-at-age and weight-at-age were 26.97 cm, 32.35 cm, 38.34 cm, 52.5 cm and 139.8 g, 225.2 g, 371.8 g and 1041 g for the age classes 1, 2, 3 and 6, respectively. The weight-length relationship was described as W = 0.01 TL2.861 (r(2) = 0.9566). The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L-infinity = 66.58 cm, k = 0.17, t(0)= -2.01, and the phi-prime index was calculated as Phi = 2.88. The obtained data were compared with available results from elsewhere.