The Study of biology (age, feeding and, reproduction of Rutilus rutilus caspicus in south coast of the Caspian Sea (Iranian waters)

The Caspian Sea is an important source of water in terms of having valuable resources of sturgeon and bony fish is taken into consideration roach(Rutilus rutilus caspicus (L.)) is one of the most important commercial species in the southern coast of the Caspian Sea in Iran , the catch of this species has declined substantially in the last 10 years, The management and exploitation need of comprehensive review of its biology .This study as part of a comprehensive study of feeding , spawning and growth of this species.In this study, using samples caught in beach seine along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea coastal ( Iranian waters ) took place. The fork length and total weight ranged between 12.5 to29.5(cm) and 29 to293( grm),10.5 to23(cm) and17.2 to21(grm) in Golestan and Gilan Province respectively. The b value of the length-weight relationship ranged 3.02 to 3.25 and 3.28 to 3.75 for female and male, in Golestan and Gilan Province respectively. The age composition of the catch was from 1 to 4 year in both Province, there was one spawning peak and Fecundity variations were high and ranged 7260 to 231965 eggs. Average growth in length was described with the Von Bertalanffy growth model: L (t) = 30.94(1-exp (0.42(t-0.18) and L (t) = 20.49(1-exp (0.53(t-1). The percent of empty stomach and prey dominant evaluated during different seasons by specific formula. Result showed that gastropod, Polychaete worms and molluscs were dominated and specific food items respectively. Shrimp, fish, insects, zooplankton and clams were scare of prey.