Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare www.iiste.org ISSN 22243208 (Paper) ISSN 2225093X (Online) Vol 2, No.5, 2012 55             !" Mansor Mat Isa 1, 2* AmirShahruddin MdShah 1 ShahrulAnuar MohdSah 1 Nadieya Baharudin 1 MuhammadAdlan AbdulHalim 1 1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Science Malaysia, Minden, 11800, Penang, MALAYSIA 2. Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies, University of Science Malaysia, 11060, Teluk Bahang, Penang, MALAYSIA *Email of the corresponding author: drmansor@usm.my # The physicochemical and biological parameters, species composition and population dynamic of dominant fish species were conducted in Pedu Reservoir in Kedah. The reservoir is considered safe from human activities, although the level of ammonia concentration (3.84 ± 2.65 mg/L) was exceeded the class recommended in Malaysia. 82.94% of fish families were contributed by Cyprinidae, 11.04% of Notopteridae, 3.01% of Bagridae and 2.51% for others. Twentyfour fish species were recorded in the reservoir and were dominated by Barbonymus schwanenfeldii (38.9%), followed by Oxygaster anomalura (12.4%) and Notopterus notopterus (11.0%). The lengthweight relationships of B. schwanenfeldii was an isometric (b = 2.992) form with Kn ranging between 0.75 and 1.01. This fish could attain L∞ = 30.95 cm at growth rate of K = 0.66 yr 1 , given the growth performance index (Ø’) of 2.801 that was represented from two cohorts occurred in August and February, respectively. The cohorts were strongly correlated to rainfall distribution in the area. The total mortality coefficient (Z) was 2.01 and natural mortality coefficient (M) was 1.37 yr 1 given the fishing mortality coefficient (F) and exploitation rate (E) was at 0.64 and 0.32 yr 1 , respectively. The exploitation rate of 0.32 yr 1 was lower than the 75% of B’/R (E 0.1 = 0.41) or optimum Y’/R (E max = 0.53) indicating the yield per recruit of B. schwanenfeldii could be increased slightly by increasing the E. !$: Barbonymus schwanenfeldii, length frequency, population parameters, management, Pedu Reservoir; Kedah % & Tinfoil barb or Barbonymus schwanenfeldii is classified under the family of Cyprinidae, locally known as “Lampam Sungai”. This species is also synonymus to Barbus schwanenfeldii or Puntius schwanenfeldii (FishBase, www.fishbase.org). This species is distributed widely, particularly in Asia; Mekong River and Chao Phraya, Borneo and Sumatra and found in all rivers and lakes of the Peninsular Malaysia (Mohsin & Ambak 1983, Rainboth 1996) and manmade lake (Taki 1978, Ali & Lee 1995). McConnell (2004) suggested that cyprinids distribution largely reflects faunal exchanges early in the Pleistocene. Zulkafli et al. (1999) noted that this species dominated in the open water of Kenyir Lake (in Terengganu) as compared to Semenyih Reservoir (in Selangor) which was distributed more in the riverine systems. B. schwanenfeldii is a freshwater fish inhibits lakes and rivers at pH range between 6.5 and 7.0, in tropical areas at temperature 20.4 – 33.7ºC (Christensen 1992). Average size were between 10 and 25 cm and weights about 200 – 600 g. The fish is possible to reach a maximum size of 30 centimeters and weights more than 1.0 kg (Christensen 2007). They are fast breeding fish; two times in 15 months. According to Steven et al. (1999), females greater than 160 g had mature or rematuring ovaries whiles males of all sizes had mature testes throughout the year. The spawners are known to shed their eggs in the upstream of rivers. The young’s will remain in the rivers until they become fingerlings before migrates to other parts of the lake. Most fish tend to colonize the rivers while some move to the open water of the lake to colonize (Mohsin & Ambak 1983, Ali & Lee 1995). The diet of the fish consists of filamentous algae, insects and debris (Rainboth 1996, Fartimi 2008). The fish has an economic importance, dominantly landed by fishermen from lakes, reservoir and river systems. They are readily accepted by locals due to its tasty meat. Market price ranges from RM4.00 to RM6.00 per kg and has potential for aquaculture especially in ponds, lakes or aquariums. brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk provided by International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE): E-Journals