Life-history traits of ten commercially important small indigenous fish species (SIFS) in the Oxbow lake (Southwestern Bangladesh): key for sound management.

For the first time, we revealed the life-history traits including growth pattern (length-weight relationships, LWRs), condition factors, form factor (a), first sexual maturity (L), age at first sexual maturity (t), life span (t), natural mortality (M), asymptotic length (L), and optimum catchable length (L) of ten commercially important small indigenous fish species (SIFS) in the Oxbow lake (Baor), southwestern regions of Bangladesh. A total of 1651 specimens were sampled during January to December 2020 with traditional fishing gears including seine nets, gill nets, and lift nets. Individual total length (TL) and body weight (BW) were measured by digital slide calipers and digital balance, respectively. To calculate the L, empirical maximum length-based model was considered, and L was calculated based on L. The TL vs. BW relationship indicated positive allometric growth for Chanda nama (Hamilton 1822), Channa punctata (Bloch 1793), Channa striata (Bloch 1793), Lepidocephalichthys guntea (Hamilton 1822), Macrognathus pancalus (Hamilton 1822), and Puntius sophore (Hamilton 1822), but negative allometric growth for Badis badis (Hamilton 1822), Gudusia chapra (Hamilton 1822), Glossogobius giuris (Hamilton 1822), and Hyporhamphus limbatus (Valenciennes, 1847). All r values exceed 0.910 that indicated all LWRs were highly significant (P < 0.001). According to Spearman correlation test, Fulton's condition factor (K) vs. BW was highly correlated (P < 0.001), indicating better well-being for these species. Moreover, a indicates B. badis, C. punctata, C. striata, G. giuris, H. limbatus, L. guntea were elongated; C. nama, P. sophore, were short and deep; G. chapra was fusiform, and M. pancalus was eel-like body shape respectively. The minimum t and t were obtained as 0.74 year and 2.66 year for C. striata and maximum were 0.93 year and 3.31 year for B. badis, respectively. This study provided information on t and t for ten SIFS that is globally absent. From empirical models, the smallest mean value of L was found for B. badis (3.98 cm), and the greatest was found for C. striata (16.96 cm). The minimum L was obtained as 3.78 cm TL for B. badis and maximum was 14.09 cm TL for C. punctata. The minimum M was documented as 1.39 for B. badis and maximum was 1.73 for C. striata. The output of this research will be helpful for developing sustainable management policies and protection of SIFS through the application of mesh size based on L and L in the Oxbow lakes, Bangladesh and neighboring countries.