Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
ACTA HERPETOLOGICA, cilt.18, sa.1, ss.11-22, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)
In this study, we described age structure, body size, body mass and the relationships among these parameters for a population of P. caucasicus from Lake Borcka Karagol, Artvin, Turkey. The mean SVL with standard error was 45.87 mm +/- 0.55 (range: 39.98-50.28 mm) and the mean weight with standard error 8.81 g +/- 0.39 (range: 6.10-11.47 g) in females whereas 48.16 mm +/- 0.45 (range: 43.64-54.78 mm) and 11.32 +/- 0.25 (range: 9.56-14.80 g) in males, respectively. We found a significant male- biased difference reflecting sexual dimorphism and statistically significant positive relationships between these variables. According to the results, the age ranged between 2-5 years in females and 2-6 years in males. The mean age distributions significantly differed between the sexes (females: 3.28 years +/- 0.19; males: 3.94 years +/- 0.20). The mean ages and maximal ages were found identical to the previously reported results from Turkey, but the mean ages were higher than in Georgian populations. Von Bertalanffy growth models demonstrated similar curves, and the growth rate was faster up to 3 years in both sexes. To conclude, this study was the first to determine age structure and growth patterns in Borcka Karagol population and weight data for P. caucasicus was presented for the first time in the literature.