Sex Differences in the Growth of Channel Catfish Revealed by Analyzing the Relationship Between Morphological Traits and Body Mass

• Published in: Thalassas : revista de ciencias del mar 2025-03, Vol.41 (1), p.30
• Main Authors: Xie, Bingjie, Duan, Yongqiang, Liu, Hongyan, Zhong, Liqiang, Tang, Luyu, Wang, Minghua, Mou, Chengyan, Zhou, Jian, Chen, Xiaohui, Zhang, Shiyong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquaculture; Body length; Body mass; Body measurements; Catfish; Coastal Sciences; Correlation; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Females; Fish & Wildlife Biology & Management; Fish populations; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Freshwater fishes; Gender differences; Height; Introduced species; Males; Marine & Freshwater Sciences; Morphology; Oceanography; Population studies; Sex differences; Sexual dimorphism
• ISSN: 0212-5919; 2366-1674
• DOI: 10.1007/s41208-024-00784-1

The channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ), introduced to China in 1984, has become a major aquaculture species. The growth of catfish exhibits significant sexual dimorphism, which markedly affects yield. This study investigated the influence of several morphological traits on body mass in male and female catfish populations. Using multiple regression and path analysis, we examined the relationships between morphological traits and body mass. Our results indicated that body length had the strongest correlation with body mass, with coefficients of 0.905 for females and 0.920 for males. In females, all traits except head length positively correlated with body mass, while in males, all traits also showed positive correlations. The direct effect of body length on body mass was significant, with standardized coefficients of 0.490 for females and 0.369 for males. Indirect effects were also observed, with body length and height in females showing effects of 0.419 and 0.742, respectively, and a strong indirect effect of body length in males of 0.896. Consequently, body length and height were key determinants for females, while body length was the primary determinant for males. The best-fitting models for body length and height in relation to body mass in females were identified as power function models; similarly, most suitable model for body length and mass was also a power function model in males. The response equations for the morphological traits influencing body mass were Y 1  = -1.843 + 0.036 X 1  + 0.010 X 3 -0.013 X 5 (r 2  = 0.925 ) for females and Y 2  = -2.233 + 0.030 X 1  + 0.014 X 3 (r 2  = 0.943 ) for males. This study would provide a theoretical basis for the selection of single-sex varieties with superior morphological traits.