Study on the growth and reproduction of Hypophthalmichthys Molitrix in the low reaches of the Yellow River

This study elucidated the growth and reproductive characteristics of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix in the lower Yellow River. A relationship equation between length (L) and weight (W) was established as W = 2.0 × 10−5 × L3.0037, with maximum limit body length (L∞) and maximum limit body weight (W∞) identified as 790.35 mm and 9086.54 g, respectively. The maximum growth rate of weight peaked when the age reached 4.785a. Female populations reached initial sexual maturity at a body weight and length of 1871.28 g and 450.57 mm, while male populations reached it at 1673.55 g and 434.13 mm. Comparison with H. molitrix populations in other river basins in China revealed that individuals in the lower Yellow River exhibited smaller maximum lengths, indicating a trend toward miniaturization. Furthermore, the suitable breeding period of H. molitrix population in the lower Yellow River lasted only approximately one month, shorter than that observed in the Yangtze River, with sexually mature individuals attaining smaller sizes than those in the Yangtze River. This study provides crucial insights into the growth and reproductive patterns of H. molitrix in the lower Yellow River, offering important ecological information for the sustainable management of fishery resources and contributing to the understanding of how environmental conditions influence fish populations in this region.