Habitat Characteristics and Gonadal Maturity Assessment of Keudawah (Rasbora arundinata Lumbantobing, 2014) to Support Management and Domestication Strategies

Abdan, Mu&#039;amar; Sulistiono, Sulistiono; Kamal, Mohammad; Mashar, Ali; Butet, Nurlisa Alias

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2025.386144.5880

Habitat Characteristics and Gonadal Maturity Assessment of Keudawah (Rasbora arundinata Lumbantobing, 2014) to Support Management and Domestication Strategies

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Gajah Putih University, Aceh

² Department of Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, IPB University, Indonesia

³ Department of Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, IPB University, Indonesia

⁴ Department of Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

⁵ Department of Aquatic Resource Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia.

10.21608/ejabf.2025.386144.5880

Abstract

The Krueng Lanca River in Aceh Province is an ecologically important freshwater system that supports local livelihoods and aquatic biodiversity. Rasbora arundinata, a native rheophilic fish species, inhabits the river’s fast-flowing upstream reaches, characterized by rocky-sandy substrates and dense riparian vegetation. This study investigates the species’ reproductive biology and habitat preferences to support sustainable management and domestication efforts. Over a 12-month period, data on physicochemical parameters, habitat structure, gonadosomatic index (GSI), and fecundity were collected from six sampling stations. The species was found to prefer moderate to fast-flowing waters with coarse substrates and optimal environmental conditions: temperature (26.03–27.72 °C), pH (6.98–7.69), turbidity (1.62–3.73 NTU), and dissolved oxygen (5.41–6.74 mg/L). Spawning activity peaked in April and September. Strong correlations were observed between environmental factors and reproductive indices, including turbidity and male GSI (r = 0.71), average catch and GSI (r = 0.87), TDS and female GSI (r = 0.76), and temperature and female GSI (r = 0.41). Station 2 was identified as the core spawning site due to its stable hydrological conditions and the highest GSI and catch rates. These findings provide critical ecological insights for habitat-based conservation strategies and the development of sustainable aquaculture systems for R. arundinata in tropical river ecosystems.

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