Analysis of Trace and Macroelements of Lepidocephalichthys berdmorei in Relation to Sex and Seasonal Variation

Minerals are essential in determining the overall health status of different organisms. Fishes can directly absorb and retain minerals from the water through their gill or skin. The amount of minerals in fish depends on the habitat and the diet the fish consumes. The present study determines the content of trace elements and macro elements in both sexes of Lepidocephalichthys berdmorei, a hill stream loach found in Manipur, India, for three seasons using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The concentration of 8 trace elements (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Co, Ni, Cr and Se) and 5 essentials macro elements (Ca, P, K, Na and Mg) have been analyzed for both sexes. Male species had various elements with concentrations ranging from 4895.95±5.01 mg/100 g (Ca) to 0.0113±0.0023 mg/100 g (Co). Females had concentrations ranging from 3712.52±9.08 mg/100 g (Ca) to 0.013±0.00 mg/100 g (Co). Calcium, Phosphorus and Potassium were the most abundant macro elements in males, whose peak concentrations were during the post-monsoon season. In females, Ca and P were abundant, with different seasonal concentrations. Among the trace elements, Fe and Zn had the highest concentration, 8.03±0.32 mg/100 g (Fe) and 4.62±0.91 mg/100 g (Zn) in males and in females, 11.72±0.41 mg/100 g (Fe) and 5.42±0.33 mg/100 g (Zn) respectively. Ni and Se were detected in very low concentrations, below 0.01 ppm. Mineral content in aquatic habitats differs in different seasons; accordingly, the values of the minerals differ in seasons and both sexes. The analysis revealed the importance and role of minerals in the growth of the fish, which would help in the sustainable and judicious management and conservation of this fish and could be helpful to nutritionists, researchers, fish biologists, conservationists, farmers, etc., for future reference.