Abstract

Objective: To analyze the growth prediction results of crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz 1823) with two methods of length-weight relation (LWR) and artificial neural networks (ANNs). Methods: We examine the relationships between total length and total weight; carapace length and total weight; carapace length and total length for Astacus leptodactylus caught from Eğirdir Lake between 2013 and 2014. Length weight relation is used as a traditional method and artificial neural networks as a new approach. Results: The research is based on a sample of 222 crayfish [34% (75 individual) female, 66% (147 individual) male]. The outcomes of the research can be summarized as follows: average total length is 128.40 mm for female and 135.50 mm for male; average total weight is 59.79 g for female and 82.95 g for male crayfish. LWR equation was found to be W = 0.054 251 96 L2.73 for females, W = 0.052 721 02 L2.81 for males, and W = 0.035 898 89 L2.94 for the entire sample, regardless of gender. The results acquired from ANNs and LWR are analyzed to those obtained by the growth rate of crayfish caught from Eğirdir Lake. Conclutions: LWR and ANNs mean absolute percentage error results were examined. ANNs provide better results than the LWR. ANNs can be considered as an alternative for growth estimation.

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