Proximate Composition, Predictive Analysis and Allometric Relationships, of the Edible Water Frog ( Pelophylax epeiroticus ) in Lake Pamvotida (Northwest Greece)

Marianthi Hatziioannou, Efkarpia Kougiagka, Ioannis Karapanagiotidis and Dimitris Klaoudatos
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Marianthi Hatziioannou: Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Fytokou Street, 384 45 Volos, Greece
Efkarpia Kougiagka: Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Fytokou Street, 384 45 Volos, Greece
Ioannis Karapanagiotidis: Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Fytokou Street, 384 45 Volos, Greece
Dimitris Klaoudatos: Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Fytokou Street, 384 45 Volos, Greece

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: The edible water frog Pelophylax epeiroticus, distributed mainly in Northwest Greece and utilized commercially as food, was investigated in lake Pamvotida (Ioannina). The objective was to assess aspects of population structure (sex ratio, morphometric characteristics, allometric relationships) and proximate composition of the Epirus water frog ( Pelophylax epeiroticus ). Commercial samples (31 females and 54 males) were obtained and sex ratio, morphometric characteristics, allometric relationships and proximate composition were assessed. A significantly lower abundance of females was indicated (31 females and 54 males). Body length range was higher in females (females 3.4 mm, males 2.6 mm), whereas total weight range was higher in males (females 45.08 gr, males 48.35 gr). Differences in allometric relationships were indicated between sexes. The high protein (15.93 ± 3.32) and low lipid (0.25 ± 0.13) contents indicated that P. epeiroticus is an excellent food source of high nutritional value. A tree classification algorithm indicated that the principal contributing component for sex classification was dry matter, followed by a proportion of edible flesh and protein content. A predicted future increase in demand for wild-caught individuals requires the use of a suitable management plan, coupled with the development of farming practices aiming to assure the sustainable exploitation of this important resource and alleviate the pressure on its populations.

Keywords: Pelophylax epeiroticus; water frog; lake Pamvotida; allometric relationships; proximate composition; predictive analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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