Abstract
The catch rate, diet, size, and reproduction of 565 specimen of Labeo coubie were studied over 24 months (January 2005–January 2007) in three reaches [upstream, midstream (waterfalls region) and downstream] along the 6817.7 m length of Agbokim waterfalls during wet and dry seasons. Data were processed using fecundity (F), allometric coefficient (b), Fultons condition factor, and diet breadth. Fecundity values were 10411.0 ± 121, 15102.0 ± 303.5 and 24143.3 ± 662 eggs for fish from upstream, midstream, and downstream, respectively, with overall mean value of 19811.3 ± 223 eggs. The relationships of fecundity with total weight, ovary weight, ovary length, body breadth were positively linear. Mean allometric coefficient (b) of the length–weight relationship of fish in the three reaches were 2.662 ± 0.291 (upstream), 2.592 ± 0.368 (midstream), and 2.622 ± 0.315 (downstream) and all showed significant departure from cubic value (negative allometry). Detritus, phytoplanktons and plant materials were the dominant food items in the diet, contributing 36.8%, 32.1%, and 17.2% of stomach content, respectively. Food Richness of 7 and Gut Repletion Index, 100% were recorded. The low mean diet breadth exhibited by fish from the three sampling sites showed that the species has low trophic flexibility and cannot easily change feeding habit. Mean condition factor varied from 0.442 ± 0.127 upstream to 0.648 ± 0.146 downstream. Downstream therefore provided better spawning conditions for Labeo coubie in the tropical waterfalls ecosystems.
Highlights
The African carp Labeo coubie (L. coubie) occurs in most of the major rivers in Africa including Nigeria, Senegal, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Zaire, and Gabon
Distribution and relative abundance Analysis of species distribution and catch rate in Agbokim Waterfalls showed that L. coubie was more abundant than other fish species in the Cyprinidae family and contributed 27.3% in the overall fish catch during the study (Table 1)
The distribution between the sampling sites showed that downstream had the highest representation by number of 38.34% followed by 12.1% midstream and3.1% upstream
Summary
The African carp Labeo coubie (L. coubie) occurs in most of the major rivers in Africa including Nigeria, Senegal, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Zaire, and Gabon. The fish is silvery in color [1] and is commonly cultured in ponds It is known for its sweet tastes with rich source of protein for the common people of Africa [2]. Length– weight relationship studies have been done in different water bodies and on different fishes in African regions. Among these are some studies on Nigerian fresh water fishes [4,5,6,7,8] and others include those for Chrysichthys spp. This paper presents some aspects of the biology of the species Such data will provide useful information for the culture of L. coubie in different environmental conditions
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