Abstract
The abundance of Pellonula leonensis in relation to location, photoperiod, depth, tide, season and gill net selectivity was studied from May 2001 to April, 2002 in the Lower Nun River, Niger Delta. Three sets of gill net with stretched mesh sizes of 8, 12 and 15 mm respectively were used each measuring 35 m in length and 3 m in depth having a surface area of 105 m2. Abundance was least in September and highest in February andP. leonensis was more dominant in the convex area of the river and lowest in the concave section. There was no significant variation (P > 0.05) in abundance of P. leonensis with photoperiod, water depth, tide and season. There was gillnet selectivity with the medium mesh size (12 mm) gill net as more effective constituting 68.77% of the total catch of P. leonensis in the Lower Nun River. Key words: Abundance, gill net selectivity, Pellonula leonensis, Lower Nun River, Niger Delta.
Highlights
Pellonula is essentially a riverine fish, which can inhabit both fast flowing and calm, muddy habitats (Lowe McConnell, 1987)
This study on distribution and abundance and gill net selectivity of P. leonensis is aimed at providing ecological and fishery information to ensure rational exploitation of P. leonensis to sustain its fishery in the Lower Nun River
Regression and correlation analyses were carried out to determine if there were any relationships between the respective parameters and abundance of P. leonensis in the Lower Nun River
Summary
Pellonula is essentially a riverine fish (present in West African rivers from Senegal to Niger), which can inhabit both fast flowing and calm, muddy habitats (Lowe McConnell, 1987). They inhabit areas closer to the shore (Turner, 1994). Availability of food, spawning rates, breeding grounds coupled with shelter, presence of current, vegetation, depth of water, breeding habits migration and low predation have been suggested as major limiting factors affecting the distribution and abundance of various fish families in Kainji Lake, Nigeria (Imevbore and Bakare, 1974; Lelek and El - Zarka, 1973; Willoughby, 1974; Akintunde, 1976; Olatunde, 1977; Ita, 1978). This study on distribution and abundance and gill net selectivity of P. leonensis is aimed at providing ecological and fishery information to ensure rational exploitation of P. leonensis to sustain its fishery in the Lower Nun River
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