Abstract
Fish assemblages and their relationship with hydrological variables were investigated in the coastal lagoon of Grand-Lahou (Côte-d’Ivoire) from November 2013 to October 2014. Samplings were carried out by means of artisanal fisheries, once a month, in three sites. A total of 8571 fish belonging to 47 fish species from 25 families were recorded. The most represented families were Cichlidae and Mugilidae with six species. Each environmental variable, notably, dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature and salinity according to the canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) allowed the distinction of two main sectors in the lagoon, associated with three fish assemblages. Sector 1 including sampling sites 2 and 3, characterized by high salinity fluctuations, functioned as a typical estuary. Two fish assemblages identified in this sector were Lutjanus dentatus, Mugil cephalus, Mugil bananensis, Tilapia guineensis and Tylochromis jentenki in station 2 and Sarotherodon melanotheron, Liza falcipinnis and Pomadasys jubelini in station 3. Sector 2 comprising the sampling site 1, characterized by low salinity fluctuation is associated with 11 fish species, notably, Ethmalosa fimbriata and Elops lacerta. The fish assemblage in this sector depends on season, temperature and DO. Key words: Ichthyofauna distribution, environmental variables, Grand-Lahou lagoon, Côte d’Ivoire.
Highlights
Costal lagoons are considered worldwide as sites of high biodiversity and productivity (Mitsch and Gosselink, 2000)
No previous study inventoried the ichtyofauna of this lagoon and the results seem to be the first data about fish biodiversity in this Lagoon
Three reasons can explain this fact: (i) the area of Grand-Lahou lagoon (190 km2) less larger than those of Ebrié (566 km2 and Aby (424 km2), (ii) the weak number of sampling sites and fishers involved by the study (5 fishers during 2 days per sites) and (iii) commercial fishing catches instead of experimental fishing gear catches
Summary
Costal lagoons are considered worldwide as sites of high biodiversity and productivity (Mitsch and Gosselink, 2000). (2011), the conservation of such habitats depends largely on the assessment of their natural characteristics, especially fish biodiversity, which is one of the main criteria used when elaborating environmental protection policies Recent investigations relating to environmental variables and zooplankton production were carried out on this lagoon, respectively, by Konan et al (2008) and Etilé et al (2009) This step has a major importance to understand the biological functioning of this coastal lagoon, none study considered the fish diversity and its relationships with the environmental parameters. The aims of the present research were to (i) inventory the fish species composition in the GrandLahou lagoon through commercial catches and (ii) determine the main environmental variables (that is, salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and transparency) that are associated with fish species distribution
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
