Influence of the hydrological regime of lake buyo on fish community of three floodplains in the Tai national park (southwestern Côte d’Ivoire)

Abstract

Floodplains play an important role in the ecological functioning of the areas on which they depend. These plains are also of socio-economic interest to the local population, particularly in terms of fishing activities. The fish fauna of three Lake Buyo floodplains (Néma, Libériakôbro and Gah) was studied in relation to the lake's hydrological regime. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the hydrological seasons of Lake Buyo on the structure of the fauna considered. Sampling of fish community was carried out monthly during an annual cycle using experimental fishing. The structure of the fish community was analyzed by determining taxonomic composition, taxon abundances (Ar) and the Shannon-Weaver diversity (H') and Pielou equitability (E) index. Temporal dynamics of the studied parameters were analyzed according to three hydrological seasons: flood season, high water season and recession season. Results showed that total specific richness of ichthyofauna of the studied plains was 38 species, and the richness observed at the different hydrological seasons varied significantly (p < 0.05). The Cyprinidae family was dominant in the abundances recorded at all seasons (48.34% ≤ Ar ≤ 85.5%). It should be noted that the studied ichthyofauna exhibited relatively low diversity and equitability with reference to diversity index (1.42 ≤ H' ≤ 1.46 and 0.28≤ E ≤ 0.29).