Juvenile growth of two tilapia species in lakes Naivasha and Baringo, Kenya

Abstract

Abstract – Tilapia species in East African lakes often form the basis of commercial fisheries, with information on their population biology assisting their management. This study utilised otolith microstructure, with validation by modal progression analysis, to provide growth data for two tilapia species in two Kenyan lakes for the first time. Otolith microstructure revealed the growth rate of Oreochromis niloticus baringoensis, a sub‐species endemic to Lake Baringo, was fast compared with populations of Oreochromis niloticus; mean daily growth rates were >0.50 mm·d−1 in fish between 12 and 53 mm total length. Growth of Oreochromis leucostictus in Lake Naivasha was also relatively fast when compared with the growth rates of other tilapia species, with mean daily growth rates of approximately 0.35–0.48 mm·d−1 in fish between 10 and 56 mm total length. Growth rates of both species were well described by the Gompertz model and were corroborated by modal progression analysis that revealed similar daily growth rates in modes of young‐of‐the‐year fish.