DIEL VARIATIONS IN THE FISH SPECIES COMPOSITION OF RIVER OROGODO, SOUTHERN NIGERIA
Meye, J. A. and 2 Ikomi, R. B.
Keywords: Diel variation, fish species, River Orogodo, Nigeria.
Published in Volume 7
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Abstract:
An investigation to assess the diel distribution of fish species in River Orogodo was carried out between
January 2006 and December 2007. Fish sampling was conducted monthly for the 24 months based on
day and night sampling effort in three different stations of the river. A total of 5,153 (55.83%) and 4,076
(44.17%) individuals were caught during the day and night respectively. Of the 37 species, only 2 species
(Gnathonemus petersii and Gymnarchus niloticus) were restricted to day time catch only, while one
species (Mastacembellus leonbergii) was restricted to night catch. The remaining 34 species occurred
during both day and night. The dominant day time catch were Clarias gariepinus, Chromidotilapia
guentheri, Malapterurus electricus and Erpetoichthys calabaricus, while the dominant night catch include
Clarias macromystax, Auchenoglanis occidentalis and A. biscutatus. The results of the study showed that
diel variations of fish composition and abundance in River Orogodo was related to the activity pattern of
the fish during different times, as more fish were caught when active. The diel variations in fish species
composition/distribution of River Orogodo were discussed and compared with the findings of earlier
studies conducted elsewhere.