Observations on the ecology of Hepsetus odoe, Bloch, 1794 (Pisces: Hepsetidae) in Epie Creek floodplain, Niger Delta, Nigeria

The distribution, abundance, age and growth, the food and feeding habits, condition factor and reproduction of Hepsetus odoe in the Epie Creek Floodplain (Nigeria) was studied. H. odoe occur in the creek, swamp channel and lake. It is a very common, abundant and one of the major commercial species. A total of 457 specimens weighing 76.90 kg were caught during the period of investigation. The catches were more abundant in the dry season than in the wet season. The total length ranged from 10 cm to 46 cm while the weight varied between 50 g and 900 g. Six distinct components or year classes were observed using Bhattacharya's method. A growth exponential value 'b' was 3.35 with condition factor, 'k' values ranging from 0.69 to 0.83. The main diets of Hepsetus odoe were fish, including crustaceans (shrimps) and insects. The mean fecundity was 6060 plus or minus 358 eggs (range 2,769 to 6.667 eggs). The ova diameter of H. odoe was found to range from 2.2 mm to 2.6 mm with overall mean = 2.4 plus or minus 0.1)

Age and growth of Mugil cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Perciformes: Mugilidae) in Bonny Estuary

The age and growth of Mugil cephalus was investigated in Bonny Estuary, Nigeria, from January, 1995 to December, 1996. Length-weight relationships were isometric with length exponents of 2.84 (males), 2.90 (females) and 2.88 (overall). Modal length at age were 12.0cm, 20.9cm, 25.0cm, 28.4cm and 30.2cm TL for ages 0+, 1+, 2+, 3+ and 4+ respectively. Corresponding total weights were 20.01g, 78.93g, 173.12g, 217.61g and 247.50g, respectively. Asymptotic length (Lo) was estimated 33.2cm TL, asymptotic weight (W sub(o)) was 484g, growth coefficient K=0.55847 super(-1) and hypothetical age at zero length To = 0.152yr. Longevity, Tmax, was 5.0yr, length and weight growth performance indices were Q super(1)=2.79 and Q = 1.44, respectively. Total mortality, natural mortality and fishing mortality were z = 1.02yr super(-1), M=0.607yr super(-1) and F=O. 3129yr super(-1), respectively. The exploitation ratio E was 0.4048 and exploitation rate U = 0.2302yr super(-1)

Some ecological roles of Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious Linn. 1758) in fish production: possibilities for integrated fish-cum Agric production system

The common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious Linn. 1758) contributes to the productivity of aquatic systems where it lives. This paper reviews ecological roles of the hippo in this regard. Desk review of available literature information complemented with field observations were employed in the data collection. The ecological roles of the common hippopotamus being presented draw examples from East, West, Central and South African sub regions. The nutritional importance of the amphibious hippopotamus to rural communities was highlighted. In Southern Ethiopia, the Bodi, Bacha and Mura tribes eat hippo meat and this has led to severe hunting consequences on the wild populations of the animal. The important relationships between the hippopotamus and fish were presented. Hippopotamuses usually defecate in water and their excrements enrich the nutrients in the water resulting in favourable conditions for large fish populations. Some fish, including Labeo spp. were observed to feed on the micro-organisms and algae that grow on the skin of the hippotamus. A strong case was made for hippo-cum-fish integrated farm development in Nigeria based on ecological relationships so observed between the amphibious mammals and fish. This is one of the meeting points of fisheries and wildlife management that should be exploited for the benefits of the teeming Nigerian population

Effect of darting phenomenon of African catfish Heterobranchus longifilis (Burchell 1822) on growth performance of Nile tilapia: Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Replicate Ponds of 0.02ha stocked at 500 catfishes with 20,000 tilapia/ha were used to assess growth performance of O.niloticus, average weight 50.4g with (i) darted catfish; H.longifilis (shooters) average weight 60.3g (ii) non-shooters of H.longifilis, average weight 35.4g. Final mean weight, mean growth rate, specific growth rate and food conversion ratio were 499.5g 26g/day, 1.36% and 5.58% respectively for O.niloticus stocked with longifilis (shooters and 440.4g 2.3g/day 1.23% and 5.58% respectively for O.niloticus stocked withH.longifilis (non- shooters) and 246.9g, 1.2g/day, 0.93, 6.30% respectively for tilapia in monoculture. The least growth was noted for O. niloticus in monoculture while the best growth was recorded O. niloticus in polyculture with darted catfish

Effect of darting phenomenon of African catfish Heterobranchus longifilis (Burchell 1822) on growth performance of Nile tilapia: Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Replicate Ponds of 0.02ha stocked at 500 catfishes with 20,000 tilapia/ha were used to assess growth performance of O.niloticus, average weight 50.4g with (i) darted catfish; H.longifilis (shooters) average weight 60.3g (ii) non-shooters of H.longifilis, average weight 35.4g. Final mean weight, mean growth rate, specific growth rate and food conversion ratio were 499.5g 26g/day, 1.36% and 5.58% respectively for O.niloticus stocked with longifilis (shooters) and 440.4g 2.3g/day 1.23% and 5.58% respectively for O.niloticus stocked with H.longifilis (non- shooters) and 246.9g, 1.2g/day, 0.93, 6.30% respectively for tilapia in monoculture. The least growth was noted for O. niloticus in monoculture while the best growth was recorded O. niloticus in polyculture with darted catfish

Atlantic-Mediterranean and within-Mediterranean molecular variation in Coris julis (L. 1758) (Teleostei, Labridae)

Sequence variation in the mitochondrial control region was studied in the Mediterranean rainbow wrasse (Coris julis), a species with pronounced pelagic larval phase inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea and the adjacent coastal eastern Atlantic Ocean. A total of 309 specimens from 19 sampling sites were analysed with the aim of elucidating patterns of molecular variation between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean as well as within the Mediterranean Sea. Phylogeographic analyses revealed a pronounced structuring into a Mediterranean and an Atlantic group. Samples from a site at the Moroccan Mediterranean coast in the Alboran Sea showed intermediate frequencies of “Mediterranean” and “Atlantic” haplotypes. We recognised a departure from molecular neutrality and a star-like genealogy for samples from the Mediterranean Sea, which we propose to have happened due to a recent demographic expansion. The results are discussed in the light of previous studies on molecular variation in fish species between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean and within the Mediterranean.

Geographical and morphological variation within and between colour phases inCoris julis(L. 1758), a protogynous marine fish

The possible differences between sexes in patterns of morphological variation in geographical space have been explored only in gonochorist freshwater species. We explored patterns of body shape variation in geographical space in a marine sequential hermaphrodite species, Coris julis (L. 1758), analyzing variation both within and between colour phases, through the use of geometric morphometrics and spatially-explicit statistical analyses. We also tested for the association of body shape with two environmental variables: temperature and chlorophyll a concentration, as obtained from time-series of satellite-derived data. Both colour phases showed a significant morphological variation in geographical space and patterns of variation divergent between phases. Although the morphological variation was qualitatively similar, individuals in the initial colour phase showed a more marked variation than individuals in the terminal phase. Body shape showed a weak but significant correlation with environmental variables, which was more pronounced in primary specimens.