The Morphometry, Sex Ratio and Fecundity of Fishes of the Coastal River, Qua Iboe River, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

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Abstract

The fish species of a coastal Nigeria River, Qua Iboe River, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, were investigated for morphometry, sex ratio and fecundity. The fish species were caught by different fishing techniques such as hook and line, non-return vale traps, and set nets. A total of 221 individuals comprising of 26 species in 15 families were encountered. The sample size per species ranged from 1 to 44 individuals. Length-weight relationship was estimated for only 10 species of fishes due to the low abundance of other species. The allometry coefficient (b value) for the 10 species raged from 1.84 for Brycinus leuciscus to 3.81 for Parachanna obscura. Sex ratio was estimated for 202 individuals belong to 11 species that had sample size range of 2 to 44. The ratio of males to females ranged from 1:0.6 for Arnoldichthys spilopterus to 1:4.8 for Tilapia mariae. A total of 26 fecund females comprising Papyrochranus afer (1), B. leuciscus (4), A. spiloterus (3), Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (1), P. obscura (5), Tilapa mariae (8). Tilapia. guineensis (3) and Ctenopoma kingsleyae (1) were examined for fecundity. Estimated fecundity ranged from 423 for P. afer to 1300 for C. kingsleyae. Since few reports are recorded about the reproductive biology of fishes in freshwater bodies, and this report being the first in this study area, more research should be carried out and recorded for future use in fisheries conservation and management

Keywords: Morphometry, Fecundity, Sex ratio, Qua Iboe River, Length-weight relationship

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