The distribution, food and feeding habits of Sarotherodon Galilaeus Artedi in Opa reservoir, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
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Date
1986
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria
Abstract
The distribution food and feeding habits of Sarotherohon galilaeus were studied between.
January and October, 1985. The fishing methods employed were mainly gillnetting for the
distribution studies and castnetting for the food and feeding.
A total number of 625 fish specimens of S. galilaeus were caught. The majority of the fish
specimens were concentrated at the shallow inshore area. They were mostly caught within 2
metros during the wet season than the dry season. S. galilaeus was the most abundant fish.
species caught at all sampling sites of the reservoir constituting 78.09% of the total catches.
The study revealed that as herbivorous and detritivorous feeder, The main. food items were
planktonic algae, diatoms, mud and detritus. There was seasonal variation in the planktonic food
consumed. The blue-green algae was predominant during the rainy season and this was replaced
by during the dry season The majority of the fish caught by gillnetting had empty stomachs
unlike those caught by castnetting.
The feeding periods between 6.00a.m-9.00p.m. daily with a peak between 12.00 noon and
6.00p.m diatoms during the dry season The majority of the fish caught by gillnetting had empty
stomachs unlike those caught by castnetting. The feeding periods between 6.00a.m-9.00p.m.
daily with a peak between 12.00 noon and 6.00p.m.
Description
65p
Keywords
Food, Feeding, Fish, Reservoir, Herbivorous, Gillet, Diatoms, Weat season.cast netting, Sarotherodon Galilaeus Artedi