Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

Vol.16, Issue 2, 2010; Page No.(307-312)

ECOLOGY AND ICHTHHYO-FAUNAL DIVERSITY OF UPPER EBONYI RIVER, NIGERIA

E.F. Ude and C.D. Nwani

Abstract

A study of the ecology and ichthyo-faunal diversity of Ebonyi River was conducted from September 2006 to February 2008. A total number of 1,080 fishes were caught during the study period. A total of 39 different fish species belonging to 14 families were identified. Cichlidae was the largest (24.2%) in terms of percentage fish family composition. This was followed by family Claridae (20.3%) and the least was family Malapteruridae with only 0.6% composition. The highest percentage fish species composition recorded in the study period was Tilapia dageti (8.5%). Macrobrachium vollenhovenii was second highest (6.8%). The least percentage species composition was the unidentified species of family Amphilidae which recorded 0.2%. The diversity index show that Tilapia dageti, Clarias gariepinus, Hepsetus odoe, Oreochromis niloticus and Macrobrachium vollenhovenii each recorded 0.1 which is the highest value recorded during the study period. It was therefore concluded that the river can serve as a dependable resource pool for enhanced nutrition of the populace, fisheries development, teaching and research if the status is maintained through adequate fisheries environmental management strategies.

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