Aspects of life history patterns of the cichlid fish Hemichromis fasciatus Peters, 1857 from Okpara Stream, Northern Benin, West Africa

The piscivorous cichlid Hemichromis fasciatus dominated the Okpara Stream of Oueme River in Benin, and numerically made 29.49% of the fish community. Some aspects of the reproductive biology of this fresh/ brackish water cichlid were examined to evaluate the spawning patterns and establishment of the species in Okpara Stream. Hemichromis fasciatus individuals were sampled monthly during 18 months from December 2015 to May 2017 with seine, cast nets, gillnets, hooks and traps. Among the 2,818 individuals sampled, 55.43% were females and 37.33% were males with a sex-ratio of 1.49:1. The species showed low fecundities ranging between 113 and 1,716 oocytes. Length at first sexual maturity (L50) in Okpara Stream were reduced, 9.22 cm-TL (females) and 10.95 cm-TL (males), indicating an early maturation. The ovarian structure give evidence of multiple spawning and the species reproduces all seasons. In Okpara Stream, Hemichromis fasciatus exhibited a life history strategy between “r” and “K” selection, yet, close to “r” selection. Because the length at first capture (Lc50 = 8.78 cm) is lower than sizes at first sexual maturity, stocks of spawners could be reduced and leading to low recruitment.

___

Adite, A., Winemiller, K.O., Fiogbe, E.D. (2006). Population structure and reproduction of the African bonytongue Heterotis niloticus in the Soˆ River-floodplain system (West Africa): implications for management. Ecology of Freshwater Fishes, 15, 30-39. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0633.2005.00119.x

Albaret, J.J. (1982). Reproduction et fécondité des poissons d'eau douce de Côte-d'Ivoire. Revue Hydrobiologique Tropicale, 15, 347-371.

Adite, A., Gbaguidi, H.M.G.A., Ategbo, J-M. (2017). Reproductive biology and life history patterns of the Claroteid, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Lacépède: 1803) from a Manmade lake in Southern Benin. Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, 12, 106-116. https://doi.org/10.3923/jfas.2017.106.116

Chikou, A., Laleye, P.A., Bonou, C.A., Vandewalle, P., Philippart, J-C. (2011). Tailles de première maturité et de capture de six espèces de poisson-chat dans le delta de l'Ouémé au Bénin (Afrique de l'Ouest). International Journal of Biological and Chemicale Science, 5(4), 1527-1537. https://doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v5i4.18

Atse, B.C., Konan, K.J., Kouassi, N.J. (2009). Biologie de la reproduction du Cichlidae Tylochromis jentinki dans la lagune Ebrié (Cote d'Ivoire). Cymbium, 33(1), 11-19.

Dadebo, E., Ahlgren, G., Ahlgren, I. (2003). Aspect of reproductive biology of Labeo horie Heckel (Pisces: Cyprinidae) in Lake Chamo. Ethiopia. African Journal of Ecology, 41, 31-38. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2028.2003.00404.x

Daget, J. (1956). La pêche à Diafarabé. Études monographiques. Bulletin de l'Institut fondamentale de l'Afrique noire, série B, 18(1-2), 97.

Dossou-Yovo, E. (2009). Modélisation du fonctionnement hydrologique dans le bassin versant de l'Okpara à l'exutoire de Kaboua dans un contexte de changement global: contribution à la gestion intégrée des ressources en eau. Thèse d'Ingénieur Agronome, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Abomey-Calavi, Bénin. 106p.

Ezenwaji H.M.G. (2002). The biology of Clarias ebriensis Pellegrin, 1920 (Osteichthyes: Clariidae) in an Africa rainforest river basin. Fisheries Research, 54, 235-252. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-7836(00)00291-5

Fagade, S.O., Adebisi, A.A., Atanda, A.N. (1984). The breeding cycle of Sarotherodon galilaeus in the IITA Lake, Ibadan, Nigeria. Archives Hydrobiologia, 100(4), 493 - 500.

Gbaguidi, H.M.G.A., Adite, A. (2016). Reproductive ecology and establishment of naturally colonized tilapine Cichlid, Sarotherodon galilaeus (Pisces: Actinopterigii: Perciformes) from a man-made lake, Southern Benin, West Africa: implications for sustainable fisheries and aquacultural valorization. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies, 4(3), 278-287.

Ghorbel, M., Jarboui, O., Bradai, M.N., Bouain, A. (1996). Détermination de la taille de première maturité sexuelle par une fonction logistique chez Limanda limanda, Pagellus erythrinus et Scorpaena porcus. Bulletin INSTM, 3, 24-27.

Issa, E.A., Olufeagba, S.O., Raji, A. (2005). Effects of some environmental factors on the fecundity of Tilapia species (Family: Cichlidae) in Kigera Reservoir, New Bussa. 19th Annual Conference of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), 29th Nov. - 03 Dec. 2004, Ilorin, Nigeria.

Jackson, A.T., Adite, A., Roach, K.A., Winemiller, K.O. (2013). Fish assemblages of an African river floodplain: a test of alternative models of community structure. Ecology of Freshwater Fish, 22, 295-306. https://doi.org/10.1111/eff.12026

Kantoussan, J. (2007). Impact de la pression de pêche sur l'organisation des peuplements de poissons: application aux retenues artificielles de Selingue et de Manantali, Mali, Afrique de l'Ouest. Thèse de doctorat, Agrocampus, Rennes, 195p.

Koné, N., Berte, S., Kraidy, A.L.B., Kouamelan, E.P., Koné, T. (2011). Biologie de la reproduction du Clupeidae Pellonula leonensis Boulenger, 1916 dans le lac de barrage de Kossou (Côte d'Ivoire). Journal of Applied Biosciences, 41, 2797-2807.

Kora, O. (2006). Monographie de la commune de Parakou. Cabinet « Afrique Conseil », 44p.

Kuela, J.M.D. (2002). Étude des peuplements ichtyologiques de la Comoé et des modes d'exploitation piscicole dans la zone agro-sylvo-pastorale du projet GEPRENAF. Mémoire de fin d'étude, Université polytechnique de Bobo Dioulasso, 73p.

Kwarfo-Apegyah, K., Ofori-Danson, P.K. (2010). Spawning and recruitment patterns of major fish species in Bontanga reservoir, Ghana, West Africa. Lakes & Reservoirs: Research and Management, 15, 3-14. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1770.2010.00418.x

Lalèyè, P., Chikou, A., Philippart, J-C., Teugels, G., Vandewalle, P. (2004). Étude de la diversité ichtyologique du bassin du fleuve Ouémé au Bénin (Afrique de l'Ouest). Cybium, 28(4), 329-339.

Lalèyè, P., Phillipart, J-C., Poncin, P. (1995). Biologie de la reproduction de deux espèces de Chrysichthys (Siluriformes, Bagridae) du lac Nokoué et de la lagune de Porto Novo au Bénin. Journal of African Zoology, 109(3), 213- 224.

Legendre, M., Ecoutin, J.M. (1989). Suitability of brackish water tilapia species from the Ivory Coast for lagoon aquaculture: Reproduction. Aquatic Living Resources, 2, 71-79. https://doi.org/10.1051/alr:1989009

Lévêque, C., Paugy, D. (2006). Les poissons des eaux continentales africaines: Diversité, écologie, utilisation par l'homme. IRD Editions. 573p.

Stiassny, M.L.J., Teugels, G.G., Hopkins C.D. (éd.) (2007). Poissons d'eaux douces et saumâtres de basse Guinée, ouest de l'Afrique centrale, Collection Faune et Flore tropicales. IRD, Publications scientifiques du Muséum, MRAC, ISSN: 1286-4994

Montchowui, E., Niyonkuru, C., Ahouansou Montcho, S., Chikou, A., Lalèyè, P. (2007). L'ichtyofaune de la rivière Hlan au Bénin (Afrique de l'Ouest). Cybium, 31(2), 163-166. https://doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v2i2.39733

Murphy, B.R., Willis, D.W. (1996). Fisheries Techniques. Second edition. American Fisheries Society, Bethesa, Maryland. ISBN-13: 978-1888569001

Olurin, K.B., Odeyemi, O.I. (2010). The reproductive biology of the fishes of Owa Stream, South-West Nigeria. Research Journal of Fisheries and Hydrobiology, 5(2), 81-84.

Paugy, D., Lévêque, C., Teugels, G.G. (2003). Faune des poissons d'eaux douces et saumatres de l'Afrique de l'Ouest.

Tome 1. IRD Editions, MNHN, Paris, France & MRAC, Tervuren, Belgique, 457p.

Paugy, D., Lévêque, C., Duponchelle, F. (2006). La reproduction in Lévêque C., Paugy D. (2006). Les poissons des eaux continentales africaines : Diversité, écologie, utilisation par l'homme; IRD Editions, Paris, France, ISBN 2e édition : 2-7099-1589-8

Poulet, N. (2004). Le sandre (Sander lucioperca L.) : Biologie, comportement et dynamique des populations en Carmargue (Bouches du Rhône, France). Thèse de Doctorat, Université de Toulouse III, France, 300 p.

Rutaisire, J., Booth, A.J. (2005). Reproductive biology of ningu, Labeo victorianus (Pisces: Cyprinidae), in the Kagera and Sio Rivers, Uganda. Environmental Biology of Fish, 73, 153-162. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-004-5564-8

Sidi Imorou, R., Adite, A., Arame, H., Chikou, A., Adjibade, N.K., Sonon, P.S. (2019a). Ichthyofauna of Okpara Stream, a Tributary of Oueme River, Benin, West-Africa. International Journal of Sciences, 8(5), 53-66. https://doi.org/10.18483/ijSci.2052

Sidi Imorou, R., Adite, A., Sossoukpe, E., Abou, Y. (2019b). Length-weight models and condition factors of fishes from Okpara Stream, Oueme River, Northern-Benin. International Journal of Forest, Animal and Fisheries Research, 3(3), 65-80. https://doi.org/10.22161/ijfaf.3.3.1

Sidi Imorou, R., Adite, A., Sossoukpe, E., Adjibade, N.K., Arame, H., Sonon, SP. (2019c). Demographic parameters and exploitation rate of five key fishes of Okpara Stream, Oueme River, Benin, West Africa. International Journal of Aquatic Biology, 7(6), 332-341. https://doi.org/10.22034/ijab.v7i6.642

Tembeni, J.M., Micha, J.C., Mbomba, B.N.S., Vandewalle, P., Mbadu, V.Z. (2014). Biologie de la reproduction d'un poisson chat Africain Euchilichthys guentheri (Schilthuis, 1891) (Mochokidae, Siluriformes) au Pool Malebo, Fleuve Congo (République Démocratique du Congo). Tropicultura, 32(3), 129-137.

Winemiller, K.O., Rose, K.A. (1992). Patterns of life-history diversification in North American fishes: implications for population regulation. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, 49, 2196-2218. https://doi.org/10.1139/f92-242

Winemiller, K.O. (1992). Fish assemblages across a complex, tropical freshwater/marine ecotone. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 3, 29-50. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004783

Wootton, R.J. (1998). Ecology of Teleost Fishes. Kluwer Academic Publishers [Fish and Fisheries Series, no. 24], Dordrecht, The Netherlands. ISBN: 978-0-412-84590-1