Benthic Fish Fauna and Physicochemical Parameters of Otamiri River, Imo State, Nigeria

摘要

The study on the fish fauna and physicochemical characteristics of Otamiri River was carried out for six months(June to August and October to December 2015). Samples were collected monthly from three sampling stationsalong the river. Eckman grab, scoop net, line and hook, cast net, traps and dugout canoe were used to collect thefish samples. Samples were collected from three stations, station 1 (dumpsite in the river), station 2 (dredgingsection) and station 3 (vegetable farming section). A total of 129 fishes belonging to 5 species, Synodontis budgetti,highest species composition (n=4) and fish abundance, 108 (83.7%), while station 1 had the least speciescomposition (n=2) and the least fish abundance, 10 (7.8%). Temperature variation from June to December was wideat station 1 (25-28oC), unlike station 2 (27-28oC) and station 3 (28-29oC). A similar trend was replicated by DissolvedOxygen (DO). Significant correlation of S. budgetti abundance and temperature (r=0.696, p<0.05), depth of river(r=-0.615, p<0.01) and turbidity (r=0.595, p<0.01) was observed. Similarly, a significant correlation of C.nigrodigitatus abundance and temperature (r=0.473, p<0.05), C. gariepinus abundance and depth (r=-0.481,p<0.05), P. afer abundance and temperature (r=0.530, p<0.05) was observed. Fish species abundance andcomposition in Otamiri River was significantly affected by anthropogenic activities.S. soloni, Chrysicthys nigrodigitatus, Clarias gariepinus and Papyrocranus afer were collected. Station 3 had the