Structure and diversity of fish communities in man-made ponds of the Niger Delta (southern Nigeria)

Abstract

1. A survey of eight local earthen hand-dug ponds located within the freshwater swamps of a Niger Delta area (southern Nigeria) was conducted over a period of 3 months. A total of 4,313 fishes representing 19 species from 12 families were recorded. 2. The most abundant species was Xenomystus nigri (905 individuals), whereas the least common was Protopterus annectens (13). Cichlidae and Clariidae counted three species each, whereas Anabantidae, Hepsetidae, Mochokidae, Protopteridae, Phractolaemidae, Malapteruridae and Gymnarchidae were represented by a single species each. 3. A lotic species, Synodontis sp., was recorded possibly as a result of the episodic flood of 2012. 4. The Engenni swamps harbour a moderately diverse ichthyofauna. Regulations should be put in place to further enhance the fisheries potential of these local ponds.

Physical and Chemical Variables of Freshwater Swamp Ponds of Engenni, Ahoada-West, Niger Delta, Nigeria

“…ecosystem services) to people including domestic uses, industrial development, navigation, boating, fishing, dredging and wastes disposal. In the Niger Delta, the quest for fishery resources as the cheapest source of protein to support growing human populations in many riverine communities has led to the use of poison in the swamp ecosystem, such as Gammolin 20 [1], in order to increase catch with minimal efforts. Such poisons are non-specific in action and cause fatalities to both fin fishes, shell fishes and other aquatic flora and fauna as such they can have deleterious impacts to the wider ecosystems.…”

“…The deterioration of which are also dependent on the composition of aquatic vegetations and the substrate through which it flows [5]. Although; aquaculture practice can be a more sustainable alternative practice, it cannot totally substitute fishing in natural swamp ponds because a wide range of preference held by people in the Deltas that cannot be met within the constraints of normal aquaculture practice [1,2].…”