Skip to main content
Log in

Seasonal abundance, breeding and sex-structure of populations of Tilapia nilotica (L.) and Labeo niloticus (F.) in the Jebel Aulia Dam area of the White Nile

  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Seasonal abundance, maturation and sex-structure were studied in populations of T. nilotica and L. niloticus in the Jebel Aulia reservoir and in the White Nile below the dam. L. niloticus showed a single annual breeding cycle from mid-July to December and was most abundant in October in the lake, and in early November in the river. T. nilotica showed two distinct annual seasons of abundance: summer (April to June) and autumn (November to October). Spawning activity was highest in summer (April to June) and autumn (late July to September). The sex-ratio varied inversely with age (size); males were predominant in populations of older fish, perhaps because of their greater endurance to adverse conditions as evidenced by their better survival in hypoxic water.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmed, A. A., 1978. On the biology of cyprinid fish in the northern part of White Nile. M.Sc. Thesis. Hydrobiol. Res. Unit., Univ. of Khartoum.

  • Babiker, M. M., 1979. Respiratory behaviour, oxygen consumption and relative dependence on aerial respiration in the African lungfish (Protopterus annectens, Owen) and an airbreathing teleost (Clarias lazera, C.). Hydrobiologia 65: 177–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Babiker, M. M. & Ibrahim, H., 1979. Studies on the biology of reproduction in the cichlid Tilapia nilotica (L.): gonadal maturation and fecundity. J. Fish. Biol. 14: 437–448.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beverton, R. J. H. & Holt, S. J., 1957. On the dynamics of exploited fish populations. Fish Invest. London. Ser. 11: 20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bishai, H. M., 1962. Experiments on the suitability of broad beans (Vicia faba L.) as diet for fish. Hydrobiologia 20: 31–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, M. E., 1957. Experimental studies on growth. In: M. E. Brown (ed.), The Physiology of Fishes. Academic Press, New York, London, pp. 361–400.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chadwalladr, D. A., 1965. The decline in the Labeo victorianus (Blgr.) (Pisces: Cyprinidae) fishery of Lake Victoria and an associated deterioration in some indigenous fishing methods in the Nzoia river, Kenya. East African Agric. Forest. J. 30: 249–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cridland, C. C., 1960. Laboratory experiments on the growth of Tilapia spp. 1. The value of various foods. Hydrobiologia 15: 135–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elester, H. J. & Jensen, K. W., 1960. Limnological and fishery investigation of the Nozha Hydrome near Alexandria, Egypt, 1954–1956. Notes Mem. 45, Alexandria inst. Hydrobiol. U.A.R. 44: 100–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Zarka, S., Shaheen, A. M. & Aleem, A. A., 1970a. Reproduction of Tilapia nilotica L. Bull. Inst. oceanogr. Fish. Cairo 1: 193–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Zarka, S., Shaheen, A. M. & Aleem, A. A., 1970b. Scale characteristics of the cichlid fish Tilapia nilotica L. Bull. Inst. oceanogr. Fish. Cairo 1: 183–192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hora, S. L., 1944. Economics of carp culture. Indian fish Farming 5: 205–207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyder, M., 1970. Gonadal and reproductive patterns in Tilapia leucostica (Teleostei: Cichlidae) in an equatorial lake, Lake Naivasha (Kenya). J. Zool. 162: 179–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kesteven, G. L., 1960. Manual of Field Methods in Fisheries Biology. FAO Man. fish. Sci. 1: 152 pp.

  • Khan, H. & Jhingran, V. G., 1975. Synopsis of biological data on Rohu Labeo rohita (Ham.). FAO Fish Synopsis 111: 100 pp.

  • Liebman, E., 1933. Some observations of the breeding habits of Paestine Cichlidae. Proc. zool. Soc. London, 885 pp.

  • Magid, A. M. A. & Babiker, M. M., 1975. Oxygen consumption and respiratory behaviour of three Nile fishes. Hydrobiologia 46: 359–367.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowe, R. H., 1956. Observations on the biology of Tilapia nilotica (Pisces: Cichlidae) in Lake Victoria, East Africa. East afr. Fish. Res. Org. Suppl. Publ.

  • Pitt, T. K., 1964. Fecundity of the American plaice, Hippoglossoides platessoides(Fbr.) from Grand Bank and New Foundland areas. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 21: 597–612.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prowse, G. A. & Talling, J. F., 1958. The seasonal growth and succession of plankton Algae in the White Nile. Limnol. Oceanogr. 3: 222–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ricker, W. E., 1968. Methods of Assessment of Fish Production in Freshwater. IBP Handbook No. 3. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford & Edinburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowlands, I. W. & Weir, B. J., 1977. The ovarian cycle in vertebrates. In: S. Zuckerman & B. J. Weir (eds.), The Ovary, 2nd. edn. Academic Press, London & New York, vol. 11, pp. 217–273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandon, H. & El Tayeb, A., 1953. The food of some common Nile fishes. Sudan Notes Rec. 34: 205–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siddique, A. Q., 1977. Reproductive biology, length-weight relationship and relative condition of Tilapia leucostica (Trewaves) in Lake Naivasha (Kenya). J. Fish Biol. 10: 251–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, S. H., 1956. Life history of lake herring of Green Bay, Lake Michigan. U.S. Fish. Bull. 57: 87–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ware, D. M., 1977. Spawning time and egg size of Atlantic mackerel Scomber scombrus in relation to plankton. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 34: 2308–2315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitehead, P. J. P., 1959. The anadromous fishes of Lake Victoria. Rev. zool. Bot. afr. 59: 329–363.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yousif, A. M., 1972. The food of some common fishes collected from beyond Jebel Aulia dam. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Univ. of Khartoum.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Babiker, M.M. Seasonal abundance, breeding and sex-structure of populations of Tilapia nilotica (L.) and Labeo niloticus (F.) in the Jebel Aulia Dam area of the White Nile. Hydrobiologia 110, 287–294 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00025800

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00025800

Keywords

Navigation