Publication Date:
2021-07-15
Description:
We studied the trophic attributes of the toadfish, Batrachoides liberiensis off the Qua Iboe River estuary Nigeria, between August 2008 and July 2009. The fish species has no well defined stomach; the intestine was used as gut. Gut contents analysis of 360 specimens of the toad fish revealed that 11 food items (Penaeus notialis, Sersama alberti, crayfish remains, unid fish, fish bones, fish remains, unid gastropod, insect remains unid clam and sand grains)] were ingested. The food items were re-assigned into 6 major ecological categories based on food ponderal index (%FPI): Pisces (FPI= 35.33%), Crustacea (FPI= 20.73%), unid Gastropoda (FPI=14.32%), Mollusca (FPI= 12.48%), Insecta (FPI= 11.64%) and FPI of 5.50% sand grains. Males were significantly higher in feeding intensity (Average gut fullness, AGF: t = 2.083, 358 df, P〈0.05) vis-a-vis the females. There were similarity in rank-order of the seasonal dietaries (spearman-rank correlation: rs = 0.871, P〈0.02). Sex ratio was male-biased. B. liberiensis in the Qua Iboe estuary is carnivorous, exhibiting affinity to piscine as major dietaries.
Description:
Includes: 11 references.
Keywords:
Ecology
;
Fisheries
;
Batrachoides liberiensis
;
ASE
;
Nigeria
;
Iboe River.
;
Batrachoides liberiensis
;
Qua Iboe River Estuary
;
Nigeria
;
Trophic attributes
;
brackishwater environment
;
Food
;
Feeding
;
Stomach content
;
Food consumption
;
Artisanal fishing
;
Fishery surveys
;
Food composition
;
Food preferences
;
Brackishwater fish
Repository Name:
AquaDocs
Type:
conference_item
,
TRUE
Format:
application/pdf
Format:
application/pdf
Format:
281-283
