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Published:
May 26, 2008Keywords:
Relative abundance spatial distribution stomach content feeding rhythm Tilapia zillii.
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The copyright of a submitted article is only transferred to the publishers if and when the article is accepted for publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publishers.
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Some Aspects of the Biology of Tilapia Zillii (Gervais) (Pisces: Cichlidae) in Opa Reservoir, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Abstract
Some aspects of the biology of Tilapia zillii were examined between October 1997 and February 2000. Fish specimens were collected using a graded set of gillnets and castnets. Out of 1486 fish specimens, 867 were males while 619 were females. Regardless of their sex a significantly high number of fish were caught inshore (69.57%) than in the offshore areas (30.43%). In addition 48.65% of all fish specimens were caught in the middle segment of the reservoir. A wide range of fish sizes were caught and the species was not spatially distributed (χ2cal. 27.39<χ2 tab. 67.51; df. 820). The species fed on a variety of food substances predominantly shoreline aquatic macrophytes, algae and plankton. The feeding rhythm which started around 6.00am reached a peak by 3.00pm in the afternoon and it declined gradually until 6.00pm.
Keywords: Relative abundance, spatial distribution, stomach content, feeding rhythm, Tilapia zillii.
Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 28 (1) 2008 pp. 49-56
