Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

The Korean Society of Fisheries and Aquatic Science (한국수산과학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Species diversity, some biological aspects of fishes and water quality of Terie River, Beshilo Basin, Ethiopia

  • Assefa Tessema Tecklie (Aquatic Sciences, Fisheries and Wetlands Management, Department of Biology, Wollo University)
  • Received : 2023.11.27
  • Accepted : 2024.01.29
  • Published : 2024.06.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The study was conducted in the Terie River between January and April 2022. The objectives of the study were to assess the fish species composition, determine the length-weight relationship and condition factor and assess the water quality of the river using international water quality guideline for aquatic life. Gillnets with different mesh sizes, 4, 6, 8 and 10 cm were used to collect fish specimens in both dry and wet seasons. Immediately after capture, the total length (TL) and total weight (TW) of each individual were measured in centimeters and grams, respectively, and their relationship was determined using the power function. The physicochemical water quality parameters were analyzed using standard procedures and wagtech portable water quality Kits and Secchi Disk apparatus. A total of 667 fish specimens were collected from the Terie River, 410 and 257 in dry and wet seasons respectively. A total of six fish species, Oreochromis niloticus, Labeobarbus intermedius, Labeobarbus nedgia, Labeobarbus beso, Clarias gariepinus, and Ramius loti were recorded. For length-weight relationship and condition factor analysis, more abundant fish species (O. niloticus and L. intermedius) which were found in both seasons were selected. The length and weight relationship of L. intermedius were TW = 0.0073TL3.04 in dry and TW = 0.0337TL2.59 in we season indicated isometric and negative allometric growth respectively. While O. niloticus showed negative allometric growth, TW = 0.096TL2.44 and TW = 0.0335 TL2.76 in dry and wet seasons, respectively. The mean Fulton condition factor (FCF) of L. intermidus were 0.85 ± 0.03 and 0.94 ± 0.25 in dry and wet seasons, respectively. The FCF of O. niloticus was 1.70 ± 0.13 and 1.73 ± 0.12 in dry and wet seasons respectively. Except for ammonia, the physicochemical water quality parameters were with the permissible limit for aquatic life and are suitable for fishes Terie River. The river has commercially important fish specimens that could be used for food security and livelihood improvement. However, there is very limited fishing activity in the river due to less awareness on the value of fishes. Therefore, sustainable fishery development should be done in the river.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

I would like to extend my gratitude also to the local fishery officers and the local community members in Delanta District for their unreserved support during data collection.

References

  1. Andre KT, Teugels GG. Diversity patterns of fish assemblages in the lower Ntem River basin (Cameroon), with notes on potential effects of deforestation. Arch Hydrobiol. 1998;141:421-46. https://doi.org/10.1127/archiv-hydrobiol/141/1998/421
  2. Aynalem Y, Mingist M, Getu A. Diversity, relative abundance, species composition and some biological aspects of fishes in Gilgel Abay and Andassa rivers, Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia. Fish Aquac J. 2018;9:1-13. https://doi.org/10.4172/2150-3508.1000241
  3. Bagenal TB, Tesch FW. Age and growth. In: Bagenal T, editor. Methods for assessment of fish production in fresh waters. Oxford: Blackwell Science Publications; 1978. p. 101-36.
  4. Begon M, Harper JL, Townsend CR. Ecology: individuals, populations and communities. 2nd ed. Boston, MA: Blackwell Scientific Publication; 1990. p. 945.
  5. Berhan A, Birhanu B, Misikire T, Abraham A. Length-weight relationships and condition factor of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cichlidae) in Koka reservoir, Ethiopia. Int J Fish Aquat Res. 2019;4:47-51.
  6. Comte L, Lek S, De Deckere E, de Zwart D, Gevrey M. Assessment of stream biological responses under multiple-stress conditions. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 2010;17:1469-78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-010-0333-z
  7. De Graaf M, Nentwich ED, Osse JWM, Sibbing FA. Lacustrine spawning: is this a new reproductive strategy among 'large' African cyprinid fishes? J Fish Biol. 2005;66:1214-36. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-1112.2005.00671.x
  8. Gebremendhin S, Mingist M. Length-weight relationship, gonado somatic index and fulton condition factor of the dominant fishes at Aveya River, Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia. J Fish Aquat Sci, 2014;9:1-13.
  9. Getahun A. An overview of the diversity and conservation status of Ethiopian freshwater fish fauna. In: Proceeding of the Pan Africa fish and fisheries society; 2003; Cotonou, Benin.
  10. Getahun A. The freshwater fishes of Ethiopia: diversity, and utilization. Addis Ababa: View Graphics and Printing PLC; 2017. p. 349.
  11. Getahun A, Bereie Z, Dejen E. Diversity of fishes in Beles and Gilgel Beles rivers, Abay basin, Ethiopia. Int J Aquac Fish Sci. 2020;6:68-73.
  12. Getahun A, Stiassny MLJ. The freshwater biodiversity crisis: the case of Ethiopian fish faun. Sinet Eth J Sci. 1998;21:207-30. https://doi.org/10.4314/sinet.v21i2.18121
  13. Getso BU, Abdullahi JM, Yola IA. Length-weight relationship and condition factor of Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus of Wudil river, Kano, Nigeria. Agro Sci. 2017;16:1-4. https://doi.org/10.4314/as.v16i1.1
  14. Golubtsov AS, Darkov AA. A review of fish diversity in the main drainage systems of Ethiopia based on the data obtained by 2008. In: Ecological and Faunistic Studies in Ethiopia, "Proceedings of Jubilee Meeting Joint Ethio-Russian Biological Expedition: 20 years of scientific cooperation", Moscow: KMK Scientific Press; 2008. p. 69-102.
  15. Golubtsov AS, Darkov AA, Dgebuadze YY, Mina MV. An artificial key to fish species of the Gambela region (the White Nile basin in the limits of Ethiopia). In: Joint Ethio-Russian Biological Expedition; 1995; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
  16. Golubtsov AS, Mina MV. Fish species diversity in the main drainage systems of Ethiopia: current state of knowledge and research perspectives. Ethiop J Nat Resour. 2003;5:281-318.
  17. Graaf M. Lake Tana's Piscivorous barbus (Cyprinidae, Ethiopia) ecology - evolution - and exploitation [Ph.D. dissertation]. Wageningen: Wageningen University; 2003.
  18. Gupta D, Tripathi M. Length-weight relationships and condition factors of five cyprinidae species (subfamily-Barbinae) from three diverse rivers of Uttar Pradesh, India. Int J Fish Aquac Study. 2017;5:594-8.
  19. Huang J, Huang L, Wu Z, Mo Y, Zou Q, Wu N, et al. Correlation of fish assemblages with habitat and environmental variables in a headwater stream section of Lijiang river, China. Sustainability. 2019;11:1135.
  20. Hussein Y. Diversity, relative abundance and biology of fish in Mille river around Chifra, Ethiopia [M.S. thesis]. Dessie: Wollo University; 2023.
  21. Joung SJ, Chen CT, Lee HH, Liu KM. Age, growth, and reproduction of silky shark, Carcharhinus falciformis, in northeastern Taiwan waters. Fish Res. 2008;90:78-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2007.09.025
  22. Karenge L, Kolding J. Inshore fish population and species changes in Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe. In: Pitcher TJ, Hart PJB, editors. The impact of species changes in African lakes. Dordrecht: Springer; 1995. p. 245-75.
  23. Lawson TB. Fundamentals of aquacultural engineering. New York, NY: Chapman and Hall; 1995.
  24. Limbu JH, Shrestha OH, Prasad A. Ichthyofaunal diversity of Bakraha river of Morang district, Nepal. Int J Fish Aquat Stud. 2018;6:267-71.
  25. Mekonen S, Hailu, A. Ichthyofauna of Gibe Sheleko National Park and some morphometric relationships of fish of the tributary rivers, Southern Ethiopia. J Fish. 2021;9: 91206.
  26. Mengesha AT. Fish species diversity in major river basins of Ethiopia: a review. World J Fish Mar Sci. 2015;7:365-74.
  27. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment [MEA]. Ecosystems and human well-being: synthesis. Washington, DC: Island Press; 2005. p. 137.
  28. Mogous B. Diversity, relative abundance and biology of fishes in some rivers, and cestode parasites of African catfish (C. gariepinus) in some lakes of Ethiopia [M.S. thesis]. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University; 2007.
  29. Nehemia A, Maganira JD, Rumisha C. Length-weight relationship and condition factor of tilapia species grown in marine and fresh water ponds. Agric Biol J N Am. 2012;3:117-24. https://doi.org/10.5251/abjna.2012.3.3.117.124
  30. Oumer M, Mingist M, Dejen E. Diversity and relative abundance of fishes in the head of Blue Nile river, Ethiopia. Ethiop J Biol Sci. 2011;10:207-12.
  31. Parvez MT, Chaki N, Mohsin ABM, Galib SM. Risking lives for living: a study on underwater fishing in the Padma river, Bangladesh. J Fish. 2017;5:525-30. https://doi.org/10.17017/j.fish.1
  32. Posthuma L, de Zwart D. Predicted effects of toxicant mixtures are confirmed by changes in fish species assemblages in Ohio, USA, rivers. Environ Toxicol Chem. 2006;25:1094-105. https://doi.org/10.1897/05-305R.1
  33. Raje SG. Some aspects of biology of catfishes Tachysurus caelatus (Valenciennes) and Osteogeneiosus militaris (Linnaeus) from Mumbai. Indian J Fish. 2006;53:330-43.
  34. Sarkar C, Saha NC. Seasonal variation of water quality parameters and their impact on fish biodiversity indices of Hasadanga Beel: a case study. Curr World Environ. 2021;16:7-17. https://doi.org/10.12944/CWE.16.1.03
  35. Shibru T. Fresh water fishes of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: Haile Selassie I University; 1973. p. 107.
  36. Shrestha AK, Basnet N. The correlation and regression analysis of physicochemical parameters of river water for the evaluation of percentage contribution to electrical conductivity. J Chem. 2018;2018:8369613.
  37. Simagegnew M, Getahun A, Wakjira M. Population aspects of fishes in Geba and Sor rivers, White Nile system in Ethiopia, East Africa. Int J Biodivers. 2017;2017:1252604.
  38. Stiassny MLJ, Getahun A. An overview of labeonin relationships and the phylogenetic placement of the Afro-Asian genus Garra Hamilton, 1922 (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), with the description of five new species of Garra from Ethiopia, and a key to all African species. Zool J Linn Soc. 2007;150:41-83. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2007.00281.x
  39. Tesfaye G. Diversity, relative abundance and biology of fishes in Angereb and Sanja rivers, Tekeze basin, Ethiopia [M.S. thesis]. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University; 2006.
  40. Tesfaye G, Wolff M. The state of inland fisheries in Ethiopia: a synopsis with updated estimates of potential yield. Ecohydrol Hydrobiol. 2014;14:200-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecohyd.2014.05.001
  41. Tessema A, Mingist M, Dejen E. Diversity, relative abundance and biology of fishes in Borkena and Mille Rivers, Awash Basin, Ethiopia. J Fish Int. 2012;7:70-6.
  42. Tewabe D. Diversity, relative abundance and biology of fishes in Gendwuha, Guang, Shinfa and Ayima rivers, North Gondar, Ethiopia [M.S. thesis]. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University; 2008.
  43. UNEP. A framework for freshwater ecosystem management. Volume 4: scientific background. Nairobi: United Nations Environment Programme; 2018.
  44. Wood RB, Talling JF. Chemical and algal relationship in a salinity series of Ethiopian inland waters. Hydrobiologia. 1988;158:29-67. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026266
  45. Yizezew E. Fish-habitat relationship: the case of Labeobarbus beso in Mille river, Ethiopia [M.S. thesis]. Bahir Dar: Bahi Dar University; 2023.
  46. Yuan LL, Norton SB. Comparing responses of macroinvertebrate metrics to increasing stress. J N Am Benthol Soc. 2003;22:308-32. https://doi.org/10.2307/1468000
  47. Zinabu GM, Chapman LJ, Chapman CA. Conductivity as a predictor of a total cations and salinity in Ethiopian lakes and rivers: revisiting earlier models. Limnologica. 2002;32:21-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0075-9511(02)80013-5
  48. Zona Z, Ali Z, Ahmad R, Zainab I. Fish diversity and water quality in different zones of upper river Indus Basin, Pakistan. Pak J Zool. 2022;54:2791-9. https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20211018201037