The biology of Clarias ebriensis Pellegrin, 1920 (Osteichthyes: Clariidae) in an African rainforest river basin
Fisheries Research · 2002
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Aspects of the biology of Tilapia mossambica Peters (Pisces: Cichlidae) in a natural freshwater lake (Lake Sibaya, South Africa)
An account is given of some aspects of the biology of Tilapia mossambica Peters in Lake Sibaya, South Africa. Lake Sibaya is a warm shallow coastal lake with extensive shallow terraces in the littoral which shelve abruptly into underwater valleys. The substrate is predominantly sandy. Aquatic macrophytes are generally restricted to water 1–7 m deep. Adult fishes (over 8 cm standard length) are usually absent from water deeper than 12m and shallower than 0–5 m, whereas juveniles may occur at all depths, and fry only in very shallow water. T. mossambica inhabits the littoral and sublittoral in the warm and transition periods (August–April) but moves into deep water in the cool season (May–July). Exposed and sheltered areas are utilized for different purposes by adult fishes, the former for nesting, and latter for feeding and mouth–brooding. Habitat selection by males is governed by the availability of suitable nest sites. Nests are most common in sparsely–vegetated sheltered areas. Brooding females preferred sheltered littoral areas but ventured onto the terrace to release the fry. Juveniles and fry inhabited exposed shores with a temperature gradient which reversed diurnally. The breeding, shoaling and feeding behaviour is described. The biology of T. mossambica in Lake Sibaya is compared to data on the same, and similar species, in other systems. The utilization of available resources in the lake by T. mossambica is discussed and reference is made to the importance of the retention of generalized characters for the successful habitation of the cyclically–renewed habitat of the littoral.
The biology of filter feeding teleosts in Lake St Lucia, Zululand
The biology of filter feeding teleosts in St Lucia, was studied for two years from 1976 to 1978. The three common species, Gilchristella aestuarius, Hilsa kelee and Thryssa vitrirostris were studied with the composition and cyclical nature of the zooplankton which formed their food. Stolephorus commersonii and Hepsetia breviceps which were rare were only briefly examined. The zooplankton was dominated by the calanoid Pseudodiaptomus stuhlmanni which formed > 70 % of the calorific value of the zooplankton for 70 % of the study period. The mysid Mesopodopsis africana was second in importance in terms of calorific contribution while the amphipod Grandidierella lignorum was relatively abundant. Larval forms, particularly post‐veligers of Assiminea bifasciata were also important. There was a close correlation between the zooplankton cycles, both diel and annual, and the feeding, reproduction and recruitment of the three common filter feeding teleosts. G. aestuarius spent its whole life‐cycle in the system and spawned in early summer when the resulting juveniles could feed on the summer zooplankton peaks. They grew at 0.5 cm month −1 and attained maximum size in one year. They were non‐selective taking mainly P. stuhlmanni and post‐veligers. H. kelee spawned in the sea and juveniles were common in St Lucia during 1978 when they fed non‐selectively, chiefly on P. stuhlmanning the summer before disappearing over the winter. The resulting offspring went through a sequence of dietary changes which were closely related to zooplankton cycles. The importance of P. stuhlmanni in the pelagic food web of St Lucia is illustrated. The species supports not only the filter feeding teleosts but indirectly the predatory fish Argyrosomus hololepidotus and Elops machnata which feed on G. aestuarius and T. vitrirostris .
The biology of the West African shad <i>Ethmalosa fimbriata (Bowdich)</i> in the Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria
The biology of the population of Ethmalosa fimbriata occurring in the Lagos lagoon was investigated. Three size groups, 35–69 mm (Yoyo), 70–169 mm (Efolo) and 170 mm and above (Agbodo) occur in the lagoon and the spatial distribution of these size groups and the length frequency distribution of the species is given. The relationship between length, weight, age and growth is discussed and the food and feeding intra‐relationship of the size groups is shown. Information on the fecundity and possible spawning periods is discussed.