Seasonal changes in length-weight relationship and condition factor of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cichlidae) in Lake Naivasha, Kenya

James Last Keyombe; John O. Malala; Edna Waithaka; Ruth M. Lewo; Benson Ojowi Obwanga

doi:10.22034/ijab.v5i1.231

Authors

James Last Keyombe
[email protected]
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Turkana Research Station, P.O. Box 205-30500, Lodwar, Kenya.
John O. Malala Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Turkana Research Station, P.O. Box 205-30500, Lodwar, Kenya.
Edna Waithaka Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Naivasha Research Station, P.O. Box 837-20117, Naivasha, Kenya.
Ruth M. Lewo Nakuru County Fisheries Department, Naivasha Sub-County, P.O. Box 135-20117, Naivasha, Kenya.
Benson Ojowi Obwanga Laikipia University, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, P.O. Box 1100-20300, Nyahururu, Kenya.

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2017): February

Articles

January 26, 2017

Downloads

PDF

Abstract
How to Cite
Author Biographies
Metrics
References

The study compared the length-weight relationship and condition factor (K) of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Lake Naivasha, Kenya, between the wet and dry seasons. Fish samples were collected monthly by gill netting from February to December 2015. A total of 372 samples of O. niloticus were analysed. The b values in the length-weight relationships were observed as 3.077 and 3.366 in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. The values of b exhibited positive allometric growth which were the important indication that the species was growing faster in weight than length. The K values of the fish ranged 1.18-4.1 during the wet season and 0.8-3.0 during the dry season. All mean monthly K values were found to be greater than 1, the highest being in June (2.33±0.05) and lowest in February (1.31±0.28), an indication of a healthy status and general well-being of the O. niloticus population in Lake Naivasha. The study concluded that seasonal variation has no great influence in the length-weight relationship and condition factor of O. niloticus in Lake Naivasha.

Keyombe, J. L., Malala, J. O., Waithaka, E., Lewo, R. M., & Obwanga, B. O. (2017). Seasonal changes in length-weight relationship and condition factor of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cichlidae) in Lake Naivasha, Kenya. International Journal of Aquatic Biology, 5(1), 7–11. https://doi.org/10.22034/ijab.v5i1.231

Download Citation

Anderson O.R., Neumann R.M. (1996). Length, weight and associated structural indices. In: L.A. Nielsen, D.L. Johnson (Eds.). Fisheries techniques. Bethesda, American Fish Society. pp: 447-482.

Anwa–udondiah E.P., Pepple P.C.G. (2011). Length-weight relationship and condition factor of Black chin Tilapia (Sarotherodon Melanotheron) cultured in sheltered outdoor tanks. In: R.J. Kolo, A.M. Orire (Eds.). Proceedings of the 26th Annual Conference of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), Minna. 28th November-2nd December. pp: 98-102.

Anyanwu P.E., Okoro B.C., Anyanwu A.O., Matanmi M.A., Ebonwu B.I., Ayabu-Cookey I.K., Hamzat M.B., Ihumekpen F., Afolabi S.E. (2007). Length-weight relationship, condition factor and sex ratio of African mud catfish (Clarias gariepinus) reared in indoor water recirculation system tanks. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 2(7): 780-783.

Binohlan C., Pauly D. (2000). The length-weight table. In: Fishbase 2000: concepts, design and data sources, R. Froese, D. Pauly, (Ed). ICLARM, ISBN 971-8709-99-1. Manila, Philippines. pp: 121-123

Canonico G.C., Arthington A. (2005). The effects of introduced tilapias on native biodiversity. Aquatic Conservation- Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 15: 463-483.

Deekae S.N., Chukwu K.O., Awotogha G. (2010). Length-weight relationship and condition factor of Alestis alexandrius (Geoffrey Saint-Hillarie 1817) in Bonny River, Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Research and Policies, 5(4): 16-18.

Froese R. (2006). Cube-law, condition factor and Weight/Length relationship: History, Meta-analysis and recommendations, Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 22: 241-253.

Fulton T. (1902). Rate of growth of sea fish. Scotland Scientific Investigation Rep. Scotland. 20 p.

Gerritsen H.D., Armstrong M.J., Allen M., McCurdy W.J., Pee J.A.D. (2003). Variability in maturity and growth in a heavily exploited stock. Whiting (Merlangius merlangus L.) in the Irish Sea. Journal of Sea Research, 49: 69-82.

Hickley P., Muchiri M., Britton R., Boar R. (2008). Economic gain versus ecological damage from the introduction of non-native freshwater fish : Case studies from Kenya. The Open Fish Science Journal, 1: 36-46.

Kembenya E.M., Ogello E.O., Githukia C.M., Aera C.N., Omondi R., Munguti J.M. (2014). Seasonal Changes of Length -Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Five Fish Species in Lake Baringo, Kenya. International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research (IJSBAR), 14(2): 130-140.

Khairenizam M.Z., Norma-Rashid Y. (2002). Length–weight relationship of mudskippers (Gobidae: Oxudercinae) in the coastal areas of Sclangor. Malaysia International Centre for living Aquatic Resources Management, World Fish Centre Quarterly, 25: 20-22.

King M. (1995). Fisheries biology, assessment and management. Fishing News Books, Oxford, England. 341 p.

Kitaka N., Harper D.M., Mavuti K.M. (2002). Phosphorus inputs to Lake Naivasha, Kenya, from its catchment and the trophic state of the lake. Hydrobiologia 488 (Dev. Hydrobiol. 168): 73-80.

LeCren E.D. (1951). The length weight relationship and season cycle in gonad weight and condition in Perch (Perca fluviatilis). Journal of Animal Ecology, 20: 179-219.

Moutopoulos D.K., Stregiou K.I. (2002). Length-weight and Length-Length relationships of fish species from the Aegean Sea (Greece). Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 18: 200-203.

Outa N.O., Kitaka N., Njiru J.M. (2014). Length-weight relationship, condition factor, length at first maturity and sex ratio of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus in Lake Naivasha, Kenya. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies, 2(2): 67-72

Oyugi D.O., Harper D.M., Ntiba J.M., Kisia S.M., Britton, J.R. (2011). Management implications of the response of two tilapiine cichlids to long-term changes in lake level, allodiversity and exploitation in an equatorial lake. Ambio, 40(5): 469-478.

Pope K.L., Willis D.W. (1996). Seasonal influences on freshwater fisheries sampling data. Revised Fish Science, 4(1): 57-73.

Sarkar U.K., Khan G.E., Dabas A., Pathak A.K., Mir J.I., Rebello S.C., Pal A., Singh S.P. (2013). Length weight relationship and condition factor of selected fresh water fish species found in River Ganga, Gomti and Rapti, India. Journal of Environmental Biology, 34: 951-956.

Sparre P., Venema S.C. (1998). Introduction to tropical fish stock assessment. Manual Part 1. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper no 306.

Wooton J. (1990). Ecology of Teleost Fishes. Chapman and Hall, New York. 404 p.

Seasonal changes in length-weight relationship and condition factor of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cichlidae) in Lake Naivasha, Kenya

Authors

Downloads

James Last Keyombe, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Turkana Research Station, P.O. Box 205-30500, Lodwar, Kenya.

Edna Waithaka, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Naivasha Research Station, P.O. Box 837-20117, Naivasha, Kenya.

Ruth M. Lewo, Nakuru County Fisheries Department, Naivasha Sub-County, P.O. Box 135-20117, Naivasha, Kenya.

Benson Ojowi Obwanga, Laikipia University, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, P.O. Box 1100-20300, Nyahururu, Kenya.

Downloads

Login

submission

SidebarMenu

EditorialTeam

Editorial Team

cover

IndexedBy

Indexed In

sjr2

Address:

Contact Info: