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Seasonal Changes In Stomach Content Of Three Fish Species, Oreochromis Niloticus, Auchenoglanis Occidentalis And Mormyrus Rume In River Niger Axis, Onitsha, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

Food and feeding habits of fishes are feared to be affected by seasons, therefore the aim of this study is to ensure fish food security at all seasons. Objectives of this research is to determine stomach content of studied fish species. In the method fish samples were collected from sampling sites from March 2022 to November 2023, fortnightly, for 18 months. Fish samples were collected between 9.00- 11.00 am from artisanal fishermen operating along Onitsha (marine), Ogbaru and Nsugbe locations. Analysis was done in the Biological Science Laboratories of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli. A total of 201 Oreochromis niloticus, 92 Auchenoglanis occidentalis and 168 Mormyrus rume were collected, dissected for examination and identification of the food contents using naked eyes, hand lens (magnifer), binocular microscope, identification keys and taxonomic work by Idodo (2002) and Haruna (2014). SPSS version 25 and Microsoft Excel sheet were used to analyze and managed data. In the result, fish stomach food items were significantly related to the seasons (p<0.05). In conclusion, fish food was higher in wet season than in dry season. This study has contributed to the knowledge by identifying the season fish eat less and may need help to achieve a bumper harvest.

Keywords: Oreochromis niloticus, Auchenoglanis occidentalis, Mormyrus rume, fish food security, fish species.