Some aspects of the reproductive biology of Labeo victorianus (Boulenger, 1901) from Kuja-Migori River basin, Kenya

  • Elijah Kembenya Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Pap Onditi, Kenya
  • Albert Getabu School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kisii University, Kisii, Kenya
  • James Njiru Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa, Kenya
  • Reuben Omondi School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kisii University, Kisii, Kenya
Keywords: Endangered, endemic, fecundity, GSI, LM50, Labeo victorianus, Lake Victoria, LWR, potamodromous

Abstract

Labeo victorianus is an endemic species to Lake Victoria basin and also a species threatened with extinction status. This study investigated reproductive biology of L. victorianus from Kuja- Migori River basin, Kenya with a view to determining the length weight relationship (LWR), condition factor, fecundity, egg diameter gonado-somatic index (GSI), length at 50% maturity (LM50) and sex ratio. Sampling was done by electrofishing from January 2018 to June 2019. The LWR showed a negative allometric pattern (p < 0.05). The mean condition factor for combined sexes was 1.02. Fecundity ranged from 47842 – 101902 eggs (mean ± SD: 83663 ± 2605 eggs) and correlated highly with body size (r2 = 0.9137). Egg diameter ranged from 0.5 – 0.7 mm. Mean GSI was 6.3 ± 1.6 and 2.8 ± 0.45 for females and males respectively. The LM50 was estimated at 18 cm total length (TL) and 20 cm TL for males and females respectively. Sex ratio did not differ from the expected 1:1. This species has a high fecundity with small sized eggs and males attain sexual maturity earlier than females. The findings of this study provide useful information towards sustainable conservation of L. victorianus in the Lake Victoria basin.

References

Abdul WO, Omoniyi IT, Adekoya EO, Adeosun FI, Odulate OO, ... Olowe OS (2016) Length-weight relationship and condition factor of some commercial fish species in Ogun State Coastal Estuary, Nigeria. Ife Journal of Agriculture 28(1): 1–9.

Abobi SM (2015) Weight-length models and relative condition factors of nine (9) freshwater fish species from the Yapei stretch of the White Volta, Ghana. Elixir Applied Zoology 79: 30427–30431.

Anteneh W, Getahun A, Dejen E, Sibbing FA, Nagelkerke LA, ... Palstra AP (2012) Spawning migrations of the endemic Labeo barbus (Cyprinidae, Teleostei) species of Lake Tana, Ethiopia: status and threats. Journal of Fish Biology 81: 750–765.

Bagenal TB, Tesch FW (1978) Methods for assessment of fish production in freshwaters. I.B.P. Handbook No. 33. Oxford Blackwell Publications, UK. 365 pp.

Dadebo E, Ahlgren E, Ahlgren I (2003) Aspects of reproductive biology of Labeo horie Heckel (Pisces: Cyprinidae) in Lake Chamo Ethiopia. African Journal of Ecology 41: 31–38.

Froese R (2006) Cube law, condition factor and weight–length relationships: history, meta-analysis and recommendations. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 22: 241–253.

Froese R, Pauly D (2021) Labeo victorianus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved on 28 June 2021.

Froese RJ, Thorson RB, Reyes J (2014) A Bayesian approach for estimating length-weight relationships in fishes. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 30(1): 78–84.

Ganias K, Murua H, Claramunt G, Dominguez-Petit R, Gonçalves P, Juanes F, ... Yoneda M (2014) Chapter 4: Egg production (109 pp.). In: Domínguez-Petit R, Murua H, Saborido-Rey F, Trippel E (Eds) Handbook of applied fisheries reproductive biology for stock assessment and management. Vigo, Spain.

Greboval D, Mannini P (1992) The fisheries of Lake Victoria: review of basic data. UNDP/FAO Regional Project. Inland Fisheries Planning. FAO, Rome.

Kembenya EM, Marcial HS, Outa NO, Sakakura Y, Hagiwara A (2016) Captive breeding of threatened African carp, Labeo victorianus, of Lake Victoria. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 48(6): 955–962.

Kibaara D (1981) Endangered fish species of Kenya’s inland waters with emphasis on Labeo spp. Aquatic resources of Kenya. Year-end Report. Kenya Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa, Kenya. pp. 13–19.

King M (1995) Fisheries biology, assessment and management. Fishing News Books, Blackwell Science Ltd, Oxford, UK.

Kizza M, Rodhe A, Xu C, Ntale HK, Halldin S (2009) Temporal rainfall variability in the Lake Victoria basin in East Africa during the twentieth century. Theoretical and Applied Climatology 98: 119–135.

Le cren ED (1951) The length-weight relationship and seasonal cycle in gonad weight and condition in the perch Perca fluviatilis. Journal of Animal Ecology 20(2): 201–219.

Lederoun D, Vandewalle D, Lalèyè PA (2020) Reproductive biology of the African lungfish Protopterus annectens annectens (Owen, 1839) in the Mono River basin of Benin, West Africa. Journal of fisheries and Environment 44(3): 19–31.

Manal MS, Rasha AH, Magdy EA, Mohammed I (2017) Sexual maturity, spawning activity, sex ratio and fecundity of two Mullidae species dwelling the Gulf of Suez, Red Sea. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research 43: 83–91.

Masese FO, Achieng AO, Raburu PO, Lawrence T, Ives JT, ... Kaunda-Arara B (2020) Distribution patterns and diversity of riverine fishes of the Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya. International Review of Hydrobiology 105: 171–184.

Maskill PA, Miller IR, Halvorson LJ, Treanor HB, Fraser CW, Webb MAH (2017) Role of sex ratio and density on fertilization success of intensively cultured endangered woundfin. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 8(1): 249–254

Miranda R, Galicia, D, Monks, S, Pulido-Flores G (2009) Weight-length relationships of some native freshwater fishes of Hidalgo State, Mexico. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 25: 620–621.

Mishra S, Saksena DN (2012) Gonadosomatic index and fecundity of an Indian major carp Labeo calbasu in Gohad Reservoir. The Bioscan 7(1): 43–46.

Mohammad A, Pathak JK (2011) Assessment of fecundity and gonadosomatic index of commercially important fish, Labeo Rohita from Ramganga River. International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences 1(3): 1–11.

Moradinasab GH, Daliri M, Ghorbani R, Paighambari SY, Davoodi R (2012) Length-weight and length-length relationships, relative condition factor and Fulton’s condition factor of five cyprinid species in Anzali wetland, southwest of the Caspian Sea. Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences 10(1): 25–31.

Murua H, Kraus G, Saborido FR, Witthames PR, Thorsen A, Junquera S (2003) Procedures to estimate fecundity of marine fish species in relation to their reproductive strategy. Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fish Science 33: 33–54.

Nazek J, Ghassan Y, Carol S, Mohammad HE (2018) Length-weight relationships and relative condition factor of fish inhabiting the marine area of the Eastern Mediterranean city, Tripoli-Lebanon. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research 44: 299–305.

Njiru M, Waithaka E, Muchiri M, Knaap VM, Cowx IG (2005) Exotic introductions to the fishery of Lake Victoria: what are the management options? Lakes & Reservoirs: Research and Management 10: 147–155.

Ochumba PBO, Manyala JO (1992) Distribution of fishes along the Sondu-Miriu River of Lake Victoria, Kenya with special reference to upstream migration, biology and yield. Aquaculture Research 23: 701–719.

Ogamba EN, Abowei JFN, Onugu A (2014) Length-weight relationship and condition factor of selected finfish species from Odi River, Niger Delta, Nigeria. Journal of Aquatic Science 29: 1–12.

Ogutu-Ohwayo R (1990) The reduction in fish species diversity in Lake Victoria and Kyoga (East Africa) following human exploitation and introduction of nonnative fishes. Journal of Fish Biology 37: 207–208.

Ojutiku RO, Kolo, R, Ogunseye J (2012) A fecundity and length-weight relationship of two commercially important fish species in Minna, Niger State. Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences (9)2: 229–235.

Orina PS, Rasowo J, Gichana E, Maranga B, Karisa HC (2014) Artificial breeding protocol and optimal breeding environment for Labeo victorianus (Boulenger, 1901). International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 1(6): 138–143.

Rahman MA, Yusoff FM, Arshad A, Amin SMN, Shamsudin MN (2013) Population characteristics and fecundity estimates of short-spined white sea urchin, Salmacis sphaeroides (Linnaeus, 1758) from the coastal waters of Johor, Malaysia. Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 8: 301–308.

Rutaisire J, Booth A (2005) Reproductive biology of ningu, Labeo victorianus (Pisces: Cyprinidae), in the Kagera and Sio Rivers, Uganda. Environmental Biology of Fishes 73: 153–162.

Rutaisire J, Booth AJ (2004) Induced ovulation, spawning, egg incubation, and hatching of the cyprinid fish Labeo victorianus in captivity. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 35(3): 383–391.

Sarkar UK, Khan GE, Dabas A, Pathak AK, Mir JI, ... Singh SP (2006) Length - weight relationship and condition factor of selected freshwater species found in river Ganga, Gomti and Rapti India. Journal of Environmental Biology 34: 951–956.

Shoko AP, Limbu SM, Mrosso HDJ, Mgaya YD (2015) Reproductive biology of female Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus) reared in monoculture and polyculture with African sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell). SpringerPlus 4: 275.

Sindhe VR, Kulkarni RS (2004) Gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices of freshwater fish Notopterus notopterus (Pallas) in response to some heavy metal exposure. Journal of Environmental Biology 25(3): 365–368.

Weir LK (2013) Male–male competition and alternative male mating tactics influence female behavior and fertility in Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 67: 193–203.

Weyl OLF, Booth AJ (1999) On the life-history of a cyprinid fish, Labeo cylindricus. Environmental Biology of Fishes 55: 215–225.

Yelden K, Avsar, SR (2000) Fecundities of some freshwater eel. Journal of Zoology 10: 60–67.

Yongo E, Olukoye J, Makame A, Chebon B (2019) Changes in some biological parameters of the silver cyprinid, Rastrineobola argentea (Pellegrin, 1904) in the Nyanza Gulf of Lake Victoria, Kenya. Lakes & Reservoirs 24(3): 255–258.

Published
2022-03-19
How to Cite
Kembenya, E., Getabu, A., Njiru, J., & Omondi, R. (2022). Some aspects of the reproductive biology of Labeo victorianus (Boulenger, 1901) from Kuja-Migori River basin, Kenya. Journal of Fisheries, 10(1), 101205. https://doi.org/10.17017/j.fish.345