Advances in Aquaculture and Fisheries Management

Advances in Aquaculture and Fisheries Management ISSN: 9424-2933 Vol. 6 (11), pp. 001-006, November, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Food and feeding habits of the African river prawn (Macrobrachium vollenhovenii, Herklots, 1857) in Epe Lagoon, southwest Nigeria

Abayomi A. Jimoh*, Edwin O. Clarke, Olusegun O. Whenu and Haleemah B. Adeoye

Department of Fishery, Lagos State University, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Accepted 23 July, 2018

Abstract

The study investigated the stomach contents of Macrobrachium vollenhovenii from the commercial artisanal catches in Epe Lagoon in Lagos, southwest Nigeria from July to October 2008 and April to May 2009. The stomach analysis was carried out using frequency of occurrence and numeric methods. It was observed that the prawn fed on a variety of plankton species, which included chlorophyta, euglenophyta, xantophyta, chrysophyta, cladocera, copepoda, protozoa, dinoflagellate, diatoms, insect parts and unidentified food items, with chlorophyta and diatoms forming the most important food items. Chlorophyta constituted 32.00% by number and 83.62% by occurrence, diatoms constituted 31.55% by number and 65.09% by occurrence. Amongst the chlorophyta, Cosmarium granatum was the most preferred, constituting 7.93% by number and 17.67% by occurrence, followed by Ankistrodemus falcatus with 7.57% by number and 16.38% by occurrence, respectively. The least eaten food item was insect parts. The results indicated that M. vollenhovenii can be considered as an omnivorous detritivore.

Key words: Feeding habits, Macrobrachium vollenhovenii, Epe Lagoon.