Length-Weight relationship and condition factor for 22 freshwater fish species from Solomougou Dam Lake (Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire)

Abstract

Fishery biologists use models that incorporate allometric growth coefficient of Length-Weight relationship. Also, Fulton's condition factor gives information about overweight’s status of fish in their habitat. These parameters have been studied for 22 fish species from Solomougou Dam Lake. Samplings were conducted from October 2018 to September 2019. Standard length (cm) and weight (g) have been recorded in situ on each specimen from commercial catches. The equation W=aLsb was used. Allometric growth coefficients b and theoretical value 3 were compared using Student's t-test. The equation K=W.100/Lsb allowed calculating Fulton's condition factor. Results indicated that allometric growth coefficients b obtained varied between 2.104 and 3.046. Six species out of the twenty-two ones studied showed isometric growth: Brycinus imberi, Clarias gariepinus, Hemichromis fasciatus, Labeo coubie, Labeo parvus and Marcusenius furcidens. However, Only Heterobronchus longifilis had positive allometric growth. At the opposite, all the others species showed negative allometric growth: Chrysichthys maurus, Chrisychthys nigrodigitatus, Chromidotilapia guntheri, Heterotis niloticus, Marcusenius ussheri, Mormyrus rume, Oreochromis niloticus, Petrocephalus bovei, Sarotherodon galilaeus, Sarotherodon melanotheron, Schilbe intermedius, Synodontis schall, Tilapia guineensis, Tilapia mariae and Tilapia zillii. Fulton's condition factors ranged from 0.884±0.085 to 8.968±1.818. These values, higher than 2.9 for 59.09% of the species, indicate a good adaptation of the majority of them in this Lake.