Diets and Trophic Niches of an Amphibious Fish from Jaja Creek South Eastern, Nigeria

Nsikak Okon Abiaobo; IdopiseAbasi Ekpe Asuquo; Ifeanyi Ntasiobi Ejiogu; Ukeme Joshua Umoren

doi:7040369

The mudskipper, P. barbarus is a residential fish inhabiting the mudflats of the Niger Delta estuaries, and is economically viable as well as actively harvested by the local inhabitants of this area to whom it serves as a special delicacy. Its usage as bait to catch bigger fishes and application in traditional medicinal purposes due to its aphrodisiac values necessitated a research on aspects of its ecology for possible aquaculture exploitation. The study was carried out in Jaja creek Nigeria, West Africa. Monthly samples of the mudskipper were caught bi-monthly between June - November, 2019 with non-return valve basket traps set up for diurnal collection from mudflats of the mangrove swamp. They were preserved immediately in 10% formalin solution prior to laboratory procedure. A total of 600 mudskippers were analyzed. Each fish was dissected and the gut removed and preserved in 4% formalin solution. The gut of each fish was slit open with a scissor and the gut contents poured into a Petri dish, smeared with a few drops of water and the food items were identified macroscopically and microscopically to the nearest taxon. Analysis was carried out using numerical and frequency of occurrence methods respectively. The number of stomachs in which each food items occurred was sorted out and expressed as percentage of the total number of fish stomachs with food examined. The number of individual of each food item was counted and summed up to give the total of each food item, then the grand total of all items was calculated and expressed as percentage of the overall items found in each stomach. Feeding intensity was determined using Gut repletion index (GRI) and was calculated by dividing the number of non-empty guts by the total number of guts examined multiplied by 100. The gut contents revealed that the mudskipper fed on plants, animals and non-living matter as eight (8) major dietary compositions were identified. The dietaries were grouped into plant material (plants), crayfish, periwinkle, insect parts, snail and fish remains (animals), detritus and sand grains (non-living matter). Detritus was determined as the highest item ingested by the fish and plant materials were the lowest item ingested. 197 specimens recorded empty gut giving a gut repletion index (% GRI) of 67.17. Findings suggest that the wide variety of items occurring in the stomach of this fish species show that it is non-selective in feeding and is capable of utilizing many sources of food; and thus could be described as euryphagous.

[1]

Aarnio, K, and Bonsdor, E. (2002). Seasonal variation in abundance and diet of the sand goby Pomatoschistus minutus (Pallas) in a northern Baliic Archipelagn Ophelia. 37 (1): 19-30.

[2]

Atobatele, O. E. and Ugwumba, O. A. (2011). Condition factor and diet of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus and Chrysichthys auratus (Siluriformes: Bagridae) from Aiba Reservoir, Iwo, Nigeria. Revista de Biología Tropical, 59 (3): 1233-1244.

[3]

Atobatele, O. E. (2013). Growth pattern and morphometric discrimination of two congeneric species of Chrysichthys, Chrysicthys nigrodigitatus and C. auratus (siluriformes, Bagridae), from a small tropical reservoir; Pan-American Journal of Aquatic Sciences, 8 (1): 62–67.

[4]

Blaber, S. J. M. (2000). Tropical Estuaries Fishes Ecology, Exploitation and conservation. Oxford: Blackwell Science Ltd.

[5]

Brush, J. M., Fisk, A. T., Hussey, N. E., Johnson, T. B. (2012). Spatial and seasonal variability in the diet of round goby (Neogobius melanostomus): stable isotopes indicate that stomach contents overestimate the importance of dreissenids. Can. J. Fish Aquat. Sci., 69 (3): 573-586.

[6]

Bowen, S. H. (1983) Quantitative description of the diet. In: Nielsen LA, Johnson DL, (Eds). Fisheries Techniques. Maryland: American Fisheries Society.

[7]

Carman, S. M., Janssen, J., Jude, D. J., Berg, M. B. (2006). Diel interactions between prey behavior and feeding in an invasive fish, the round goby, in a North American river. Freshw Biol. 51 (4): 742-755.

[8]

Crisp, D. T, Mann, R. H. K., and McCormack, J. C. (1978). The effects of impoundment and regulation upon the stomach contents of fish at Sow Green, Upper Teesdale Lake. Journal of fish Biology, 12: 287-301.

[9]

Dinh Q. M., Qin, J. G., Dittmann, S., and Tran, D. D. (2017). Seasonal variation of food and feeding in burrowing goby Parapocryptes serperaster (Gobiidae) at different body sizes. Icjthyol Res. 64 (2): 179-189.

[10]

Edema, S. A. (2000). Brackish water fishery biology 4^th edition. Bulletin of Fisheries Research Board of Canada (19) 382pp.

[11]

Ekpo I. E, Essien-Ibok M. A, Nkwoji J. N. (2014) Food and feeding habits and condition factor of species in Qua Iboe River Estuary, Akwa Ibom southeastern Nigeria. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies, 2 (2) 38-46.

[12]

Ekpo, F. E and Ukpong, E. J. (2014). Assessment of heavy metals concentration in water, sediment and some common sea foods, Callinectes amnicola and Tympanotonus fuscatus (crabs and periwinkles) from Uta Ewa Creek of Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

[13]

Emmanuel. O. L, and E. T. Ajibola (2010). Food and feeding habits are production infrillfin goby Bathygobius soporator (Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1837) in the Badagry Creek, Lagos, Nigeria. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation Vol 2 (12) 414-421.

[14]

Etim, L., King, R. P. and Udo, M. T. (2002). Breeding, Growth, Mortality and Yield of the Mudskipper, Periophthalmus barbarus (Linneaus 1766) (Teleostei; Gobiidae) in the Imo River Estuary, Nigeria. Fisheries Research, 56 (3): 227-238.

[15]

Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) (2008). Field guide to commercial marine Resources of the Gulf of Guinea, FAO/UN, Rome, Italy. 265pp.

[16]

Fagade, S. O. and Olaniyan, C. I. O. (1973). The Food and Feeding Interrelationships of the fishes in Lagos Lagoons, Nigeria. Journal of Fish Biology, 5, 205-225.

[17]

Fagbenro, O., Adedire, C. O., Ayotunde, E. O., and Faminu, E. O., (2001) Haematological profile, food composition and digestive enzyme essay in the gut of the African bony tongue, Heterotis (clupisudis) niloticus (Cuvier 1829) (Osteoglossidae). Trop., 13: 1-9.

[18]

Gordon, J. R. D. (2000). Life-Style and phenology in deep-sea. Anacanthine Teleosts. In: Fish phenology; anabolic adaptiveness in teleosts. Academic Press London. 449p.

[19]

Graham, J. B. (2001). Air-breathing Fishes. Evolution, diversity and Adaptation. Academic press. San Diego.

[20]

Harris, V. A. (1960). On the Locomotion of the Mudskipper Periophthalamus koelreuteri (Pallas): (Gobiidae). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 134, 107-135.

[21]

Harry, S. L. I. (1981). Food and Feeding Habits of the (mudskipper) Periophthalmus koereuteri (Pisces: Gobiidae) B.Sc. (Zoology) Thesis. University Of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt.

[22]

Haruna, M. A. (2006). Length-weight relationship of four fish species Chichlidar from Magaga lake, Kano, Nigeria. REST Journal, 3 (3): 109-111.

[23]

Hora, S. L. (2002). Ecology and bionomics of the gobioid fishes of the Gangetic delta. Int. Congr. Zool., 12: 840-865.

[24]

Houchanou, M. A. G., Gbagudi, A. A. and Youssouf, A., (2017). Trophic Ecology and Establishment of the silver catfish, chrysicthys nigrodigitatus (pisces; siluriformes; claroteidae) introduced in an artificial pone of Benin, West Africa. Journal of Fisheries, 2: 261-271.

[25]

Hyslop, E. J. (1980). Stomach contents Analysis. A Review of Methods and their Application. Journal of Fish Biology, 17, 411-429.

[26]

Ip YK, low WP; Lim All, Low SF. (2001) Changes in lactate content in the gill of the mudskippers, Periophthalmus chrysospilos and Boleophthalmus boddaerti in response to environmental hypoxia. J. Fish Bio 1; 36: 481-487.

[27]

Irvine, F. R. (1947). The Fishes and Fisheries of Gold Coast. London: Crown Agent: 352 pp.

[28]

Idodo–Umeh, G. (2002). Pollutant Assessments of Olomoro water bodies using physical, chemical, and biological indices. Ph.D thesis, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. P. 485.

[29]

Jaafar, Z., Lim, K. K. P. and Chou, L. M. (2006). Taxonomical and Morphological Notes on. Two Species of Mudskippers, Scwosseri (Teleostei: Gobildae) from Singapore. Zoological Science, 23 (11): 1043-1047.

[30]

Khoo, S. (2000). Some data on the biology of Periophthalmus papio, Itchyology, 17 (4) p 548-556.

[31]

Kyle, H. M (2003). The biology of fish London: Sidgwick and Jackson, Ltd.

[32]

Lawal, M. O. O. J Sangoleye and B. M Seriki, (2010). Morphometry and diet of chrysicthys nigrodigitatus (Lacepede) in Epe Lagoon, Nigeria. Afri. Biotechnol., 9: 7955-7960.

[33]

Lawson, E. O. (2010a). Maturation and histological Characteristics of Ovaries in Mudskipper, Periohhthalmus papilio from Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria. Journal of American Science, 6 (11): 965-976.

[34]

Lawson, E. O. (2011b). Length-Weight Relationships and Fecundity Estimates in Mudskipper, Periophthalmus papilio (Bloch and Schneider 1801) caught from Mangrove Swamps of Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria. Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, 6: 264-271.

[35]

Macnae, W. (2002). Mudskipper. Afr. Wildlife, 22: 240-248.

[36]

Mkpanam, N. B. (1989). Some Aspect of Reproductive Biology and Feeding Habit of Periophthalmus papilio (Pisces: Periophthalmidae) of Cross River Estuary, Nigeria, B.Sc. (Zoology). Thesis University of Cross River State, Uyo. 46p.

[37]

Murdy, E. O. (2009). A Taxonmic Revision and Cladistic Analysis of the Oxudercine gobies (Gobiidae: Oxudercinae). Records of Austrialian Museum, Supplementary, 11, 1-93.

[38]

Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) (2004). Biodiversity of the Niger Delta environment Niger Delta Development Commission master plan project final report. Niger Delta Development Commission, pp 123-237.

[39]

Niger Delta Environmental Survey (NDES) (2000). Ecological Zonation and habitat classification. 2^nd phase Report, Niger Delta Environmental Survey, 1, 1-66.

[40]

Offem, B. O. Akegbejo-Samsons, Y., Omoniyi I. T, (2008). Diet, size and reproductive biology of the silver catfish, Chrysicthys nigrodigitatus (Siluriformes: Bagridae in the Cross River, Nigeria. Rev. Biol. Trop., 56: 1785-1799).

[41]

Offem, B. O., Samsons, Y. A., Omoniyi, I. T. (2009). Trophic ecology of commercial important fishes in the Cross River, Nigeria. The Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 19 (1): 37 44.

[42]

Oronsaye, C. G. and Nakpodia, F. A, (2005). A Comparative Study of the Food and Feeding Habit of Chrysicthys nigrodigitatus and Brycinus nurse in a tropical river. Pakistan J. Sci. Indust. Res., 48: 118-121.

[43]

Polunin, I. (2002). Who says fish can’t climb trees: Natn. Geogr.mag. 141: 85-91.

[44]

Sase, H. A., Chong, V. C., Lim, K. H. and Singh, H. R. (1994). The fish community of matang mangrove, waters, Malaysia In: Sudare S, Wilkinsoni, C. R., Chou, L. M. (eds) proceedings of the third ASEAN: Australia symposium on living Coastal resources. Research papers, 1012, 457-464.

[45]

Shep H, Konan, K. M., Outtarra, M., Ouattara, A., and Gourene, G. (2013). Comparative analysis of diet of two Sympatric Species of Tilapia in Ayame man-made lake. Livestock Res Rur Devt.; 25 (9: 305 -312).

[46]

Stebbins R. and Kalk M. (2001). Observation of the Natural history of the Mudskipper, Periopthalmus sobrinus. In: Life at the the Sea’s frontiers (R. Derby ed.0 (m). London: Taphingor Publishing Co. Inc. 18-27.

[47]

Swanson, B. O. Gibb, A. C. (2004). “Kinermatics of aquatic and terrestrial escape Responses in mudskippers.” The journal of Experimental Biology 2007. 23: 4037-4044.

[48]

Tytler, P. and Vaughan, T. (1983). Thermal Ecology of the Mudskipper, periophthalmus Koelreuteri (Pallas) and Boleophthalmus bordearti of Kuwait Bay. J. Fish Biol. 23: 327-337.

[49]

Udo, M. T. (2004). Trophic, Reproductive and Growth Biology of the Gobiids (Periophthalmus barbrus Linneaus, 1766 and Parogobius schlegelii gunther, 1861) and the eleotrid (Bostrychus africanus steindachner, 1880) in the Qua Iboe Estuary, Nigeria. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Uyo, Nigeria, 410 pp.

[50]

Udo, M. T., Akpan, A. W. and Larson, H. (2008). Ontogenetic Shift in the Diets and Foraging Behaviour of the Schlegel Goy, Porogobius Schlegelii (Gobiidae) in the Qua Iboe Estuary, South Eastern Nigeria. Journal of Aquatic Sciences 23 (1): 77-86.

[51]

Warren, W. G. (1993). Changes in the within-Survey spatial temporal structure of the northern cod (Gadus morhua) population, 1985-1993. Can. J. Fish Aquat. Sci., 54 (1): 139-148.

[52]

Welcome, R. L. (1985). River fisheries. FAO fish tech. paper 262. FAO, Rome.

[53]

Yem, I. Y., Bankole, N. O., Ogunfowora, O. and Ibrahim, B. (2009). Food habits of the catfish Chrysicthys nigrodigitatus (Geoffrey saint Hilaire, 1808) in Kainji Lake, Nigeria. Nat. Sci, 7: 17-22.