Open AccessBreeding pattern of Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) versus native congeneric species, Oreochromis macrochir (Boulinger, 1912), in the upper Kabompo River, northwest of Zambia
Author(s) -
Jere Arthertone,
Jere Wilson W. L.,
Mtethiwa Austin,
Kassam Daud
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.8377
Subject(s) - oreochromis , gonadosomatic index , spawn (biology) , biology , fishery , sex ratio , reproductive biology , population , reproduction , veterinary medicine , ecology , fecundity , fish <actinopterygii> , demography , sociology , embryogenesis , medicine , embryo
Investigating the determinants of the reproductive biology of fishes is an essential component of fisheries research. Tilapia breeding patterns were investigated to determine the impact of non‐native Oreochromis niloticus on the native congeneric Oreochromis macrochir in the upper Kabompo River in the Northwest of Zambia using the gonadosomatic index and the sex ratios. Oreochromis niloticus was the most abundant fish caught (221, 63.5%) than O . macrochir (127, 36.5%). Results showed that the overall gonadosomatic index means of O . macrochir in both sections were similar. Oreochromis macrochir bred in December and February–March, with no reproduction in June. However, O . niloticus in the invaded section indicated all year reproduction through reduced spawning in May–June, with increased spawning activity in February–March. The sex ratio (females: males) was 1:1.3 and 1:1.7 for O . niloticus and O . macrochir , respectively, and both significantly deviated from the sex ratio of 1:1 ( 2 = 8.42 and 9.37, p < .05). Our study has revealed that O . niloticus was able to spawn across all sampled months with a 23% higher breeding population than O . macrochir , which might explain the suppression in the abundance of native O . macrochir . Due to the superior breeding patterns of O . niloticus , fisheries, wildlife, and aquaculture practitioners need to make contingency plans to alleviate its impacts further downstream of the Kabompo River.