Skip to main content

The influence of flood regime on fish catch and fish communities of the Cross River floodplain ecosystem, Nigeria

Environmental Biology of Fishes volume 18, pages 51–65 (1987)Cite this article

Synopsis

The morphology, climate and flood regime of the Cross River floodplain are summarized and related to the catch, species distribution and abundance of the economically important fishes of the floodplain ecosystem. Two flood indices, FI-1 and FI-2, are used to assess, statistically. the relationship between fish catch and flood regime. There are good positive correlations between the catch (CT) of year T and the flood index 1 of 1 year T-1 and between (CT) and the sum of the flood indices 1 and 2 of year T-1 (r = 0.6516 and 0.6894, respectively, both at P = 0.05). Cross River is a relatively highly productive system (in terms of fish catch) and this productivity is attributable mainly to the yearly flooding of the plain when fish find allochthonous food materials in the expanded habitat. Changes in hydrometeorological conditions, such as the drought that affected the northern part of the Cross River basin in 1983–1984. if they persist can effectively reduce fish catch from the system.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References cited

  • Awachie, J.B.E. & L. Hare. 1978. The fisheries of Anambra, Ogun and Oshun river systems in Southern Nigeria. pp 170–184.In: Symposium on River and Floodplain Fisheries in Africa, CIFA Tech. Pap. 5. 378 pp.

  • Beadle, L.C. 1981. The inland waters of tropical Africa. Longman, London. 475 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, R.C. 1967. Statistics for biologists. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 242 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daget, J. & A. Iltis. 1965. Poissons de Cte d'Ivoire. Mem. I.F.A.N. 74: 1–385.

    Google Scholar 

  • ENPLAN (Consultant Engineers) 1974. Cross River basin prefeasibility report. Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Lagos (Nigerian Federal Government publication).

  • Erborge, A.B.M. 1972. The physical hydrology of the river Oshun, Nigeria. Arch. Hydrobiol. 70 72–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Etcheri I.E. & P.E. Lebo. 1983. A synopsis of traditional gear in use in artisanal fisheries along the upper part of the Cross River. pp. 159–170.In: Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Conference of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), Kainji Lake Research Institute, New Bussa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerking, S.D. 1977. Freshwater fish — a global food potential. Ambio 6: 39–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halyk, L.C. & E.K. Balon. 1983. Structure and ecological production of the fish taxocene of a small floodplain system. Can. J. Zool. 61: 2446–2464.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamley, J.M. 1980. Sampling with gillnet. pp. 37–53.In: Guidelines for Sampling Fish in Inland Waters, EIFAC Tech. Paper 33: 00–00.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, H.F. & R.L. Welcomme. 1974. The relationship of yield to morpho-edaphic index and numbers of fishermen in African inland fisheries. CIFA Occas. Pap. 1: 1–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden, J.M. & J. Green. 1960. The hydrology and plankton of the river Sokoto. J. Anim. Ecol. 29: 65–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden, M.J. & J. Green. 1963. The population of fish in dry season pools of the river Sokoto. Fisheries publication of the Colonial Office, London 19: 1–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johanson, K. 1974. Air breathing fishes. pp. 138–147.In: Vertebrate Structure and Functions — Readings from Scientific American, Freeman and Company, San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowe-McConnell, R.H. 1975. Fish communities in tropical freshwaters. Longman, London. 337 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moses, B.S. 1979. The Cross River, its ecology and fisheries. pp. 355–371.In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Kainji Lake and River Basins Development in Africa, Kainji Lake Research Institute, New Bussa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryder, R.A. 1965. A method of estimating the potential of fish production in north temperate lakes. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 94: 214–258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rzoska, J. 1974. The Upper Nile swamp: a tropical wetland study. Freshwat. Biol. 4: 1–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, J.D. & E.K. Balon. 1984a. Ecomorphological analysis of fish taxocenes of rainforest streams of northern Borneo. J. Fish Biol. 25: 371–384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, J.D. & E.K. Balon. 1984b. Structure and production of fish communities in tropical rainforest streams of northern Borneo. Can. J. Zool. 62: 927–940.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welcomme, R.L. 1975. The fisheries ecology of African flood-plains. CIPA Tech. Pap. 3: 1–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welcomme, R.L. 1976. Some general and theoretical considerations on fish yield of African rivers. J. Fish Biol. 8: 351–364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welcomme, R.L. & H.F. Henderson. 1976. Aspects of the management of inland waters for fisheries. FAO Fish. Tech. Pap. 161: 1–36.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology and Fisheries, University of Cross River State, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo, Nigeria

    Boniface S. Moses

Authors
  1. Boniface S. Moses
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moses, B.S. The influence of flood regime on fish catch and fish communities of the Cross River floodplain ecosystem, Nigeria. Environ Biol Fish 18, 51–65 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002327

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002327

Keywords

  • River morphology
  • Hydrometeorological factors
  • Flood index
  • Species distribution
  • Artisanal fisheries
  • Drought