The relative abundance and feeding habits of the grey mullet species occurring in an Estuary in Sierra Leone, West Africa

Abstract

The occurrence and relative frequency of the 5 grey mullet species found in the Black Johnson Estuary, Sierra Leone, have been observed by sampling throughout the year. Examination of stomach contents and scales has also been made. Salinity within the estuary is maximum during the dry season and minimum at the height of the rains. The organic content of the sediment reaches a peak towards the end of the rains, but is low both at the end of the dry season and during the rains. Mullet tend to be most abundant as the rains are finishing and at the beginning of the dry season when the salinity is rising and the organic matter in the sediment is maximum. The mullet encountered in the estuary were Liza falcipinnis (Cuvier and Valenciennes), L. dumerilii hoefleri (Steindachner), Mugil cephalus ashanteensis Bleeker, M. curema Cuvier and Valenciennes and L. grandisquamis (Cuvier and Valenciennes). L. falcipinnis and L. dumerilii hoefleri penetrated furthest up the estuary and have been caught in freshwater some distance up rivers. All species feed principally on the detritus and algae in the estuarine sediment. There is some seasonal variation in the composition of the diet. Comparative data on the organic content of the estuarine sediment and the sand in the stomach of the mullet are given. A field experiment with L. falcipinnis suggests an assimilation efficiency of 52% for this species. Well-marked rings have been found upon the scales of four species, and their possible significance and use are discussed.