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Species diversity and catch per unit effort of fish in a perturbed tropical lake,
Ibadan, Nigeria

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DOI: 10.20935/AcadBiol6164

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Research Article
Published: 2024-02-20
https://doi.org/10.20935/AcadBiol6164

Species diversity and catch per unit effort of fish in a

perturbed tropical lake, Ibadan, Nigeria
Adedolapo A. Ayoade1,*, Omotolani M. Owolabi1, Omolayo T. Patience1, Oluwatobi R. Adeduntan1, Praise Kujooro1
Academic Editor(s): César Marcial Escobedo Bonilla, Eric Lewallen

Abstract
Eleyele Lake serves the purpose of domestic water supply, transportation, and fisheries; therefore, it is a source of food and livelihood
to the artisanal fishers in Ibadan. However, various reports indicated the perturbed state of the lake, which can have adverse effects on
the ecosystem services including fisheries. Therefore, this study investigated the catch per unit effort (CPUE) of fish in the Eleyele Lake
and some physicochemical parameters in order to establish the status of the fisheries of the lake. Water samples were collected from
the lake and analyzed. The fish catches, effective fishing effort (EFF), and CPUE of the lake were determined. The dissolved oxygen and
transparency levels were not within the recommended permissible limits. Fish encountered in the lake during the study period belong
to nine families and fifteen species. Cichlidae, Polypteridae, and Clariidae were the most frequently encountered families. Shannon-
Weiner (2.23), Margalef (2.14) diversity indices, and Evenness (0.87) were highest during the sampling period in 2019. The EFF was
0.37 kW day−1. The mean CPUE increased from 9.55 ± 1.67 kg·kW day−1 in 2019 to 38.07 ± 30.89 kg·kW day−1 in 2021 and declined to
6.44 ± 3.02 kg·kW day−1 in 2023. The forage /carnivore ratio was 0.70 in 2019, 0.35 in 2021, and 54 in 2023 by number indicating an
imbalance in the fish population. This study implies that effective management and sustainable exploitation of the fisheries in the
Eleyele Lake require improvement of water quality and enforcement of a closed season.

Keywords: Eleyele Lake, catch, effort, physicochemical parameters, fish diversity

Citation: Ayoade AA, Owolabi OM, Patience OT, Adeduntan OR, Kujooro P. Species diversity and catch per unit effort of fish in a
perturbed tropical lake, Ibadan, Nigeria. Academia Biology 2024;2. https://doi.org/10.20935/AcadBiol6164

1. Introduction
Inland fish and fisheries provide food and source of livelihood for Globally, fish and Other Aquatic Food (OAF) consumption has
millions of people globally. They are essential to the achievement increased to 20.2 kg per capita in 2020, which is more than
of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDGs 1 double the consumption rate 50 years ago [4]. Variations in
(No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 12 consumption occur between continents, highest in Asia (24.5 kg
(Responsible Consumption and Production), and 15 (Life on Land) per capita) and least in Africa (10.1 kg per capita) [4]. In Africa,
[1]. Inland fishes comprise approximately 40% of all fish species fish and OAF consumption habits differ: eleven countries,
and 20% of all vertebrate species [2]. It is estimated that the annual including Ghana, Egypt, and Sierra Leone, had a higher con-
production of fisheries from inland waters contributed 12% of the sumption than the world average [9]. The remaining African
total global fisheries production [3, 4]. Inland fisheries (both countries including Nigeria (13.3 kg capita−1) had relatively low
aquaculture and capture fisheries) contribute over 40% of the consumption of fish and other aquatic foods. This could be due
world’s capture finfish fisheries and aquaculture production to a variety of reasons including high population growth (demand
(excluding plants, mammals, crustaceans, echinoderms, and greater than supply) and under-recorded contribution of small-
mollusks) [5]. Global inland fish production reached 63.3 million scale fisheries [9].
tonnes in 2018 as per FAO 2020. The trend in global-aggregated
The total fish production in Nigeria is close to one million metric
catch indicates that inland fisheries catch has risen more or less
tons: 305,000 metric tons from aquaculture and 759,828 metric
linearly over the past 20 years increasing by 222,000 tonnes, or
tons from coastal and inland fisheries ([10], WorldFish Center).
2.3%, per year (1996–2016; [6]). It has been pointed out that the
Most fish harvested in Nigeria are captured by small-scale
perceived increase in the catches can partially be attributed to
capture fisheries (99%) and large-scale capture fisheries have
improved reporting and assessment at the country level rather
only 1%. Nigeria has over 14 million hectares of inland waters and
than entirely due to increased fish production. The world’s inland
Nigeria’s inland fisheries provide approximately 40% of the
fisheries are affected by negative factors including overexploita-
fisheries catch, thus it’s a principal contributor to food security in
tion, habitat destruction (damming, water abstraction), pollution,
the country. However, illegal, unreported, and unrecorded
exotic invasions, and climate change [7, 8].

1Hydrobiology and Fisheries Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, 200005, Nigeria.
*email: [email protected]

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fishing occurs in inland water bodies, likewise, environmental enhance national food security and the livelihood of the fishing
degradation and overfishing have a negative impact on community.
freshwater ecosystem services [11, 12]. Inland fisheries in Nigeria
are also affected by high rates of deforestation [13], given that the
forest plays an important role in protecting these freshwater 2. Materials and methods
habitats. Byrd et al. [12] also reported that species-level catch is 2.1. Study area
severely lacking in Nigeria, which hinders analyses of both
nutrient contribution and economic access to specific fish The Eleyele Lake is situated upstream on River Ona, in the city of
species. For sustainable management and conservation of inland Ibadan within geographical coordinates: Latitude 7°20′–7°25′N
fisheries resources, information on the catch statistics and efforts and Longitude 3°51′–3°56′E. It falls within the Ido Local
of inland waters is required. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) is often Government Area of Oyo State (Figure 1). The lake has a length
used as a first-order evaluation of broad trends in likely relative of 240 m across the dam, catchments area of 323.7 sq km. The
abundance or relative biomass trends over time of the underlying lake is 125 m above sea level with an average depth of 6.0 m [19].
fish stocks [14, 15]. According to Stamatopoulos [16], CPUE The surrounding area of the reservoir is made up of light forest
despite its limitation can be applied where fish catch data were with a wetland margin around the perimeter of the lake. The
not available and stock assessments do not exist and where vegetation on the shoreline of the lake is a lowland rainforest,
restrictive fisheries management actions may be absent or composed of trees, shrubs, herbs, and grasses. The study area has
ineffective. Eleyele Lake, located in Ibadan, serves as a source of two major climatic seasons: the dry season (November to March)
drinking water, fisheries, and transportation. Open water access and the rainy season (April to October). Economic trees like
fisheries is practiced and there are some reports on the lake’s Carica papaya (Pawpaw), Mangifera indica (Mango), Elaeis
environment being degraded (including [17, 18]). Fishers at the guineensis (Palm), Anacardium occidentale (Cashew), Musa
Eleyele Lake also complained of low fish catch (Ayoade, personal acuminate (wild banana) [17] were observed in the study area.
communication). Therefore, this study was conducted to Eleyele Lake serves the purpose of domestic water supply,
determine species diversity, CPUE, and some water quality fishery, irrigation, and transportation. Various activities occur-
parameters, due to little or no information on the current status ring in its catchment area include automobile repair, cement
of fish stock and fisheries of the lake. This will lead to its making, dumping of wastes from surrounding residences, reli-
sustainable management and improved fish production that will gious worship centers, farming, and cassava processing.

Figure 1 • Map of Eleyele Lake.

2.2. Field sampling total dissolved solids (TDS), and conductivity were determined
Water samples were collected monthly between 7.30 a.m. and in situ with a water quality meter probe SPER scientific
10.00 a.m. at the sampling station (close to a residential area AZ86031 model (AZ Instrument Corp, Taichung City, Taiwan).
and where boats are anchored) in triplicates from 2019 to 2023 Transparency was measured in situ using a Secchi disc, which
in both the rainy season and dry season months (October 2019– is a white circular weighted disc with a diameter of 20 cm; it
January 2020, March 2021–August 2021, and December 2022– was allowed to sink slowly on a marked line until it disappeared
May 2023) using 250 mL plastic bottles. Physicochemical then raised until it reappeared, and the average of the two
parameters such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), depths at which the disc disappeared (D1) and the depth at

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which the disc resurfaced (D2) was expressed in centimeters. 3. Results

Fish samples and catch statistics for the study were collected
monthly from catches landed during experimental fishing by an 3.1. Physicochemical parameters
artisanal fisher using 1.5-, 2.58-, and 3.5-inch gill nets and a The surface water temperature ranged from 24°C to 30.13°C in
non-motorized dugout canoe. These ranges of gill nets were Eleyele Lake during the period of this study (Table 1). The mean
used in order to catch fish of various sizes and species. Gill net temperature was lowest in 2023 (25.3 ± 1.24°C) and highest in
was selected for capturing fish due to its dominant use by 2019 (28.1 ± 1.45°C) in the lake during the study period. The
fishers in the lake. Fish identification was done both on the field mean conductivity varied from 319.63 ± 24.8 µs cm−1 in 2019 to
and in the laboratory using a fish identification guide by 375.65 ± 28.87 µs cm−1 in 2021 and 278.33 ± 20.41 µs cm−1 in
Olaosebikan and Raji [20] and Idodo-Umeh [21]. The weight of 2023. The lake was slightly acidic with a mean pH range of 6.7 ±
each specimen was taken using a top-loading Mettler balance 0.41 (in 2023) to 6.97 ± 0.40 (in 2021). There was a sharp
(AMW 2000 precision bench scale (American Weigh Scales, decrease in the transparency of the lake from 2019 (103.13 ±
Cumming, GA, USA) to the nearest 0.1 g. 50.44 cm) to 2023 (22.62 ± 2.54 cm). The mean TDS ranged from
187.88 ± 13.89 mg·L−1 to 222.25 ± 18.93 mg·L−1. The DO
2.3. Catch per unit effort concentration of the lake was low and ranged from 3.30 ± 1.08
Fishing effort and CPUE were determined as described by Zeller mg·L−1 (in 2019) to 3.91 ± 1.02 mg·L−1 (in 2023). All the
et al. [22]. Nominal fishing effort (kW) is the product of total parameters differed significantly between the three years of
small-scale fleet capacity. Engine capacity per fishing vessel (kW) sampling except DO concentration.
in a given fleet was determined by length and motorization. Non- 3.2. Fish abundance and diversity
motorized vessels were considered to have an equivalent capacity
A total of 560 individual fishes were harvested during the study,
of 0.37 kW·vessel−1 for vessels of length class 1 (<7.9 m) and 0.75
with the highest abundance in 2019 (48.9%), followed by 2021
kW·vessel−1 for vessels of length class 2 (8–15.9 m) [23]. The
(39.1%), and the least abundance in 2023 (12.0%). Fish encoun-
length of the boat used by fishers in Eleyele Lake is 4.79 m, thus
tered in the lake during the study period belong to nine families,
it’s in the length class 1. Total nominal fishing effort is the product
with three common during the years (Cichlidae, Polypteridae,
of the engine capacity and the number of boats operating within
and Clariidae). However, Schilbeidae and Latidae were encoun-
a given month. Effective fishing effort (kW·days) is the product
tered only in 2019 and Gymnarchidae only in 2021. The % total
of nominal fishing effort (engine capacity × number of boats
weight and % number of fish families caught decreased in the
within a given month) in kW and the number of days spent
following order: Cichlidae > Mormyridae > Schilbeidae > Polyp-
fishing.
teridae = Hepsetidae > Clariidae > Latidae > Channidae in 2019
CPUE is the quotient of the small-scale total catch and the (Figure 2a and b). Polypteridae dominated the catch in 2021 fol-
effective small-scale fishing effort. lowed by Cichlidae > Clariidae > Mormyridae > Channidae >
Gymnarchidae. Family Cichlidae (% weight—93.99; % number—
2.4. Diversity indices 82.19) dominated the catch in 2023 followed by Clariidae (%
weight—3.38; % number—12.33), then Hepsetidae (% weight—
Shannon-Weiner index (H) = −Σpi * ln(pi) [24]
1.48; % number—4.11) while Polypteridae was least (% weight—
where pi = n/N = the number of individuals within a species (n) 1.15; % number—1.37) (Figure 2a and b).
divided by the total number of individuals (N) present in the
Thirteen genera and 15 species were encountered in the lake
entire sample, ln = natural Log.
during the study period. Coptodon zillii (19.22%) dominated by
Evenness (E) = H/ln(S) [25] weight and Marcusenius species (18.61%) by number in 2019
(Figure 3a and b). Polypterus senegalus (% weight—55.36; %
where H = Shannon-Weiner’s index; S = Number of species in
number—51.14) was dominant in the catch in 2021. The cichlid,
samples.
Oreochromis niloticus dominated by weight (54.62%) and
Margalef’s index = (S – 1)/In N [26] number (52.24%) in 2023. There is no significant difference in
the weight (F = 1.3555; P = 0.2689) and number (F = 1.8421;
where S = total number of species; N = total number of indi-
P = 0.1711) of fish species between the three years of sampling in
viduals in the sample; In = natural logarithm.
the Eleyele Lake.
2.5. Forage/carnivore (F/C) ratio
3.3. Species diversity index
The sampled fish species were grouped based on their feeding
Shannon-Weiner (2.23), Margalef (2.14) diversity indices,
habits into herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores as described by
Richness (13), and Evenness (0.87) were highest in 2019 during
Holden and Reed [27]. The F/C ratio was determined by dividing
the study period. Similar Shannon-Weiner and Margalef indices
the total number of herbivores by a total number of carnivores
were obtained in 2021 and 2023. Higher Evenness occurred in
[28].
2023 (0.74) than in 2021 (0.67) (Figure 4).
F/C ratio = herbivores ÷ carnivores
3.4. Catch per unit effort
2.6. Statistical analysis The effective fishing effort was 0.37 kW day−1 during the experi-
Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson’s corre- mental fishing in Eleyele Lake (Table 2). The mean weight of fish
lation, and one-way ANOVA at P < 0.05 on SPSS software. caught increased sharply from 3.54 ± 0.62 kg in 2019 to 14.09 ±
11.43 kg in 2021 and declined to 2.38 ± 1.12 kg in 2023. The
highest total catch per fisher per day of 35.52 kg was recorded in

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May, a wet season month, and the least in February (1.05 kg), a declined sharply to 6.44 ± 3.02 kg·kW day−1 in 2023 (Table 2).
dry season month. The mean CPUE increased from 9.55 ± 1.67 The CPUE differed significantly between the year 2021 and 2023
kg·kW day−1 in 2019 to 38.07 ± 30.89 kg·kW day−1 in 2021 and sampling periods (F = 6.23, P = 0.032).

Table 1 • Monthly variation in physicochemical parameters (mean ± SD) of Eleyele Lake

Year/months Temperature Conductivity Transparency Total dissolved Dissolved Oxygen pH
(°C) (µs mhos−1) (cm) solids (mg·L−1) (mg·L−1)
2019/2020

October 27.8 ± 0.02 309.0 ± 4.15 48.75 ± 9.13 221.0 ± 4.78 2.46 ± 0.45 NT

November 28.9 ± 0.13 292.0 ± 2.11 131 ± 11.30 197.0 ± 1.69 2.67 ± 0.69 NT

December 29.5 ± 0.07 349.5 ± 7.29 158.5 ± 21.7 242.0 ± 5.09 3.23 ± 0.37 NT

January 26.2 ± 0.38 328.0 ± 2.89 74.25 ± 8.45 229.0 ± 6.24 4.85 ± 0.81 NT

Mean ± SD 28.1 ± 1.45 319.6 ± 24.8 103.13 ± 50.4 222.25 ± 18.9 3.3 ± 1.4 NT

2021

March 29.73 ± 0.87 346.75 ± 2.59 97 ± 18.90 173.75 ± 1.30 3.93 ± 1.36 7.54 ± 0.39

April 30.13 ± 0.28 378.8 ± 2.95 40.5 ± 8.32 189.75 ± 2.28 4.68 ± 0.72 7.24 ± 0.23

May 28.53 ± 0.26 389 ± 2.74 40.75 ± 4.97 194.5 ± 1.12 3.33 ±.50 6.78 ± 0.14

June 27.43 ± 0.80 417.5 ± 9.29 32.13 ± 3.21 207.75 ± 5.4 2.3 ± 0.51 7.10 ± 0.2

July 26.28 ± 0.23 382.75 ± 10.5 30.75 ± 4.91 191.25 ± 5.54 2.5 ± 0.55 6.71 ± 0.33

August 26.15 ± 0.09 339 ± 3.54 28.69 ± 4.46 170.25 ± 1.30 4.05 ± 1.43 6.45 ± 0.35

Mean ± SD 28.04 ± 1.07 375.65 ± 28.87 44.97 ± 25.99 188.17 ± 13.47 3.47 ± 0.93 6.97 ± 0.40

2022/2023

December 26.0 ± 0.04 310.0 ± 2.10 NT 228.01 ± 0.8 3.5 ± 0.05 6.6 ± 0.23

January 24.0 ± 0.01 250.1 ± 1.01 18.5 ± 3.1 250.1 ± 0.11 2.8 ± 0.03 6.4 ± 0.31

February 26.03 ± 0.03 270.2 ± 0.21 23.8 ± 1.01 196.13 ± 0.1 4.6 ± 0.12 6.2 ± 0.01

March 24.5 ± 0.41 290.31 ± 0.24 22.12 ± 0.21 212.13 ± 0.3 5.4 ± 0.2 6.8 ± 0.13

April 24.6 ± 0.11 280.12 ± 1.34 25.03 ± 0.13 200.3 ± 0.31 2.9 ± 0.05 7.4 ± 0.21

May 27.3 ± 0.34 270.15 ± 2.37 23.8 ± 1.11 194.6 ± 1.2 4.24 ± 0.1 6.8 ± 0.01

Mean ± SD 25.27 ± 1.24 278.33 ± 20.4 22.62 ± 2.54 202.5 ± 15.28 3.91 ± 1.02 6.7 ± 0.41

F 6.690 22.963 9.788 5.755 0.510 553.37

P 0.010* 0.000* 0.003* 0.016* 0.612 0.000*

NT—Not taken; *Significant at P < 0.05; F = test statistic.

Figure 2 • (a) Percent (%) weight and (b) percent (%) number of fish families in the Eleyele Lake during the study period.

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Figure 3 • (a) Percent weight and (b) percent number of fish species in the Eleyele Lake from 2019 to 2023. H. fasciatus—Hemichromis
fasciatus; C. zillii—Coptodon zillii; C. guineensis—Coptodon guineensis; Ch. Guentheri—Chromidotilapia guentheri; O. niloticus—
Oreochromis niloticus; S. melanotheron—Sarotherodon melanotheron; S. galilaeus—Sarotherodon galilaeus; P. senegalus—Polypterus
senegalus; H. odoe—Hepsetus odoe; S. mystus—Schilbe mystus; C. gariepinus—Clarias gariepinus; L. niloticus—Lates niloticus; P.
obscura—Parachanna obscura; G. niloticus—Gymnarchus niloticus.

Figure 4 • Diversity indices of the fish species in Eleyele Lake during the study period.

Table 2 • The catch per unit effort (CPUE) analysis of small-scale fisheries in Eleyele Lake
Year/ Number Boat capacity NFE No. of days for EFE (kW Total catch (fish- CPUE (kg·k
month of boats (kW) (kW) fishing/month day−1) ers day−1) (kg) W day−1)
2019/2020

October 1 0.37 0.37 1 0.37 2.71 7.32

November 1 0.37 0.37 1 0.37 4.19 11.32

December 1 0.37 0.37 1 0.37 3.73 10.08

January 1 0.37 0.37 1 0.37 3.51 9.49

2021

March 1 0.37 0.37 1 0.37 16 43.24

April 1 0.37 0.37 1 0.37 13.04 35.24

May 1 0.37 0.37 1 0.37 35.52 96

June 1 0.37 0.37 1 0.37 9.8 26.49

July 1 0.37 0.37 1 0.37 7.15 19.32

August 1 0.37 0.37 1 0.37 3.01 8.14

2023

December 1 0.37 0.37 1 0.37 1.3069 3.53

January 1 0.37 0.37 1 0.37 3.5044 9.47

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February 1 0.37 0.37 1 0.37 1.0485 2.83

March 1 0.37 0.37 1 0.37 3.4865 9.42

April 1 0.37 0.37 1 0.37 1.845 4.99

May 1 0.37 0.37 1 0.37 3.1068 8.4

NFE—nominal fishing effort; EFE—effective fishing effort.

3.5. Association between water quality parameters and 3.6. Forage/carnivore ratio of fish species
CPUE A total of five species in the primary consumer (herbivores)
A strong positive correlation was recorded for transparency with group were C. zillii, C. guineensis, O. niloticus, Sarotherodon
CPUE in 2019 and a moderate positive correlation with tempera- galilaeus, and S. melanotheron. Variation occurred in the rela-
ture in 2021. A moderate negative correlation occurred between tive abundance of the herbivores being highest in 2023
CPUE and conductivity in 2023 during the study period (Table 3). (80.61%) and least in 2021 (23.75%). Coptodon zillii was the
most abundant in this group during sampling period except in
Table 3 • Relation between the water quality parameters and cat- 2023 (O. niloticus) (Table 4). The seven (7) species that be-
ch per unit effort (CPUE) of Eleyele Lake during the study period longed to the secondary consumer (carnivores) group in this
Correlation study were Hemichromis fasciatus, Hepsetus odoe, Schilbe
Parameters 2019 2021 2023
mystus, Lates niloticus, Parachanna obscura, Polypterus
senegalus, and Gymnarchus niloticus. Temporal variation in
CPUE/temperature 0.4045 0.4859 −0.4281 the relative abundance of the carnivores follows this order
CPUE/dissolved oxygen 0.1157 0.0363 0.1226 68.04% (2021) > 35.79% (2019) > 1.49% (2023). Polypterus
senegalus dominated among the carnivore during the sampling
CPUE/pH NT 0.1648 0.1065
period. Omnivores were the least encountered with three (3)
CPUE/conductivity −0.0795 0.2453 −0.4284 species namely Clarias gariepinus, Chromidotilapia guentheri,
CPUE/total dissolved solids −0.3353 0.2516 −0.3839
and Marcusenius species. The most abundant of this group was
Marcusenius species. The F/C ratio by number was 0.70 in
CPUE/transparency 0.7969 0.2341 0.3213 2019, 0.35 in 2021, and 54 in 2023.
NT—Not taken.

Table 4 • Trophic grouping of fish species and their relative numerical abundance in Eleyele Lake during the study period
2019 2021 2023
Tropic group and fish species Number % Number % Number %
Primary consumers (Herbivores)

Coptodon zillii 27 9.85 36 16.44 6 8.96

Coptodon guineensis 0 0 0 0 2 2.99

Oreochromis niloticus 22 8.03 9 4.11 35 52.24

Sarotherodon galilaeus 12 4.38 6 2.74 6 8.96

Sarotherodon melanotheron 8 2.92 1 0.46 5 7.46

Subtotal 69 25.18 52 23.75 54 80.61

Secondary consumers (Carnivores)

Hemichromis fasciatus 31 11.32 32 14.61 0 0

Hepsetus odoe 13 4.75 0 0 0 0

Schilbe mystus 39 14.23 0 0 0 0

Lates niloticus 1 0.37 0 0 0 0

Parachanna obscura 1 0.37 1 0.46 0 0

Polypterus senegalus 13 4.75 112 51.14 1 1.49

Gymnarchus niloticus 0 0 4 1.83 0 0

Subtotal 98 35.79 149 68.04 1 1.49

Omnivores

Clarias gariepinus 6 2.19 6 2.74 9 13.42

Chromidotilapia guentheri 50 18.23 0 0 0 0

Marcusenius species 51 18.61 12 5.47 0 0

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Subtotal 107 39.03 18 8.21 9 13.42

Grand total 274 100 219 100 67 100

Forage/carnivore (F/C) ratio 0.70 0.35 54

4. Discussion and Ipinmoroti and Iyiola [39]. The preponderance of Cichlidae

in the lake could be attributed to favorable factors including
The dynamics of physical and chemical parameters of water abundance of food resources, their prolific breeding capabilities,
determines the productivity of freshwater ecosystems in terms of and strong adaptation to lacustrine conditions of the Lake [35].
their composition, distribution, and abundance of aquatic Polypteridae and Clariidae being frequently encountered in the
organisms. Water quality parameters of the Eleyele Lake ana- lake during the study period is an indicator of the degradation of
lyzed including temperature, conductivity, TDS, and pH were the environment leading to poor water quality and low DO.
within the acceptable limits for drinking water and growth of Polypterus senegalus is bimodal in respiratory function, having
aquatic organisms [29]. In contrast, the DO and transparency both gills and lungs. Pulmonary respiration in P. senegalus
levels during the study period were not within the recommended accounts for 50% of the total requirement at aquatic O2
permissible limits and might be a limiting factor in the produc- concentrations of about 3.5 mg·L−1 (or CO2 of about 5%) and fish
tivity of the Eleyele Lake. The amount of DO in the water is an rely exclusively on aerial respiration at O2 concentrations of less
important indicator of overall lake health. A lake’s oxygen and than 2.5 mg·L−1 [40]. Clarias gariepinus is also a bimodal
temperature patterns not only influence the physical and breather with well-developed gills and the air-breathing organs
chemical qualities of a lake but also the sources and quantities of comprised of labyrinthine organs, suprabranchial chamber
phosphorus, as well as the types of fish and animal populations membranes, and gill fans [41].
[30]. Low DO levels can lead to a likely upset in the balance of the
lake’s food web, leading to an imbalance in the ecosystem as a Higher mean total fish weight caught in 2021 (5.03 ± 8.43 kg)
whole. An increase in temperature and decomposition of than year 2019 (1.71 ± 2.97 kg) despite the higher number of
submerged aquatic plants and phytoplankton can lead to low DO individuals and species diversity in 2019 samples suggests some
in water. Due to DO being key for health and reproduction in degree of replenishment of stock during the restriction period of
many fish and invertebrates, prolonged exposure to low DO March–June 2020, Covid-19 lockdown. This may also be linked
levels increases stress and diseases, and in some cases, leads to to the higher mean CPUE in the 2021 post-Covid period. Thus,
organism death. Water transparency, usually denoted by Secchi the restriction period during the Covid lockdown could be
disk depth, represents the first-order description of water quality assumed to serve as some sort of closed season although some
and has important implications for the diversity and productivity fishers were still fishing during this period. The lowest CPUE
of aquatic life [31]. The low transparency of the lake could have recorded in the year 2023 could indicate a steady decline in the
resulted from the increasing human activities in the catchment abundance of fish in the Eleyele Lake due to adverse environ-
area, which led to its eutrophication [32] and increased macro- mental conditions. The strong positive correlation of CPUE with
phyte cover [33]. The significant differences in the temperature, transparency showed the importance of light penetration to
conductivity, TDS, and transparency between the years of study increasing fish production in the lake. The moderate negative
could be due to seasonal variations in the parameters since 2019 correlation of CPUE with conductivity suggests increase in
and 2023 samplings occurred mainly in the dry season months conductivity will lead to decreased fish productivity. Despite the
and 2022 sampling occurred in the rainy season months. conductivity of the Eleyele Lake being within acceptable limits, it
is higher than that reported by Ipinmoroti and Iyiola [39] for
The fish species composition encountered in the present study Asejire Lake (159.8 ± 0.32 μs cm−1). This could be due to differing
belonged to nine families as compared to five families recorded natural minerals within the lakes and also to unnatural compounds
by Olaniran [34] in the same lake, with four families being com- from domestic sewage, runoff, and agricultural fertilizers [42].
mon to the two study periods. Polypterus senegalus, S. mystus,
Marcusenius sp., C. gariepinus, and P. obscura were not en- The highest total fish weight caught in May 2021, a rainy season
countered by Olaniran [34], and bagrids found by this author month, and the least in February 2023 is contrary to some previous
were not recorded in the present study in the Eleyele Lake. The studies including Offem et al. [43] and Solomon et al. [44] that
species were either not susceptible to the gears used or may have have reported lower fish catch in the rainy season. The average
been introduced later. Similarly, Adaka et al. [35] recorded lower weight of fish caught by fishers per month in this study is lower
fish diversity in the Oguta Lake during their study period and than that of Kalgwal dam in Jigawa State [44], and this indicates
attributed the change to be due to high fishing effort, human the adverse effects of the perturbed water of the Eleyele Lake on
population explosion, and increased human activities. Temporal fish productivity. Furthermore, the deterioration of the water
variation occurred in the species diversity being highest during quality of the Eleyele Lake could be exacerbated by the spoilage of
the sampling period in 2019, and the higher the Shannon-Weiner the dam’s flood gate, thus increasing the hydraulic residence time
index (H) the more diversified the resources [24]. Ipinmoroti and reducing the flushing period for contaminants [45].
[28] reported a lower Shannon-Weiner index of 0.67 in Asejire The F/C ratio obtained during this study period in the Eleyele
Lake suggesting resources in the lake are not as diversified as in Lake suggests there is an imbalance in the fish population, since
the Eleyele Lake. A lower Shannon-Weiner index was also the obtained F/C ratios were not within 3–6 suggested for a
reported in Oguta Lake (0.0080–0.0224) and Bodna River (1.47) balanced population ideal for best production [46]. Ipinmoroti
[35, 36]. The dominance of Cichlidae in the lake agreed with [28] made a similar observation in Asejire Lake. The incon-
previous studies in Nigerian lakes and reservoirs including sistency in the F/C ratio in the lake with samples obtained in 2019
Olaniran [34], Abiodun and Miller [37], Olopade and Rufai [38], and 2021 being dominated by carnivores, and herbivores in

ACADEMIA BIOLOGY 2024, 2 7 of 10

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2023, could be due to the macrophyte’s coverage of a large Additional information

proportion of the water surface, which may lead to fish hiding
under the cover, death of some fishes, and even the migration of Received: 2023-10-20
some fishes from the water body. Appropriate steps must be Accepted: 2023-12-13
taken by the Fisheries manager and dependent communities to Published: 2024-02-20
adapt to these environmentally driven changes [47].
Academia Biology papers should be cited as Academia Biology
In conclusion, the ecosystem health and sustainability of the 2024, ISSN 2837-4010, https://doi.org/10.20935/AcadBiol6164.
fishery of the Eleyele Lake have been impaired by their adverse The journal’s official abbreviation is Acad. Biol.
water quality. The fish stock diversity and abundance of the
Eleyele Lake have been altered by the prevailing changes in the
habitat and uncontrolled exploitation. Temporal variation oc-
Publisher’s note
curred in the CPUE and the higher number of fish caught in the Academia.edu stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in
year 2021 post-Covid period suggest replenishment of stock published maps and institutional affiliations. All claims expressed
during the Covid lockdown/restriction period, which is assumed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily
to become a temporarily closed season. The effective manage- represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the
ment, conservation, and sustainable exploitation of the fisheries publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be
in the Eleyele Lake require improvement and restoration of water evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its
quality and enforcement of a closed season contrary to open manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
access fishing that occurs throughout the year.

Copyright
Funding © 2024 copyright by the authors. This article is an open access
The authors declare no financial support for the research, article distributed under the terms and conditions of the
authorship, or publication of this article. Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Author contributions
Conceptualization, A.A.A.; methodology, A.A.A.; software,
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