Population biology of the Sleeper fish Eleotris vittata from New Calabar River , Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Kingsley O. Chukwu

Abstract

The population of Eleotris vittata was studied in the New Calabar River over a period of twelve months with the aim of providing a baseline data for the management of the stock; this was due to unavailability of information on the status of the stock. Analysis for growth using the Von Bertalanffy function revealed that length infinity was 26.34cm, parameter of curvature was 1.18cm/year, and the growth performance index was 2.88 while length at age by Pauly’s integrated length frequency method showed that the stock had its fastest growth in the first six months after recruitment. Estimation of longevity by Hoeing’s equation showed that the stock had a short life span. Relative yield per recruit for the stock calculated by the equation “Y/R Y1/R* (W∞ * e — (NI (tr — to)))” was low. Mortality estimates using length converted catch curves and Pauly’s empirical formula gave total mortality as 2.58, while natural mortality was 2.13. Observed fishing mortality and exploitation rate was very low. Generally, the stock was in good state but substantially under exploited.Keywords: Eleotris, Vittata, fish, growth, populationCite this ArticleChukwu, O. Kingsley. Population Biology of the Sleeper fish Eleotris vittata from New Calabar River, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Research & Reviews: Journal of Ecology. 2019; 8(2): 28–31p.