Reproductive ecology and establishment of naturally colonized tilapine cichlid, Sarotherodon galilaeus (Pisces: Actinopterigii: Perciformes) from a man-made lake, Southern Benin, West Africa: implications for sustainable fisheries and aquacultural valor

Abstract

Some aspects of the reproductive ecology of Sarotherodon galilaeus, a freshwater tilapine cichlid, were examined to evaluate the establishment of the species in the man-made lake of Ahozon (South-Benin). S. galilaeus individuals were sampled monthly during wet, flood and dry seasons from August/2014 to July/2015. This species dominated Lake Ahozon and made 85.21% of the fish community. Among the 5,550 individuals sampled, 33.55% were juveniles, 12.25% were sub-adults and 54.20% were adults. S. galilaeus showed a sex-ratio of (0.60:1) and low batch fecundities (42-1,149 oocytes). Sizes at sexual maturity (L 50 ) in Lake Ahozon were 131 mm and 106 mm for males and females, respectively, and the species spawned all seasons. The favorable water quality and the life-history strategy between “r” and “k” selection of S. galilaeus, accounted for its rapid establishment in Lake Ahozon. A sustainable fisheries/aquaculture exploitation of S. galilaeus in Lake Ahozon requires a holistic management scheme.