TITLE:
Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Bagrus bayad (Fabricius, 1775, Bagridae) from Lake Albert, DR Congo
AUTHORS:
Joseph M. Matunguru, Gabriel M. Okito, Jonas J. Uvon, Gaston T. Hamulonge, Richard Rugadya, Herbert Nakiyende, Godfrey K. Kubiriza, Peter Akoll, Mbalassa Mulongaibalu, Alex Lina, Venant M. Nshombo, Jean-Claude Micha, Gaspard Ntakimazi
KEYWORDS:
Length-Weight Relationship, Condition Factor, Growth Pattern, B. bayad, Lake Albert
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.10 No.2,
February
27,
2023
ABSTRACT: This study provides information on the length-weight relationship and condition factor of Bagrus bayad, a fish species from Lake Albert. These variables were analysed from 520 samples collected from Lake Albert (DR Congo) between January and December 2020. The mean total length and total weight of B. bayad, (combined sexes) were 47.43 ± 7.81 (cm) and 495.34 ± 293.36 (g), respectively. The b-value of the weight-length relationship varied from 2.20 to 3.21. Males exhibited a negative allometric growth while females showed iso-metric growth. There was a strong positive correlation between length and weight, of B. bayad (i.e., LnTW = 2.72LnTL - 1.88; R2 = 0.875) and for females (i.e., LnTW = 2.742LnTL - 1.95; R2 = 0.739). The length-weight ratio for both sexes was (LnTW = 2.8812LnTL - 2.1686) with a correlation coefficient r2 = 0.837. B. bayad exhibited negative allometric growth pattern. The result indicated that there was no significant difference between the mean condition factor of male and female of B. bayad (P > 0.05). The condition factor for both sexes of B. bayad observed in rainy seasons (females K = 0.78 ± 0.134 and males K = 0.825 ± 0.127) were significantly in dry season than the mean values of males (females K = 0.76 ± 0.286 and males K = 0.829 ± 0.128). The overall condition factor was 0.80 ± 0.12 for males and females combined, but individually this factor was higher in males than in females during both seasons. This study provides baseline information about B. bayad from Lake Albert that is needed to develop strategies for the protection and sustainable exploitation of this species.