Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

THE BIONOMICS OF THE PRAWN, ILFLACROBRACHUM MACROBRACHION MERL(LOTS 1851) IN A SOUTHERN NIGERIA COASTAL LAGOON

M.P. Kuton, L.O. Chukwu, A.O. Osibona and O.O. Aderibigbe

Abstract

The growth pattern, food and feeding habits and reproductive characteristics of M. macrobrachion in Badagry lagoon, Southern Nigeria were investigated. Some aspects of the biology of the prawn, Macrobrachium macrobrachion (Herklots, 1851) in the Badagry lagoon Southern, Nigeria was investigated. The prawn occurs in the lagoon throughout the year with peak abundance in carapace — weight relationship showed a positive allometric growth. The highest mean condition factor was 1.40 and generally K-values were highest in the smaller species irrespective of sex. The length weight and carapace weight relationship indicated a positive allometric growth. The highest mean condition factor was 1.40 and generally k-values were highest in the small species irrespective of sex. The male female ratio was 1:1 and the fecundity estimates ranged from 5,120 eggs to 14,260 eggs and were significantly correlated with female length and body weight. There was an increase in fecundity with increasing body weights and total length of the shrimps. The gonadotrophic index for the species was 5.09%. M. macrobrachion is a benthic, omnivorous feeder with dust consisting principally of diatoms.