The spatial, temporal and vertical fish species composition of the kamutjonga floodplain, Kavango river, Namibia
| dc.contributor.author | Muunda, Vilio Tuutileni | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2023-10-26T07:43:40Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2023-10-26T07:43:40Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2023 | |
| dc.description | A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master of science in biological sciences | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | The present study investigated the variations in fish species composition on a floodplain during a flood pulse on the floodplain along Kavango River, Namibia. Specifically, the study aimed at comparing the species composition, the catch per unit effort, and the body length of two selected species (Pseudocrenilabrus philander and Tilapia sparrmanii) across periods during the flood, across depth intervals and sites on the floodplain. Further, the study also aimed at determining any correlation between the catch per unit effort and the physio-chemical parameters of the water. A throw trap net was used to sample six (6) sites along the peripheries of the Kamutjonga floodplain during its inundated period (20 February 2020 to 09 June 2020), with each site subdivided into three depth intervals – 0- 29 cm, 30-59 cm and 60-99 cm. Three flooding periods (early, middle and late) were identified during the flood pulse. A total of 48 throws were cast at each site per flooding period, with each depth interval sampled 16 times per site. A total of 30 species were recorded on the floodplain, with the highest number of species (17) recorded during the early flooding period, in the deepest section sampled (60 – 99 cm) (21 species) and at site 2 (20 species). Cichlids dominated the floodplain, with Oreochromis andersonii and Pseudocrenilabrus philander being the most important species during the early and late flooding period, respectively. Few but large specimens were on the floodplain during early flooding, whilst a lot of small (by weight) specimens were during the late flooding periods. More specimens, yet large (by weight) were found on the shallow section (0 – 29 cm) of the floodplain. The findings uphold the significance of the peripheries of newly inundated areas, which are documented to serve as breeding, nursery and forage grounds for most riverine species. A large proportion (83%) of individuals such as those of P. philander were above sexual maturity during the early flooding period, which coincided with the highest number of small-sized specimens during the late flooding period – further hinting at the use of the floodplain as a breeding ground | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11070/3740 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | University of Namibia | en_US |
| dc.subject | Floodplain | en_US |
| dc.subject | Fisheries | en_US |
| dc.subject | Kavango River | en_US |
| dc.subject | Kamutjonga | en_US |
| dc.subject | Throw-trap net | en_US |
| dc.subject | Fish species composition | en_US |
| dc.subject | Spatio-temporal | en_US |
| dc.subject | Namibia | en_US |
| dc.title | The spatial, temporal and vertical fish species composition of the kamutjonga floodplain, Kavango river, Namibia | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |