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 valorization

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 (L50) 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.