Fish distribution pattern and environmental influence in the Bandama River estuary (West Africa)

Abstract

The structure and distribution of the fish population were investigated from March 2019 to February 2020 in relation to environmental variables in the Bandama River estuary. Overall, the estuary showed environmental homogeneity outside of the conductivity and width of the study area. A total of 52 species of fish were recorded, belonging to 48 genera, 28 families and 12 orders. This ichthyofauna was composed of 24 native freshwater species, 27 brackish and marine species and a hybrid (Coptodon guineensis x Coptodon zillii). The species defined a distribution according to their ecological category in the Bandama estuary. Redundancy analysis (ARD) indicated that salinity and bed width are the main variables that influence the fish species distribution in the Bandama River estuary.