Comparative studies on the phenotypic variability among the population of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) caught from rivers Taraba and donga

Abstract

This study was designed to assess and compare the phenotypic variability among the population of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) caught from Rivers, Taraba and Donga. Sixty (60) Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), 30 from Tella and 30 from Donga each, were purchased from artisanal fishermen in fish market monthly from July 2023 to October 2023. Descriptive statistics was used to compare the species from the two rivers, Taraba and Donga. The data obtained from the experiment were subjected to t-test at 95% confidence level (p=0.05) with the aid of IBM SPSS version 25. Results obtained present significant different in size-related variation of the fish from the two rivers. Significant difference was observed from the 18 phenotypic attributes measured from the two water source also in all of the ten meristic counts features recorded. A total of 94.4% and 83.3% of morphometric attribute of rivers, Taraba and Donga samples respectively are heterogenous (CV>10%) whereas a total of 80% of meristic attribute in river Taraba samples were heterogenous (CV>10%). The phenotypic variability among the populations of the sample from rivers Taraba and Donga differ suggesting, that their ecological requirements may also differ and should be treated accordingly.