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Croatian Journal of Fisheries : Ribarstvo, Vol. 72 No. 2, 2014.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.14798/72.2.729

MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF FISH SPECIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN MARINE COASTAL WATERS OF THE GULF OF GUINEA, SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Dominic Olaniyi Odulate ; Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Federal University of Agriculture
Yemi Akegbejo-Samsons ; Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, P. M. B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
Isaac Tunde Omoniyi ; Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria

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Abstract

The multivariate relationship between fish species and environmental variables was studied at three landing sites along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, Southwest Nigeria. Fish species were sampled for abundance once per month per site for twenty-four months and eight environmental variables were measured. Five fish species (Sardinella maderensis, Ilisha africana, Pentanemus quinquarius, Chloroscombrus chrysurus, Ethmalosa fimbrata and Pterioscion peli) were observed to be very abundant, which contributed 77.6% of the total abundance. Fish species composition depicted tropical waters fishery with few dominant species having large number of individuals. Dendogram of cluster analysis revealed five fish communities. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to elucidate the relationships between assemblages of fish species and their environment. S. maderensis, the most abundant species, was observed to be influenced by pH, total dissolved solids (TDS) and nitrate. Clustering and ordination techniques provided very similar results based on the fish species composition. Water pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), nitrate and conductivity were shown to be most influencing environmental variables in decreasing order of vector projections, influencing fish assemblages in marine coastal waters of the Gulf of Guinea, Southwest, Nigeria.

Keywords

environmental variables; eigenvalues; species ordination; cluster

Hrčak ID:

122501

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/122501

Publication date:

4.6.2014.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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