Food and feeding habits of the African river prawn (Macrobrachium vollenhovenii, Herklots, 1857) in Epe Lagoon, southwest Nigeria

摘要

The study investigated the stomach contents of?Macrobrachium vollenhovenii?from the commercial artisanal catches in Epe Lagoon in Lagos, southwest Nigeria from July to October 2008 and April to May 2009. The stomach analysis was carried out using frequency of occurrence and numeric methods. It was observed that the prawn fed on a variety of plankton species, which included chlorophyta, euglenophyta, xantophyta, chrysophyta, cladocera, copepoda, protozoa, dinoflagellate, diatoms, insect parts and unidentified food items, with chlorophyta and diatoms forming the most important food items. Chlorophyta constituted 32.00% by number and 83.62% by occurrence, diatoms constituted 31.55% by number and 65.09% by occurrence. Amongst the chlorophyta,?Cosmarium?granatum?was the most preferred, constituting 7.93% by number and 17.67% by occurrence, followed byAnkistrodemus?falcatus?with 7.57% by number and 16.38% by occurrence, respectively. The least eaten food item was insect parts.?The results indicated that?M.?vollenhovenii?can be considered as an omnivorous detritivore.