The Effect of Sand Mining and Irrigation Canals on Spawning Migration Labeobarbus spp. in Some Tributary Rivers of Lake Tana, Ethiopia
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Abstract
The effect of sand mining and irrigation canals on spawning migration of Labeobarbus species were studied from August 2013 to April 2014 in some tributary rivers of Lake Tana (Arno, Shini, Qimon and Chibirna Rivers). Labeobarbus specimens were collected using 6 and 8 cm monofilament gillnets, and 6, 8, 10 and 12 cm mesh size polyfilament gillnets. Total of 7623 juveniles fish specimens were collected from all sampling sites of irrigation canal using beach seine and mosquito nets with 5 mm and 2 mm mesh size, respectively. One way ANOVA was used to analyze the physico-chemical parameters and some biological factor of fishes. The abundance and distribution of adult migratory fish species were different between sand mining and non- sand mining tributary rivers of Lake Tana. Some physicochemical parameters were also showed significant difference between sand mining and non sand mining rivers (P<0.05). The most dominant juveniles in irrigation canal belong to the genus Labeobarbus which contributed 55.17% while Varicorhinus beso and Garra sp contributed 26.19% and 18.62%, respectively. No significant difference was detected in the abundance of juveniles between the two river irrigation canals. However, there were significant variations in juveniles mean abundances among the three sampling sites within the rivers. The present findings showed that small tributary rivers and streams are the main spawning grounds for Labeobarbus species of Lake Tana and downstream fish migration influenced by the river diversion. Therefore, main spawning grounds or routes should be protected from the deleterious effects of anthropogenic activities like irrigation and sand mining for the wise use of the fish resources.
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