Feeding Habits of Synodontis Species Found in Downstream of Taabo Dam of Bandama River in Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

The building of hydroelectric dams has consequences on the ecological conditions of ecosystems, such as the regression or disappearance of certain species that have a benthic entomophagous diet or a proliferation of omnivorous and planktivorous species. The study of fish feeding can provide data not only on the presence of prey, but also on the abundance and availability of trophic potential. In view of the new hydroelectric development project on the Bandama River, this study proposes to examine the diets of Synodontis bastiani, S. schall and S. punctifer that are captured in the area. Stomachs were collected and contents examined from fish caught monthly between November 2019 and October 2020 using gill nets in the N'Dènou locality. A total of 417 fish belonging to S. bastiani, S. schall, S. punctifer were examined. The food spectrum of the studied species is wide and diversified. It is mainly composed of Macrophytes, Insects, Worms, Mollusks, Zooplankton, Crustaceans. These species are all omnivorous with a benthophagous tendency. No difference was observed in the diet according to the size.