Analysis of the stomach content of African river prawn (Macrobrachium vollenhovenii) in Epe Lagoon, Nigeria

Abstract

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 by Ankistrodemus 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.