Three Ghanaian reservoirs (Tono, Bontanga and Golinga) were compared through a food web modelling approach (Ecopath with Ecosim) to assess production character-istics and food web structures. The lakes differ in size and morphology, generating specific conditions for fish growth and production. While the two top fishery target species were Sarotherodon galilaeus (L.) and Oreochromis niloticus (L.) in all reservoirs, the mean trophic level of the catch was lowest in the largest and deepest reservoir (Tono) due to higher trophic level species occupying less accessible deep “refuge” habitats. The smallest lake had the highest fish production under optimal conditions of water supply (17.1 compared with 15.5 and 10.1 t/km2/year for lakes Bontanga and Tono), but it appears to be most vulnerable under conditions of drought. For the plan-ning and construction of adequately sized reservoirs used for fishery and irrigation purposes, the water budget (ratio of inflow and evaporation) needs to be estimated.
Abobi S., Kluger L. and Wolff M. (2021) Comparative assessment of food web structure and fisheries productivity of three reservoirs in Ghana. Fisheries Management and Ecology 28(6): 573-591. 10.1111/fme.12506
@article{Abobi2021,
Title = {Comparative assessment of food web structure and fisheries productivity of three reservoirs in Ghana},
Author = {Abobi, Seth and Kluger, Lotta and Wolff, Matthias},
Editor = {},
Journal = {Fisheries Management and Ecology},
Year = {2021},
Pages = {573-591},
Volume = {28},
Doi = {10.1111/fme.12506},
Abstract = {Three Ghanaian reservoirs (Tono, Bontanga and Golinga) were compared through a food web modelling approach (Ecopath with Ecosim) to assess production character-istics and food web structures. The lakes differ in size and morphology, generating specific conditions for fish growth and production. While the two top fishery target species were Sarotherodon galilaeus (L.) and Oreochromis niloticus (L.) in all reservoirs, the mean trophic level of the catch was lowest in the largest and deepest reservoir (Tono) due to higher trophic level species occupying less accessible deep “refuge” habitats. The smallest lake had the highest fish production under optimal conditions of water supply (17.1 compared with 15.5 and 10.1 t/km2/year for lakes Bontanga and Tono), but it appears to be most vulnerable under conditions of drought. For the plan-ning and construction of adequately sized reservoirs used for fishery and irrigation purposes, the water budget (ratio of inflow and evaporation) needs to be estimated.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Abobi, Seth
AU - Kluger, Lotta
AU - Wolff, Matthias
TI - Comparative assessment of food web structure and fisheries productivity of three reservoirs in Ghana
T2 - Fisheries Management and Ecology
PY - 2021
SP - 573-591
VL - 28
DO - 10.1111/fme.12506
AB - Three Ghanaian reservoirs (Tono, Bontanga and Golinga) were compared through a food web modelling approach (Ecopath with Ecosim) to assess production character-istics and food web structures. The lakes differ in size and morphology, generating specific conditions for fish growth and production. While the two top fishery target species were Sarotherodon galilaeus (L.) and Oreochromis niloticus (L.) in all reservoirs, the mean trophic level of the catch was lowest in the largest and deepest reservoir (Tono) due to higher trophic level species occupying less accessible deep “refuge” habitats. The smallest lake had the highest fish production under optimal conditions of water supply (17.1 compared with 15.5 and 10.1 t/km2/year for lakes Bontanga and Tono), but it appears to be most vulnerable under conditions of drought. For the plan-ning and construction of adequately sized reservoirs used for fishery and irrigation purposes, the water budget (ratio of inflow and evaporation) needs to be estimated.
ER -
