Dept. of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2373 Makurdi Nigeria

This study investigates the fish species diversity and seasonal abundance of Lake Akata, Benue State, Nigeria. Standard methods were used to analyze monthly and seasonal fish abundance in Lake Akata from (August 2013-July 2015). The fish specimens used for the study were obtained from fishermen operating along Lake Akata. These fishermen use various fishing gears including hand nets, cast nets and gill nets of various standard mesh sizes and canoe were used as fishing craft. Sixteen fish species comprising of a total number of 3525, individuals belonging to 12 families were sampled. The number of fish species caught showed that family Claroteidae was the most dorminant (22.26%), while Protopteridae was the least family (4.85%). The dominant fish species was Oreochromis niloticus (11.27%), while Polypterus annectans was the least fish species (4.85%). The ecological parameters considered in this study include Shannon-Wiener Index (H’) and Simpson’s index of dominance (1-D), and were calculated according to seasons and stations. The values of Shannon Wiener diversity index (H′) and Simpson’s index of dominance (1-D) for the three stations (station A,B and C) studied in the dry season were 4.30 and 0.99 station; 4.32 and 0.99; 4.33 and 0.99,  while that of the wet season were 4.63 and 0.99; 4.64 and 0.99; 4.60 and 0.99 respectively. There is great sample diversity from Lake Akata since 1 – D is close to 1 for the seasons studied. Seasonal differentiation in the richness and diversity indices of all species sampled revealed higher values for the wet season than the dry across the stations. The study provides information on strategies for fish species development, fish conservation and management.

Keywords: Seasonal abundance, Diversity, fish species, Lake Akata, Nigeria.