Ecological Characterization of a Lacustrine Environment of Community Interest: Case of Lake Kossou (Ivory Coast)

Danielle Rose Benie Aboua, Nathalie Akissi Kouadio, Siaka Berte, Essetchi Paul Kouamelan

Abstract: The Wetland Fish Index (WFI), for monitoring the water quality of Lake Kossou based on the associations observed between fish and environmental variables, has been developed. To this end, from February to June 2009, monthly experimental fishing was carried out at four stations using two batteries of monofilament nets with mesh sizes ranging from 15 to 60 mm, and physico-chemical parameters were measured in situ using portable digital display devices of the Waterproof type. Data on fish as well as physico-chemical parameters of each station were used in order to develop this ichthyological index of the different stations of Lake Kossou. A partial canonical correspondence analysis was used to order the fish species along the axes, in order to explain anthropogenic disturbances based on physico-chemical parameters. This analysis shows that, despite the good organisation of the Konsou population, the water at this station is more disturbed, with an ichthyological index of 2.32.

Keywords: biological indicators, fish population, fisheries, Lake Kossou, Ivory Coast