Physicochemical Parameters and Ichthyofaunal Composition of Kanye Dam, Kano State, Nigeria

The construction of dams has caused a significant change in water qualities quality, which has posed a direct effect on fish. The physicochemical parameters and ichthyofaunal composition of Kanye Dam, Kano State, and its environment were investigated for four months (April- July 2023). Temperature and pH were measured in situ while dissolved oxygen and biochemical oxygen demand were measured ex-situ using standard methods. Ichthyofauna composition was determined by recording the catch from the dam by the fishermen. The mean temperature, Hydrogen ion Concentration, Dissolved Oxygen, and Biochemical Oxygen Demand values ranged from 23.75 to 26.82oC, 6.96 to 7.53, 4.10 to 4.37mg/l and 4.35 to 4.89 mg/l, respectively. The 1780 individuals sample collected belonged to 6 families and 11 species. They included Mormyridae (Mormyrus rume and Mormyrus psittacus), Cichilidae (Oreochromis aureus, Croptodon zilli and Oreochromis niloticus) Claridae (Clarias gariepinus and Clarias anguillaris), Uranoscopidae (Uranopus scaber), Centropomidae (Lates niloticus) and Bagridae (Bagrus bayad and Carabaricus bayad). The Uranoscopidae family, represented by Uranopus scaber recorded 27.7% samples as the single abundant species. The highest abundant family was the Cichilidae, with three species. The family Claridae was composed of two species while the least abundant was the Bagridae family, which recorded 2.7% and 2.4% for Bagrus bayad and Carabaricus bayad, respectively. The physicochemical parameters are within the range for fish culturable. Keywords: Water quality, Fish species, Abundance, Dam