Diet and Food Consumption of the African Catfish, <i>Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus</i>Lacépède (1803) (Siluriformes: Claroteidae), from the Hydrosystem Lake Togo-Lagoon of Aného (South of Togo)

Catfishes belonging to the genus Chrysichthys are generally important fish species in inland water bodies of Africa because of their high commercial value. Among them, C. nigrodigitatus could represent, at certain periods of the year the highest biomass of the littoral ichthyofauna, accounting for 17 to 43.8% of total catches. In this paper, its diet in the hydrosystem Lake Togo-Lagoon of Aného was investigated focusing on how differences in diet and food consumption are related to size, season and sexual maturity. A total of 195 males and 137 females were sampled from January to December 2017. The digestive tract of each individual was dissected and its content was analyzed, using indexes of stomach contents analysis method. Diet variability in relation to season and biometric parameters was also studied. About 99 stomachs were empty with an overall vacuity index of 29.82%. However, vacuity index was found to vary in relation to fish size and months. The fish has been found to be omnivorous with a carnivorous tendency consuming a wide range of prey items (H = 3.34). Juvenile and adult freshwater clams (Galatea paradoxa) were the numerical dominant preys (%N = 44%) while the penaeid shrimps (Farfantepenaeus notialis) with an annual frequency of occurrence (Fo) of 49.36% and all species confused of fish (33.91%) were the most preferred preys. The index of relative importance (IRI) reveals that freshwater clam (40.49%), penaeid shrimps (35.85%) and all species confused of fish (14.58%) were the most important preys of C. nigrodigitatus. The dominance of Malacostraca and Mollusca in the diet of C. nigrodigitatus in the hydrosystem Lake Togo-Lagoon of Aného is likely one of the more important considerations for future management plans.

Trace Element Concentrations in Soft Tissue and Shell of the Mangrove Oyster (<i>Crassostrea Gasar</i>Dautzenberg, 1891) from the Lake Zowla-Aného Lagoon Hydro System (Southern Togo)

The Lake Zowla-Aného lagoon hydro system, located on the southeast coast of Togo, is very exposed to metal contamination as it receives a huge amount of untreated domestic and industrial effluents from Aného City and the phosphorite treatment plant at Kpémé. This study aims to assess the concentrations of seven heavy metals and their bioaccumulation status in soft tissues and shells of the mangrove oyster (Crassostrea gasar) collected from this aquatic environment. Samples were collected in January, April and July 2017 at two stations and analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results indicate that the waters are contaminated by Cd, Pb and Cr with average concentrations that are significantly above WHO standards. At both locations, the contents of the trace elements (except Cr) in oysters’ soft tissues were significantly higher than those in the shells. In the soft tissues, the concentration of Cr, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb ranged (in mg·kg-1) from 4.33 to 23.14, 93.4 to 366.7, 455.68 to 1384.15, 0.11 to 1.34, 16.42 to 62.6, 0.05 to 0.473 and 0.39 to 21.08, respectively. Furthermore, statistical analyses showed marked differences in mean concentrations between sampling time on the one hand, and between sampling locations on the other hand (p < 0.05). The highest metal concentrations were recorded in oysters collected in June at Zalivé whereas the lowest values were recorded in April at Zowla. Based on BCF results in the lagoon system, the oyster C. gasar can be used as a biomonitor of Zn, Cd, Cu and Hg exposure. Finally, the Cd, Pb, As, Zn and Cu concentrations in soft tissues and were found to be significantly higher than the permissible limit for human consumption according to WHO and FAO and thus pose a threat to human health.

Trace Elements in Mollusks, Crustaceans and Fish Commonly Consumed by the Catfish <i>Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus</i>Lacépède, 1803 from the Lake Togo-Lagoon of Aného Hydrosystem (Southern Togo)

The omnivorous fish species, C. nigrodigitatus feeds mainly on benthic organisms and may therefore consume contaminated food throughout its food web. This can lead to the bioaccumulation of contaminants such as trace elements in their tissues. However, fish consumption is a major pathway of human exposure to contaminants which may cause public health problems. The aim of the present study is to assess trace elements contamination in some species from the food web of C. nigrodigitatus. For this, 10 main food items of the silver catfish were collected at two sites from February to July 2017 and analyzed using an Atomic Absorption Spectrometer coupled with a hydride and cold vapour generator. The concentrations of trace elements varied greatly from one species to another and within each species. These values ranged from 0.007 mg/kg for Hg in C hippos to 354.84 mg/kg for Mn in P. fusca. The most contaminated species by trace elements were benthic organisms: M. perna (Cd, Pb, Hg), Pagurus sp. (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn), G. paradoxa (As) and P. fusca (Mn). The average concentrations of trace elements found in species were, for the most part, above WHO standards except Hg in M. perna and G. paradoxa. The water-based bioconcentration factors (BCFw) reach 92.58 for Cd, 44.72 for Pb, 382.49 for Hg and 1514.34 for As in M. perna. It is therefore necessary to pay particular attention to this ecosystem and to put in place a better management plan.

Morphometric Differentiation between Two Closely Related Achatinid Snails (Gastropoda: Achatinidae) of West Africa and Implications for the Conservation of <i>Achatina togoensis</i>(Bequaert &Clench, 1934)

Achatina togoensis is a giant land snail taxa endemic to the northern sectors of the Monts Togo, which has been regarded as full species or subspecies of the highly variable, widespread A. achatina (L.). To address this issue, samples of snails were taken throughout the distribution range of the two taxa in the Dahomey Gap (West Africa) and separated into 112 A. achatina and 141 A. togoensis according to color of the columella and parietal wall. Radulae were compared and shell characters of these 2 species were evaluated through the traditional morphometric method. The results indicate that the species cannot be distinguished by overall shell size and radular morphology, but they exhibit significant differences in shell shape and meristic traits. The typical A. achatina with vinaceous-red columella has a low-spired shell and an expanded aperture (globose shape) whereas A. togoensis has a higher-spired and smaller aperture (a fusiform shape). We suggest that local environmental effects are probably the causes of morphological divergence between the two taxa. It is likely that peripheral populations of the typical form of A. achatina would have isolated and developed in the drier facies of the humid forest that individualized in the northern sector of the mountains after the arid or interpluvial period of Holocene. In addition, we find that A. togoensis meets the criteria B2ab (ii, iii) to categorize as “Endangered”. However, whether this latter should be considered as separate species cannot be decided at the current state of knowledge.