Fish diversity and its relationships with environmental variables in a West African basin

Fish distribution in relation with environmental variables was investigated in the Boubo River, a coastal river in Ivory Coast. Fourty freshwater fish species belonging to 17 families and 26 genera were captured. Five brackish water species, two introduced species and one hybrid complete the list. Seven species are reported for the first time in this river. A significant correlation between species distribution and environmental variables was found. Rocky and leaves-dead wood substrates, oxygen, canopy closure, width, depth and velocity were the main environmental variables influencing fish distribution. Our findings are opposed to the tendency for species composition to increase from the source to the mouth of the river, which is probably due to two major human activities (dam construction and discharge of waste of palm oils and motor oils in the main channel). These activities could constitute in the future a real threat for the fish population and other aquatic organisms.