LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP AND CONDITION FACTOR OF INVASIVE Penaeus monodon ALONG THE SOUTH COASTLINE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The study of Length-weight relationship (LWR) of aquatic species is significant in fisheries biology because of their
usefulness in estimating weight parallel to a given length. In this study, ten locations covering five coastal states vis
à-vis Lagos Makoko (LM), Lagos Apapa (LA), Lagos Takwabay (LT), Lagos Tincan (LC), Lagos Folu (LF), Ondo
Aiyetoro (AO), Bayelsa Brass (BB), Rivers Bonny (RB), Rivers Kaa (RK) Akwa Ibom Ibeno (AB) were used for the
analysis of LWR and condition factor of the invasive tiger shrimps. A total of 400 samples were used. Sex
dimorphism by size variation showed Females (South West: 24.4±2.7 cm; 143.2±29.3g , South-South: 24.0±2.5
cm;139.3±28.2g ) being significantly larger than males (South West: 19.0±4.02 cm; 96.8±35.1g , South-South:
19.7±3.26 cm;100.4±25.8g ) (P<0.01). Condition factor k was reported significantly higher in males (South west:
1.548± 0.6, South-South: 1.393±0.53) than females (South west: 0.974±0.17, South-south: 0.971±0.14) (P < 0.01).
All Length-Weight relationships were positively correlated.