Author(s)

Joseph M. Matunguru^1,2,3*, Gabriel M. Okito^2,4,5, Muhindo Misungu Jordan⁴, Sharon Indasi Lubembe^4,6, Jonas Jariekong’a Uvon⁷, Lutili Mateso Frank^4,8, Mulongaibalu Mbalassa⁴, Venant M. Nshombo^4,9, Jean-Claude Micha⁵, Gaspard Ntakimazi²

¹Laboratory of Biodiversity, Ecology and Environment, Faculties of Science, Doctoral School of the University of Burundi, Bujumbura, Republic of Burundi.
²Department of Environment and Sustainable Development, Kalehe Higher Technical Institute of Development (ISTD/Kalehe), South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
³College of Natural Sciences, Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
⁴Laboratory of Hydrobiology, Aquaculture and Natural Resource Management (LHAGREN), Official University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
⁵Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), University of Namur, Namur, Belgium.
⁶Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, University of Eldoret, Eldoret, Kenya.
⁷Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Shalom University of Bunia (USB), Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo.
⁸Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science “DIFS”, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa.
⁹Hydrobiology Research Center, CRH-Uvira, Uvira, Democratic Republic of Congo.

The study of the diet of Bagrus bajad (Bagridae) was carried out on 520 specimens from the south-west of Lake Albert from December 2019 to December 2020. The relative importance index of food was used to evaluate quantitative aspect of diet. Percentages of global vacuity and average intestinal coefficient were 23.40% and 1.35, respectively. Analysis of 418 food-containing stomachs revealed that this fish has an omnivorous diet predominated by piscivorous and insectivorous. Larvae and juvenile fish of Haplochromis spp and Oreochromis spp and insects are the main foods. Molluscs, plant debris, plankton, etc. are accessory foods. Comparison between specimens of different sizes (TL 30.4 - 79.4 cm and SL 25.5 - 66 cm) showed no variation in diet. On other hand, a significant difference was noted in the food between sexes according to hydrological seasons. This difference reflects an abundance of food resources in rainy season which reduces food competition. Good fishing regulations should be established taking into account the seasons and the conservation of habitats that abound in the different types of food consumed by B. bajad.

Bagridae, Bagrus bajad, Diet, Lake Albert, DR Congo

Matunguru, J.M., Okito, G.M., Jordan, M.M., Lubembe, S.I., Uvon, J.J., Frank, L.M., Mbalassa, M., Nshombo, V.M., Micha, J.-C. and Ntakimazi, G. (2022) Diet and Feeding Habits of Bagrus bajad (Fabricius, 1775, Bagridae) from Lake Albert, Nile Basin, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Open Access Library Journal, 9, 1-14. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1109470.