Morphometric Variation of Oreochromis Niloticus Population in Three Selected Waterbodies of Kano State

Abstract This study investigated the morphometric differences, length-weight relationship, and condition factor of Oreochromis niloticus collected from Bagwai, Kanye and Tiga reservoirs in Kano State, Nigeria. A total of 90 samples (30 from each reservoir) were examined based on 14 morphometric traits to assess phenotypic variability and population differentiation. Analysis of variance revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between the morphometrocs of the three populations. The length-weight relationship showed allometric coefficient (b) values for all populations—3.165 (Tiga), -2.198 (Bagwai), and -3.44 (Kanye)—indicated negative allometric growth, suggesting that the fish become relatively thinner as they grow in length. Despite the variation, the results demonstrated healthy growth patterns consistent with environmental influences and habitat conditions. Condition factor (K), a measure of fish well-being, varied slightly across the populations. Bagwai had the highest condition factor at (3.28), followed by Tiga (2.74) and Kanye (2.06), suggesting that fish in Bagwai may be in better physiological condition due to more favorable ecological conditions or food availability. The observed morphometric variation and growth dynamics highlight the potential for localized adaptation among the fish populations. These findings provide valuable insights for effective management, conservation planning, and stock improvement of O. niloticus in Northern Nigeria’s inland fisheries