Yao Kouassi Anderson¹, N’Dri Olga Rosemonde², Bodji Iridjé Marcelle¹, N’Zi Konan Gervais^1,, Koné Tidiani²

The various management projects of hydroelectric dam on the Sassandra River have considerably modified the hydrological regime of Lake Buyo in recent years. In such a context, it seems appropriate to know the influence of water level fluctuations on aquatic organisms, in order to protect the biodiversity of the environment. The present study was conducted from June 2018 to May 2019 in Buyo Lake. The experimental fisheries carried out in-situ in the five sampling stations brought to light the dominance of the species Coptodon zillii which represents 87% of the spawners. Then, the monthly fish nest count showed that the highest nest densities were obtained at the mean depths between 192.2 and 196.2 m. This study haves shown that the increase in water level during prolonged closures of the spillway gates resulted in the disappearance of 35% of laying nests. In addition, the withdrawal of following to the prolonged opening of the gates caused the drying of 75% of laying nests in the spawning grounds of Lake Buyo.

Buyo Lake, hydrological regime, fish, spawning grounds, dam impacts, Côte d’Ivoire