K.F Konan
O.E Edia
K.Y Bony
K.M Kouamé
G Gourène

Fish assemblage was investigated during the study of longitudinal profile of the Ehania River Basin in south-eastern Côte d’Ivoire. This area is subjected to intense human activities with many plantations (palm tree, banana, pineapple, coffee, rubber and cocoa). Samples were collected, with gillnets of different mesh sizes, through ۶ sampling surveys during dry and rainy seasons from February ۲۰۱۰ to December ۲۰۱۰ at ۶ sampling sites. A total of ۷۰ fish species belonging to ۴۸ genera, ۲۸ families and ۱۰ orders were recorded. The temporal variation of diversity index is less marked than spatial variation. The upstream, with ۳۵ species, was less rich in species than the medium area and downstream areas (respectively ۴۶ and ۶۸). The upstream and downstream areas gathered ۳۵ species. Thirty three species were common to the upper and middle areas and ۴۶ species appeared both in the lower courses and the middle area. The ۲۱ species restricted to the lower part of the river are mainly estuarine/marine origin. The beta diversity value revealed low similarity between the lower and upper course of Ehania River. The lowest values of Shannon’s diversity index and equitability index were observed in the middle part of the River which characterized by high population density and intense agricultural activity with many plantations.

Fish assemblages, Diversity, Spatial gradients, Artisanal dams, Anthropogenic impact, Coastal river, West Africa