Comparative Analysis of Juvenile Prawn Recruitment Patterns in the Mangrove Creeks of Delta State

Mangrove creeks serve as critical nursery habitats for juvenile prawns, supporting larval settlement, feeding, and early growth before offshore migration. This study compared juvenile prawn recruitment patterns across four mangrove creek habitats in Delta State, South South Nigeria. Monthly sampling was conducted over six months using fine mesh push nets and otter trawls at reference and degraded creek systems. Prawn specimens were identified to species level, measured for total length, and categorised by developmental stage. Recruitment indices were calculated based on juvenile density per unit area. Environmental variables including dissolved oxygen, salinity, turbidity, and mangrove canopy cover were measured at each site. Five prawn species were recorded: Penaeus notialis, Parapenaeopsis atlantica, Nematopalaemon hastatus, Macrobrachium felicinum, and Exopalaemon elegans. Nematopalaemon hastatus was the most abundant species in the juvenile cohort. Recruitment density was significantly higher in intact mangrove creeks compared to degraded sites, with a ratio of approximately 3.5 to 1. Peak recruitment occurred during May and June, corresponding to the onset of the wet season and increased freshwater inflow. Mangrove canopy cover showed the strongest positive correlation with juvenile density. Degraded sites characterised by sedimentation and reduced vegetation supported significantly lower recruitment success. This study underscores the functional importance of mangrove integrity for prawn nursery productivity and recommends mangrove rehabilitation as a priority fisheries management intervention in Delta State. Keywords: juvenile prawns, mangrove nursery, recruitment, Delta State, artisanal fisheries.