Description
The fishes of Lake Tanganyika documented between October 2022 - November 2023 in South Kivu Province, DRC.
Data Records
The data in this occurrence resource has been published as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A), which is a standardized format for sharing biodiversity data as a set of one or more data tables. The core data table contains 143 records.
This IPT archives the data and thus serves as the data repository. The data and resource metadata are available for download in the downloads section. The versions table lists other versions of the resource that have been made publicly available and allows tracking changes made to the resource over time.
Versions
The table below shows only published versions of the resource that are publicly accessible.
How to cite
Researchers should cite this work as follows:
Mushagalusa D, Moore F, Lehman A (2024): Fisheries of Lake Tanganyika. v1.0. Lake Tanganyika Floating Health Clinic/WAVE. Dataset/Occurrence.
Rights
Researchers should respect the following rights statement:
The publisher and rights holder of this work is Lake Tanganyika Floating Health Clinic. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC-BY-NC 4.0) License.
GBIF Registration
This resource has been registered with GBIF, and assigned the following GBIF UUID: abe07ad9-0949-483b-803c-a4fef81b598d. Lake Tanganyika Floating Health Clinic publishes this resource, and is itself registered in GBIF as a data publisher endorsed by Participant Node Managers Committee.
Keywords
Occurrence
Contacts
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Geographic Coverage
Northern Lake Tanganyika within the boundaries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
| Bounding Coordinates | South West [-5, 29], North East [-3.3, 29.7] |
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Taxonomic Coverage
All fish were identified to genus or species.
| Genus | Callochromis spp., Trematocara spp., Callochromis spp., Trematocara spp., Xenotilapia spp., Trematocara spp., Petrochromis spp., Callochromis spp., Petrochromis spp. |
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| Species | Lates mariae, Boulengerochromis microlepis, Limnotilapia dardennii, Shuja horei, Oreochromis tanganicae, Stolothrissa tanganicae, Limnothrissa miodon, Petrochromis polyodon, Lamprichthys tanganicanus, Perissodus microlepis, Neolamprologus pleuromaculatus, Grammatotria lemairii, Chrysichthys brachynema, Dinotopterus cunningtoni, Boulengerochromis microlepis, Stolothrissa tanganicae, Grammatotria lemairii, Lates stappersii, Stolothrissa tanganicae, Limnothrissa miodon, Grammatotria lemairii, Boulengerochromis microlepis, Lates microlepis, Shuja horei, Lamprichthys tanganicanus, Chrysichthys sianenna, Bathybates fasciatus, Benthochromis tricoti, Simochromis diagramma, Chrysichthys sianenna, Mastacembelus moorii, Stolothrissa tanganicae, Limnothrissa miodon, Limnotilapia dardennii, Shuja horei, Limnotilapia dardennii, Boulengerochromis microlepis, Simochromis diagramma, Lepidiolamprologus cunningtoni, Lamprologus callipterus, Synodontis grandiops, Grammatotria lemairii, Telmatochromis dhonti, Benthochromis tricoti, Hemibates stenosoma, Bathybates fasciatus, Benthochromis tricoti, Chrysichthys sianenna, Limnotilapia dardennii, Petrochromis microlepis, Cyathopharynx furcifer, Limnochromis auritus, Gnathochromis permaxillaris, Boulengerochromis microlepis, Lates microlepis, Auchenoglanis occidentalis, Chrysichthys brachynema, Limnochromis auritus, Bathybates fasciatus, Hemibates stenosoma, Gnathochromis permaxillaris, Chrysichthys sianenna, Grammatotria lemairii, Limnothrissa miodon, Stolothrissa tanganicae, Limnotilapia dardennii, Shuja horei, Boulengerochromis microlepis, Oreochromis tanganicae, Lamprologus callipterus, Lepidiolamprologus cunningtoni, Neolamprologus brevis, Stolothrissa tanganicae, Simochromis diagramma, Shuja horei, Neolamprologus burtoni, Synodontis grandiops, Grammatotria lemairii, Oreochromis tanganicae, Limnotilapia dardennii, Neolamprologus sarvoyi, Lates stappersii, Limnothrissa miodon, Limnothrissa miodon, Stolothrissa tanganicae, Shuja horei, Neolamprologus pleuromaculatus, Limnochromis auritus, Neolamprologus pleuromaculatus, Limnotilapia dardennii, Shuja horei, Triglachromis otostigma, Synodontis grandiops, Lobochilotes labiatus, Tropheus duboisi, Simochromis diagramma, Lepidiolamprologus elongatus, Perissodus microlepis, Gnathochromis pfefferi, Stolothrissa tanganicae, Neolamprologus pleuromaculatus, Chrysichthys sianenna, Telmatochromis temporalis, Limnothrissa miodon, Lates stappersii, Lates microlepis, Shuja horei, Boulengerochromis microlepis, Limnotilapia dardennii, Bagrus docmak, Lophiobagrus cyclurus, Tylochromis polylepis, Lates microlepis, Oreochromis tanganicae, Grammatotria lemairii, Limnotilapia dardennii, Bathybates fasciatus, Lamprologus callipterus, Aulonocranus dewindti, Bagrus docmak, Chrysichthys sianenna, Limnotilapia dardennii, Grammatotria lemairii, Bathybates fasciatus, Auchenoglanis occidentalis, Lepidiolamprologus profundicola, Cyathopharynx furcifer, Chrysichthys sianenna, Lates stappersii, Limnothrissa miodon, Lates stappersii, Limnothrissa miodon, Stolothrissa tanganicae, Tylochromis polylepis |
Temporal Coverage
| Start Date / End Date | 2022-10-11 / 2022-12-02 |
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| Start Date / End Date | 2023-08-21 / 2023-11-06 |
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Project Data
Key biodiversity sampling of fish populations in northwestern Lake Tanganyika.
| Title | Critical Biodiversity Surveys in the Lake Tanganyika & Ruzizi River Basins |
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| Funding | JRS Biodiversity Foundation - P.O. Box 4541, Arlington VA 22204 The Nature Conservancy - 4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, Virgina 22203-1606 |
| Study Area Description | Northwestern Lake Tanganyika, within the boundaries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. |
| Design Description | Fish sampling was carried out from local commercial caches by fishermen using various fishing gears and techniques (e.g., gillnet, seine, liftnet and handlines) when landing in nearshore villages visited at the study area and analysed at the laboratory of Biology at the Centre for Research on Hydrobiology (DR Congo). |
The personnel involved in the project:
- Principal Investigator
Sampling Methods
Collections of fish samples were performed once or twice per site during the study period using complementary methods in each selected station. Individuals fish species were collected in different habitats within the selected sites from local commercial catches of fishermen using their different fishing gears: gillnets of different mesh sizes and widths, beach seines and liftnets with mixed mesh sizes, gillnets with various techniques (i.e., monofilament, dormant, encircling and deep gillnets, …) and illegal mosquito nets of smaller mesh-sizes (02-03 mm). These various gears were surveyed in each sampling day and site according to the fishing habitat (lake substratum) and lake site (inshore vs. offshore). We recorded the features of each net directly at the sampling site such as the length, width (near 1.00 m) and mesh-size (near 1.00 mm) using a measuring tape or decametre. We noted the fishing depth, the duration as well as the effort (e.g., number of nets per active fishing unit, number of fisherman and net hauls) for each gear. The presence of each gear at a site allowed assessing the rate of fishing activity and fish distribution within the sampling habitats. The type of fishery and net, the numbers of fishermen involved per trip and per fishing unit were recorded and are discussed in relation to the type of gear used. After each fishing trial, fresh weight (in kg) of each sample was measured per fishing gear and number (net hauls per trip) recorded whenever possible. For each type of fishing, fish samples with a selection of species were usually bought from fishermen, and preliminary sorted at sampling sites (as fishermen did not deliver their entire fish capture) by species and after being weighed. The fish samples (handful) were collected and killed and preserved into ethanol (75%) and then fixed in formaldehyde (10%) to slow decomposition of organs. All fish species captured were identified, weighed and counted following the fishing habitat and effort. The samples were separated into smaller bags by type of fishing-gear, site and other parameters of the fishing-effort and environment and kept in 10% formaldehyde for subsequent analysis in the laboratory
| Study Extent | The field area was located at the northwestern part of Lake Tanganyika along the Congolese shores near and north of Baraka City in the territory of Fizi. Due to logistic constraints and field accessibility (human activities disruption or not, fishing effort) and safety, the sampling and survey sites consisted of main villages established along the coastline in these areas. This region has a tropical humid climate characterized by an alternation of wet and dry seasons and is currently subject to physical factors at different scales. All those beach fishing sites were easily accessible from each one by boat and have fishing activities as main occupation. Whenever necessary, each main site was split up into different small sub-sites according to the type of littoral habitat of the lake, i.e., sandy, rocky, mixed, and the type of fishing practices. The critical habitat of a fish species is defined as a geographic or physical area essential to the realization of the life cycle (Lévêque 1995). However, the knowledge of local communities and advices of experienced local fishermen were considered during the fish sampling in each site. At the field of investigation, some localities of high human influences are undergoing alterations (water pollution and sedimentation, fishing with unsuitable fishing gears and techniques and deforestation) with some fish species exposed to human pressures or extinction in the future. |
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| Quality Control | Quality control was implemented through the steps and process outlined for all staff at the Center for Research on Hydrobiology. In addition, there was internal quality control measures that were put in place such as routine monitoring and evaluation of project progress. |
Method step description:
- At the laboratory of Biology at the Centre de Recherche en Hydrobiologie (CRH, Uvira, DR Congo) each sample was re-sorted into species by fishing gear and habitat or fishing effort and each species identified following available books and/or keys (Fryer and Iles 1972; Axelrod et al 1977; Poll 1956, 1986; Brichard 1978, 1989; Eccles 1992; Konings 2015; Fermon et al 2007) Then, specimens were sorted by species, counted and the total, standard lengths (TL and SL) and the body height (BH) were measured (nearest 0.1 mm). These measurements and measuring techniques of fish were executed according to Barel et al. (1977), Eccles (1992), Snoeks (1994), Snoeks et al (1994), Snoeks et al (1997), Snoeks (2000) and Hanssens and Snoeks (2003). Sex was determined by exanimating the genital papillae and other external body feature such as coloration patterns (Snoeks 2000). For details in the sex, fish were dissected to determine the maturity stages of gonads following De Kimpe (1964), Micha (1973), Plisnier (1990). Each fish was then weighed (using various scales following species and individual sizes), the viscera and the gonads removed, and weighed (nearest 0.001g) and the body re-weighed to calculate the gonado-somatic index (GSI).
Bibliographic Citations
- Lévêque C. 1995. L'habitat : être au bon endroit au bon moment? Bull. Fr. Pêche Pisci. 337/338/339: 9-20
- Fryer, G. and Iles, T. D., 1972. The Cichlid fishes of the Great Lakes of Africa. Their Biology and Evolution. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburg. T. F. H. Publications. 641p.
- Axelrod, H. R. and Burgess, W. E., 1977. African Cichlids of Lake Malawi and Tanganyika. T. F. H. Publications, New Jersey, Sixth edition.
- Poll M., 1956. Poisson cichlidae. Result. Scient. Explor. Hydrobiol. Lac Tanganika (1946-1947), 3, Fasc. 5b, 1-619
- Poll, M., 1986. Classification des Cichlidae du Lac Tanganyika, Tribus, Genres et espèces. Mém. Cl. Sci., Acad. r. de Belgique, 8◦ (2) 45(2), 1–163.
- Brichard, P., 1978. Fishes of Lake Tanganyika. T. F. H. Publication, Inc. 442p.
- Brichard, P., 1989. Pierre Brichard’s book of cichlids and all the other fishes of Lake Tanganyika. T. F. H. Publications Inc., Nepture City, N. J., USA.
- Eccles, D. H., 1992. FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Field guide to the freshwater fishes of Tanzania. The United Nations Development Programme, Project URT/87/016, Rome, FAO. 1992. p. 145.
- Konings A (2015) Tanganyika cichlids in their natural habitat. 3rd Edition, Cichlid Press, El Paso.
- Fermon, Y., 2007. Etude de l’état des lieux de la partie nord du lac Tanganyika dans le cadre du Programme Pêche d’Action Contre la Faim en R. D. Congo. Action Against Hunger-USA.
- Snoeks, J., 1994. The haplochromine fishes (Teleostei, Cichlidae) of Lake Kivu, East Africa: a taxonomic revision with notes on their ecology. Annales du Musee Royal de l’Afrique Centrale (Sciences Zoologiques) 270, 1–221.
- Snoeks J, L. De Vos and D. T. van den Audenaerde, 1997. The ichthyogeography of Lake Kivu. South Africa J. Science, vol. 93
- Snoeks, J., 2000. How well known is the ichthyodiversity of the large East African lakes? Advances in Ecological Research, 31, 17–38.
- Plisnier P.D., 1990. Ecologie comparée et exploitation rationnelle de 2 population d’Happlochromis spp (Teléostei, Cichlidae) des lacs Ihema et Muhazi (Rwanda). Thèse de doctorat, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques UCL, Louvain-la-Neuve, 300pp.
Additional Metadata
| Alternative Identifiers | abe07ad9-0949-483b-803c-a4fef81b598d |
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| https://cloud.gbif.org/africa/resource?r=ltfhcfisheriesdata22124 |