Summary
Large natural African lakes contain unique and diverse fish faunas which have evolved within each lake in a comparatively short period of time. members of the family Cichlidae are particularly diverse, although there is strong evidence to show that the haplochromines in Lake Victoria, and possibly Lake Malawi, are monophyletic. The unique faunas in Lakes Victoria and Kyoga have been subject to perturbations from the introduction of exotic fish, and the faunas in these and other lakes have been disturbed by fishing activities and other human endeavours.
Factors governing the establishment of exotic species are not clearly understood. The exotic fish must be physiologically adapted to their new environment, able to compete successfully both for habitat and for food at each stage of their life history, able to avoid predation and must have a suitable reproductive potential. Although about 50 species of fish have been introduced into African inland waters, including reservoirs, only comparatively few, in particular Nile perch (Lates niloticus), various cichlids (especially tilapias) and clupeids (Limnothrissa miodon), have been successful in establishing themselves. Those that have become established have had obvious but unquantifiable impacts on the indigenous faunas.
It is difficult to differentiate between the effects of fishing and of the presence of alien fish on the fish species composition of the lakes (Witte et al., 1992). Many of the lakes were overfished before introductions were made, with a resultant decline in some species, especially the larger ones, and the virtual disappearance of others. Some lake fish faunas, such as those of Lakes Kyoga and Victoria, which have been subjected to the perturbations described above, continue to change rapidly (Ogutu-Owayo, 1990b).
There is a fundamental need to collect biological information on the fish communities of African lakes for effective management, resulting not only in the conservation of unique fish faunas but also the production of sustainable fish yields for the people relying on this source of protein. This information is required before any more introductions of exotic fish are made.
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Craig, J.F. Human-induced changes in the composition of fish communities in the African Great Lakes. Rev Fish Biol Fisheries 2, 93–124 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00042880
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00042880