Synopsis
The Lake Victoria fish fauna included an endemic cichlid flock of more than 300 species. To boost fisheries, Nile perch (Lates sp.) was introduced into the lake in the 1950s. In the early 1980s an explosive increase of this predator was observed. Simultaneously, catches of haplochromines decreased. This paper describes the species composition of haplochromines in a research area in the Mwanza Gulf of Lake Victoria prior to the Nile perch upsurge. The decline of the haplochromines as a group and the decline of the number of species in various habitats in the Mwanza Gulf was monitored between 1979 and 1990. Of the 123+ species originally caught at a series of sampling stations ca. 80 had disappeared from the catches after 1986. In deepwater regions and in sub-littoral regions haplochromine catches decreased to virtually zero after the Nile perch boom. Haplochromines were still caught in the littoral regions where Nile perch densities were lower. However, a considerable decrease of species occurred in these regions too. It is expected that a remnant of the original haplochromine fauna will survive in the littoral region of the lake. Extrapolation of the data of the Mwanza Gulf to the entire lake would imply that approximately 200 of the 300+ endemic haplochromine species have already disappeared, or are threatened with extinction. Although fishing had an impact on the haplochromine stocks, the main cause of their decline was predation by Nile perch. The speed of decline differed between species and appeared to depend on their abundance and size, and on the degree of habitat overlap with Nile perch. Since the Nile perch upsurge, the food web of Lake Victoria has changed considerably and the total yield of the fishery has increased three to four times. Dramatic declines of native species have also been observed in other lakes as a result of the introduction of alien predators. However, such data concern less speciose communities and, in most cases, the actual process of extinction has not been monitored.
References cited
Acere, T.O. 1988. The controversy over Nile perch, Lates niloticus, in Lake Victoria, East Africa. Naga, The ICLARM Quarterly 11: 3–5.
Anon. 1987. The cichlid fishes of Lake Victoria - was their obituary premature? pp. 31–32. In: Report on the British Museum (Natural History) 1984–86. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History), London.
Anon. 1988. Monster fish may be innocent of ecological crimes. New Scientist 1622: 34.
Anon. 1991. Fish's future is a bit of a mouthful. New Scientist 1756: 20.
Arunga, J.O. 1981. A case study of the Lake Victoria Nile Perch Lates niloticus (Mbuta) fishery. pp. 165–184. In: Proceedings of the Workshop of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute on Aquatic Resources of Kenya, July 13–19, 1981, Kenya National Academy for the Advancement of Arts and Science, Nairobi.
Balon, E.K. & M.N. Bruton. 1986. Introduction of alien species or why scientific advice is not heeded. Env. Biol. Fish. 16: 225–230.
Barel, C.D.N. 1986. The decline of Lake Victoria's cichlid species flock. Reports of the Haplochromis Ecology Survey Team 46, Zoologisch Laboratorium, University of Leiden, Leiden. 96 pp.
Barel, C.D.N., R. Dorit, P.H. Greenwood, G. Fryer, N. Hughes. P.B.N. Jackson, H. Kanawabe, R.H. Lowe-McConnell, F. Witte & K. Yamaoka. 1985. Destruction of fisheries in Africa's lakes. Nature 315: 19–20.
Barel, C.D.N., W. Ligtvoet, T. Goldschmidt, F. Witte & P.C. Goudswaard. 1991. The haplochromine cichlids in Lake Victoria: an assessment of biological and fisheries interests. pp. 258–279. In: M.H.A. Keenleyside (ed.) Cichlid Fishes: Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution, Chapman and Hall, London.
Barel, C.D.N., M.J.P. van Oijen, F. Witte & E.L.M. Witte-Maas. 1977. An introduction to the taxonomy and morphology of the haplochromine Cichlidae from Lake Victoria. Neth. J. Zool. 27: 333–389.
Bruton. M.N. 1990. The conservation of fishes of Lake Victoria, Africa: an ecological perspective. Env. Biol. Fish. 27: 161–190.
CIFA. 1988. Report of the 4th session of the sub-committee for the development and management of the fisheries in Lake Victoria. Kisumu, Kenya, 6–10 April 1987, FAO Fish. Rep. 388: 1–112.
CIFA. 1990. Report of the 5th session of the sub-committee for the development and management of the fisheries in Lake Victoria. Mwanza, Tanzania, 12–14 September 1989, FAO Fish. Rep. 430: 1–97.
Coulter, G.W., B.R. Allanson, M.N. Bruton, P.H. Greenwood, R.C. Hart, P.B.N. Jackson & A.J. Ribbink. 1986. Unique qualities and special problems of the African Great Lakes. Env. Biol. Fish. 17: 117–118.
Daan, N. 1980. A review of replacement of depleted stocks by other species and the mechanisms underlying such replacement. Rapp. P.-v. Reun. Cons. Int. Explor. Met. 177: 405–421.
Fryer, G. 1960a. Concerning the proposed introduction of Nile perch into Lake Victoria. E. Afr. J. Agric. 25: 267–270.
Fryer, G. 1960b. The feeding mechanism of some atyid prawns of the genus Caridina. Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb. 64: 217–244.
Fryer, G. & T.D. Iles. 1972. The cichlid fishes of the great lakes of Africa. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburg. 642 pp.
Gee, J.M. 1969. A comparison of certain aspects of the biology of Lates niloticus (Linne) in some East African lakes. Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 80: 244–262.
Goldschmidt, T. 1991. Egg mimics in haplochromine cichlids (Pisces, Perciformes) from Lake Victoria. Ethology 88: 177–190.
Goldschmidt, T. & P.C. Goudswaard. 1989. Reproductive strategies in haplochromines (Pisces: Cichlidae) of Lake Victoria. pp. 93–119. In: T. Goldschmidt, An Ecological and Morphological Field Study of the Haplochromine Cichlid Fishes of Lake Victoria, Ph.D. Thesis, Rijksuniversiteit Leiden. Leiden
Goldschmidt, T. & F. Witte. 1990. Reproductive strategies of zooplanktivorous haplochromine species (Pisces: Cichlidae) from Lake Victoria before the Nile perch boom. Oikos 58: 356–368.
Goldschmidt, T., F. Witte & J. de Visser. 1990. Ecological segregation in zooplanktivorous haplochromine species (Pisces: Cichlidae) from Lake Victoria. Oikos 58: 343–355.
Goudswaard, P.C. 1988. A comparison of trawl surveys in 1969/70 and 1984/85 in the Tanzanian part of Lake Victoria. pp. 86–100. In: CIFA, Report of the 4th Session of the Subcommittee for the Development and Management of the Fisheries in Lake Victoria, Kisumu, Kenya, 6–10 April 1987, FAO Fish. Rep. 388.
Goudswaard, P.C. & W. Ligtvoet. 1988. Recent developments in the fishery for haplochromines (Pisces: Cichlidae) and Nile perch (L.) (Pisces: Centropomidae) in Lake Victoria. pp. 101–112. In: CIFA, Report of the 4th Session of the Subcommittee for the Development and Management of the Fisheries in Lake Victoria, Kisumu, Kenya, 6–10 April 1987, FAO Fish. Rep. 388.
Goudswaard, P.C. & F. Witte. 1985. Observations on Nile perch — Lates niloticus (L.) 1758 — in the Tanzanian waters of Lake Victoria. pp. 62–67. In: CIFA, Report of the 3rd Session of the Sub-committee for the Development and Management of the Fisheries in Lake Victoria, Jinja, Uganda, 4–5 October 1984, FAO Fish. Rep. 335.
Greboval, D. 1990. Socio-economic issues for planning in support of fisheries management. pp. 75–97. In: CIFA, Report of the 5th Session of the Sub-committee for the Development and Management of the Fisheries in Lake Victoria, Mwanza, Tanzania, 12–14 September 1989, FAO Fish. Rep. 430.
Greenwood, P.H. 1959. The monotypic genera of cichlid fishes in Lake Victoria, Part 2. Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Zool.) 5: 165–177.
Greenwood, P.H. 1962. A revision of the Lake Victoria Haplochromis species (Pisces, Cichlidae), Part 5. Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Zool.) 9: 139–214.
Greenwood, P.H. 1965. Environmental effects on the pharyngeal mill of a cichlid fish Astatoreochromis alluaudi and their taxonomic implications. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. 176: 1–10.
Greenwood, P.H. 1974. The cichlid fishes of Lake Victoria East Africa: the biology and evolution of a species flock. Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Zool.) Suppl. 6: 1–134.
Greenwood, P.H. 1981. The haplochromine fishes of the East African lakes. Collected papers on their taxonomy, biology and evolution. Kraus International Publications, Munich. 839 pp.
Greenwood, P.H. 1984. African cichlids and evolutionary theories. pp. 141–154. In: A.A. Echelle & I. Kornfield (ed.) Evolution of Fish Species Flocks, University of Maine at Orono Press, Orono.
Hamblyn, E.L. 1961. The Nile perch project. EAFFRO Ann. Rep. 1960: 26–32.
Hamblyn, E.L. 1966. The food and feeding habits of Nile perch: Lates niloticus (Linne) (Pisces: Centropomidae). Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 74: 1–28.
Harrison, K. 1991. The taxonomy of East African Nile perch, Lates spp. (Perciformes, Centropomidae). J. Fish Biol. 38: 175–186.
Harrison, K., O. Crimmen, R. Travers, J. Maikweki & D. Mutoro. 1989. Balancing the scales in Lake Victoria. Biologist 36: 189–191.
Hoogerhoud, R.J.C. 1986. Taxonomic and ecological aspects of morphological plasticity in molluscivorous haplochromines (Pisces, Cichlidae). Ann. Mus. Roy. Aft. Centr. Sc. Zool. 251: 131–134.
Hoogerhoud, R.J.C., F. Witte & C.D.N. Barel. 1983. The ecological differentiation of two closely resembling insectivorous haplochromine species (Cichlidae) from Lake Victoria (H. iris and H. hiatus; Pisces, Cichlidae). Neth. J. Zool. 33: 232–273.
Hughes, N.F. 1983. A study of the Nile perch, an introduced predator in the Kavirondo Gulf of Lake Victoria. Oxford Univ. Nile Perch Project, Oxford. 75 pp.
Hughes, N.F. 1986. Changes in the feeding biology of the Nile perch, Lates niloticus (L.) (Pisces: Centropomidae), in Lake Victoria, East Africa since its introduction in 1960, and its impact on native fish community of the Nyanza Gulf. J. Fish Biol. 29: 541–548.
Kaufman, L. 1986. Why the ark is sinking. pp. 1–41. In: L. Kaufman & K. Mallory (ed.) The Last Extinctions, The MIT Press, Cambridge.
Kempinger, J.J. & R.F. Carline. 1977. Dynamics of the walleye (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) population in Escanaba Lake, Wisconsin, 1955–72. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 34: 1800–1811.
Kornfield, I. & K.E. Carpenter. 1984. Cyprinids of Lake Lanao, Philippines: taxonomic validity, evolutionary rates and speciation scenarios. pp. 69–84. In: A.A. Echelle & I. Kornfield (ed.) Evolution of Fish Species Flocks, University of Maine at Orono Press, Orono.
Kornfield, I. & A.A. Echelle. 1984. Who's tending the flock? pp. 251–254. In: A.A. Echelle & I. Kornfield (ed.) Evolution of Fish Species Flocks, University of Maine at Orono Press, Orono.
Kudhongania, A.W. & A.J. Cordone. 1974. Batho-spatial distribution patterns and biomass estimates of the major demersal fishes in Lake Victoria. Afr. J. Trop. Hydrobiol. Fish. 3: 15–31.
Ligtvoet, W. & O.C. Mkumbo. 1990. Stock assessment of Nile perch in Lake Victoria. pp. 35–74. In: CIFA, Report of the 5th Session of the Sub-committee for the Development and Management of the Fisheries in Lake Victoria, Mwanza, Tanzania, 12–14 September 1989, FAO Fish. Rep. 430.
Ligtvoet, W. & F. Witte. 1991. Perturbation through predator introduction: effects on the food web and fish yields in Lake Victoria (East Africa). pp. 263–268. In: O. Ravera (ed.) Perturbation and Recovery of Terrestial and Aquatic Ecosystems, Elliss Horwood Ltd., Chichester.
Marten, G.G. 1979. Impact of fishing on the inshore fishery of Lake Victoria (East Africa). J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 36: 891–900.
McCune, A.R., K.S. Thomson & P.E. Olsen. 1984. Semionotid fishes from the mesozoic Great Lakes of North America. pp. 27–44. In: A.A. Echelle & I. Kornfield (ed.) Evolution of Fish Species Flocks, University of Maine at Orono Press, Orono.
Meyer, A. 1987. Phenotypic plasticity and heterochrony in Cichlasoma managuense (Pisces, Cichlidae) and their implications for speciation in cichlid fishes. Evolution 4: 1357–1369.
Meyer, A., T.D. Kocher, P. Basasibwaki & A.C. Wilson. 1990. Monophyletic origin of Lake Victoria cichlid fishes suggested by mitochondrial DNA sequences. Nature 347: 550–553.
Ochumba, P.B.O. 1987. Periodic massive fish kills in the Kenyan part of Lake Victoria. Water Quality Bulletin 12: 119–122, 130.
Ochumba, P.B.O. & D.I. Kibaara. 1989. Observations on bluegreen algal blooms in the open waters of Lake Victoria, Kenya. African Journal of Ecology 27: 23–34.
Ogari, J. 1985. Distribution, food and feeding habits of Lates niloticus in the Nyanza Gulf of Lake Victoria (Kenya). pp. 68–80. In: CIFA, Report of the 3rd Session of the Subcommittee for the Development and Management of the Fisheries in Lake Victoria, Jinja, Uganda, 4–5 October 1984, FAO Fish. Rep. 335.
Ogari, J. & A. Asila. 1990. The state of Lake Victoria fisheries, Kenya waters. pp. 18–23. In: CIFA, Report of the 5th Session of the Sub-committee for the Development and Management of the Fisheries in Lake Victoria, Mwanza, Tanzania, 12–14 September 1989, FAO Fish. Rep. 430.
Ogari, J. & S. Dadzie. 1988. The food of the Nile perch, Lates niloticus (L.) after the disappearance of the haplochromine cichlids in the Nyanza Gulf of Lake Victoria. J. Fish Biol. 32: 571–577.
Ogutu-Ohwayo, R. 1985. The effects of predation by Nile perch introduced into Lake Kyoga (Uganda) in relation to the fisheries of Lake Kyoga and Lake Victoria. pp. 18–39. In: CIFA, Report of the 3rd Session of the Sub-committee for the Development and Management of the Fisheries in Lake Victoria, Jinja, Uganda, 4–5 October 1984, FAO Fish. Rep. 335.
Ogutu-Ohwayo, R. 1990a. The decline of the native fishes of Lakes Victoria and Kyoga (East Africa) and the impact of introduced species, especially the Nile perch, Lates niloticus and the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Env. Biol. Fish. 27: 81–96.
Ogutu-Ohwayo, R. 1990b. The reduction in fish species diversity in Lakes Victoria and Kyoga (East Africa) following human exploitation and introduction of non-native fishes. J. Fish Biol. 37 (Suppl. A): 207–208.
Ogutu-Ohwayo, R. 1990c. Changes in the prey ingested and the variations in the Nile perch and other fish stocks of Lake Kyoga and the northern waters of Lake Victoria (Uganda). J. Fish Biol. 37: 55–63.
Oijen van, M.J.P. 1982. Ecological differentiation among the haplochromine piscivorous species of Lake Victoria. Neth. J. Zool. 32: 336–363.
Oijen van, M.J.P. 1991. A revision of the piscivorous haplochromine cichlids of Lake Victoria, Part I. Zool. Verb. Leiden 272 (in press).
Oijen van, M.J.P., F. Witte & E.L.M. Witte-Maas. 1981. An introduction to ecological and taxonomic investigations on the haplochromine cichlids from the Mwanza Gulf of Lake Victoria. Neth. J. Zool. 31: 149–174.
Okaronon, J., T. Acere & D. Ocenodongo. 1985. The current state of the fisheries in the northern portion of Lake Victoria. pp. 89–98. In: CIFA, Report of the 3rd Session of the Subcommittee for the Development and Management of the Fisheries in Lake Victoria, Jinja, Uganda, 4–5 October 1984. FAO Fish. Rep. 335.
Okedi, J. 1971. Further observations on the ecology of the Nile perch (Lates niloticus Linne) in Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga. Ann. Rep. E. Affr. Freshwat. Fish. Res. Org. 1970: 42–55.
Okemwa. E.M. 1981. Changes in fish species composition of Nyanza Gulf of Lake Victoria. pp. 138–156. In: Proceedings of the Workshop of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute on Aquatic Resources of Kenya. July 13–19, 1981, Kenya National Academy for the Advancement of Arts and Science, Nairobi.
Okemwa, E.N. 1984. Potential fishery of Nile perch (Lates niloticus) Linne (Pisces: Centropomidae) in Nyanza Gulf of Lake Victoria, East Africa. Hydrobiologia 108: 121–126.
Prins, R.A. & R. Hengeveld. 1989. Soortenverlies en genenbehoud (Species loss and gene preservation). pp. 9–21. In: R.A. Prins & H.M. van Emden (ed.) Het Verdwijnen van Soorten, Biologische Raad, KNAW, Amsterdam.
Rapport, D.J., H.A. Regier & T.C. Hutchinson. 1985. Ecosystem behaviour under stress. Amer. Nat. 125: 617–640.
Ribbink, A.J. 1987. African lakes and their fishes: conservation scenarios and suggestions. Env. Biol. Fish. 19: 3–26.
Seegers. L. 1987. Ein neuer Haplochromisverwandter aus Ost Afrika sowie einige Bemerkungen zur Fischfauna des Victoriasees. Die Aquarien- und Terrarienzeitschrift, DATZ 401: 263–267.
Sibly, R.M. & P. Calow. 1986. Physiological ecology of animals. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford. 179 pp.
Smith, G.R. & T.N. Todd. 1984. Evolution of species flocks of fishes in north temperate lakes. pp. 45–68. In: A.A. Echelle & I. Kornfield (ed.) Evolution of Fish Species Flocks, University of Maine at Orono Press, Orono.
Stager, J.C., P.N. Reinthal & D.A. Livingstone. 1986. A 25,000-year history for Lake Victoria. East Africa, and some comments on its significance for the evolution of cichlid fishes. Freshw. Biol. 16: 15–19.
Taylor, J.N., W.R. Courtenay, Jr. & J.A. McCann. 1984. Known impacts of exotic fishes in the continental United States. pp. 322–373. In: W.R. Courtenay, Jr. & J.R. Stauffer, Jr. (ed.) Distribution, Biology and Management of Exotic Fishes, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
Turner, J.L. 1977a. Some effects of demersal trawling in Lake Malawi (Lake Nvasa) from 1968 to 1974. J. Fish Biol. 10: 261–271.
Turner, J.L. 1977b. Changes in the size structure of cichlid populations of Lake Malawi resulting from bottom trawling. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 34: 232–238.
Van Couvering, J.A.H. 1982. Fossil cichlid fish of Africa. Spec. Pap. Paleont. 19: 1–103.
Vermeij, G.J. 1986. The biology of human caused extinction. pp. 28–49. In: B.G. Norton (ed.) The Preservation of Species, Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Vos, L. de, J. Snoeks & D. Thys van den Audenaerde. 1990. The effects of Tilapia introductions in Lake Luhondo, Rwanda. Env. Biol. Fish. 27: 303–308.
Wanink, J.H. 1991. Survival in a perturbed environment: the effects of Nile perch introduction on the zooplanktivorous fish community of Lake Victoria. pp. 269–275. In: O. Ravera (ed.) Terrestial and Aquatic Ecosystems, Perturbation and Recovery, Ellis Horwood, New York.
Welcomme, R.L. 1981. Register of international transfers of inland fish species. FAO Fish. Tech. Pap. 213. 120 pp.
Welcomme, R.L. 1984. International transfers of inland fish species. pp. 22–40. In: W.R. Courtenay, Jr. & J.R. Stauffer, Jr. (ed.) Distribution, Biology and Management of Exotic Fishes, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
Welcomme, R.L. 1988. International introductions of inland aquatic species. FAO Fish. Tech. Pap. 294. 319 pp.
Wilson, E.O. 1988. The current state of biological diversity. pp. 3–18. In: E.O. Wilson (ed.) Biodiversity, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.
Witte, F. 1981. Initial results of the ecological survey of the haplochromine fishes from the Mwanza Gulf of Lake Victoria, Tanzania: breeding patterns, trophic and species distribution. Neth. J. Zool. 31: 175–202.
Witte, F. 1984a. Consistency and functional significance of morphological differences between wild-caught and domestic Haplochromis squamipinnis (Pisces, Cichlidae). Neth. J. Zool. 34: 596–612.
Witte, F. 1984b. Ecological differentiation in Lake Victoria haplochromines: comparison of cichlid species flocks in African lakes. pp. 155–167. In: A.A. Echelle & I. Kornfield (ed.) Evolution of Fish Species Flocks, University of Maine at Orono Press, Orono.
Witte, F., C.D.N. Barel & R.J.C. Hoogerhoud. 1990. Phenotypic plasticity of anatomical structures and its ecomorphological significance. Neth. J. Zool. 40: 278–298.
Witte, F. & P.C. Goudswaard. 1985. Aspects of haplochromine fishery in southern Lake Victoria. pp. 81–88. In: CIFA, Report of the 3rd Session of the Sub-committee for the Development and Management of the Fisheries in Lake Victoria, Jinja, Uganda, 4–5 October 1984, FAO Fish. Rep. 335.
Witte, F. & M.J.P. van Oijen. 1990. Taxonomy, ecology and fishery of haplochromine trophic groups. Zool. Verh. Leiden 262: 1–47.
Witte, F. & E.L.M. Witte-Maas. 1987. Implications for taxonomy and functional morphology of intra-specific variation in haplochromine cichlids of Lake Victoria. pp. 35–118. In: F. Witte, From Form to Fishery, Ph.D. Thesis, Rijksuniversiteit Leiden, Leiden.
Zaret, T.M. 1979. Predation in freshwater fish communities. pp. 135–143. In: H. Clepper (ed.) Predator-Prey Systems in Fisheries Management, Sport Fishing Institute, Washington, D.C.
Zaret, T.M. 1982. The stability/diversity controversy: a test of hypotheses. Ecology 63: 721–731.
Zaret, T.M. & R.T. Paine. 1973. Species introduction in a tropical lake. Science 182: 449–455.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Witte, F., Goldschmidt, T., Wanink, J. et al. The destruction of an endemic species flock: quantitative data on the decline of the haplochromine cichlids of Lake Victoria. Environ Biol Fish 34, 1–28 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004782
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004782