Feeding ecology of Lates stappersii in Lake Tanganyika
Chapter
Abstract
The centropomid Lates stappersii and its prey, the clupeid Stolothrissa tanganicae, make up the main exploited pelagic fish resource of Lake Tanganyika. In the south of the lake the contribution of S. tanganicae in the industrial fishery drastically declined during the 1980s while the catch of L. stappersii has increased to consist most of the yield. Lates stappersii does not seem to be affected by the decreased abundance of the clupeid prey. The analysis of the stomach contents of captured L. stappersii in the southern and north-eastern areas of the lake indicated a different feeding ecology for the fish between areas. Pelagic shrimps were the main prey species in the south while in the north-east the diet was more heterogeneous and included S. tanganicae larvae and adults, shrimps and copepods. It appears that the commercially important stock of L. stappersii in the south is sustained by shrimps which have replaced the clupeids in the diet.
Key words
Lake Tanganyika clupeidae centropomidae feeding ecologyPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
- Aro, E., 1993. Guidelines for sampling pelagic catches on Lake Tanganyika. FAO/FINNIDA Research for the Management of the Fisheries on Lake Tanganyika. GCP/RAF/271/FIN-FM/04: 25 pp.Google Scholar
- Aro, E., P. Mannini, I. M. Kimosa, E. R. Makere and N. A. Chale, 1995. Report of travel of the 2nd scientific cruise (15–30 June.1995). In G. Hanek (ed.), Reports of Travel 61–75 of project GCP/RAF/271/FIN. FAO/FINNIDA Research for the Management of the Fisheries on Lake Tanganyika. GCP/RAF/271/FINTD/48: 13–74.Google Scholar
- Coenen, E. J., 1995. LTR’s fisheries statistics subcomponent: March 1995 update of results for Lake Tanganyika.FAO/FINNIDA Research for the Management of the Fisheries on Lake Tanganyika. GCP/RAF/271/FIN-TD/32: 45 pp.Google Scholar
- Coulter, G. W., 1991. Pelagic fish. In G. W. Coulter (ed.), Lake Tanganyika and its life. Natural History Museum Publications and Oxford University Press, London: 111–138.Google Scholar
- Ellis, C. M. A., 1978. Biology of Luciolates stappersii in Lake Tanganyika (Burundi). Trans. am. Fish. Soc. 107: 557–566.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- FAO, 1978. Lake Tanganyika Research and Development Project, Tanzania. Fishery biology and stock assessment, based on the work of D.W. Chapman, H. Rufli, P. van Well and F. Roest. FI:DP/URT/71/012, Tech. Rep. 1: 37 pp.Google Scholar
- Hyslop, E. J., 1980. Stomach content analysis. A review of methods and their application. J. Fish. Biol. 17: 411–429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Kurki, H., 1996. The results of zooplankton sampling at three localities in Lake Tanganyika; July 1993 — December 1995. FAO/FINNIDA Research for the Management of the Fisheries on Lake Tanganyika. GCP/RAF/271/FIN-TD/52: 45 pp.Google Scholar
- Kurki, H. and 1. Vuorinen, 1995. Zooplankton ecology of Lake Tanganyika. Report on the results of LTR’s scientific sampling programme. FAO/FINNIDA Research for the Management of the Fisheries on Lake Tanganyika. GCP/RAF/271/FIN-TD/34: 29 pp.Google Scholar
- Mannini, R, 1993. Field notes for Fish Biology. FAO/FINNIDA Research for the Management of the Fisheries on Lake Tanganyika. GCP/RAF/271/FIN-FM/08: 34 pp.Google Scholar
- Mannini, P., 1994. Changes in fish data collection work. FAO/FINNIDA Research for the Management of the Fisheries on Lake Tanganyika. GCP/RAF/271/F1N, Office Memorandum dated 7 March 1994: 6 pp. plus annex.Google Scholar
- Mannini, P. and E. Aro, 1995. Guidelines for catch handling on board R/V Tanganyika Explorer. FAO/FINNIDA Research for the Management of the Fisheries on Lake Tanganyika. GCP/RAF/271 /FIN-FM/ 19: 27 pp.Google Scholar
- Mannini, P., E. Aro, I. Katonda, B. Kissaka, C. Mambona, G. Milindi, P. Paffen and P. Verburg, 1996. Pelagic fish stocks of Lake Tanganyika: biology and exploitation. FAO/FINNIDA Research for the Management of the Fisheries on Lake Tanganyika. GCP/RAF/271/FIN-TD/53: 85 pp.Google Scholar
- Ndugumbi, Z., P. van Well and D. W. Chapman, 1976. Biology of Litnnothrissa miodon in Lake Tanganyika. FAO Report FI:DP/URT/71/012/36: 15 pp.Google Scholar
- Paffen, P., C. Lukwesa and L. Mwape, 1996. Frame survey results for the Zambian coast of Lake Tanganyika, March 1995, and comparison with past surveys.FAO/FINNIDA Research for the Management of the Fisheries on Lake Tanganyika. GCP/RAF/271/FIN-TD/52: 92 pp.Google Scholar
- Pearce, M. J., 1985. A description and stock assessment of the pelagic fishery in the south-west arm of the Zambian waters of Lake Tanganyika. Report of the Department of Fisheries, Zambia: 1–74.Google Scholar
- Pearce, M. J., 1991. The effect of light from commercial fishing boats on the feeding of Lakes stappersii and on zooplankton abundance and composition. In H. Kawanabe and M. Nagoshi (eds), Ecological and Limnological Study on Lake Tanganyika and its Adjacent Regions, 7: 70–71.Google Scholar
- Pearce, M. J., 1995. Effects of exploitation on the pelagic fish community in the south of Lake Tanganyika. In T. J. Pitcher and P. J. B. Hart (eds), T.e Impact of Species Changes in African Lakes, Chapman and Hall, London: 425–441.Google Scholar
- Plisnier, P. D., 1995. Catch assessment survey in Zambian waters of Lake Tanganyika in 1994. FAO/FINNIDA Research for the Management of the Fisheries on Lake Tanganyika. GCP/RAF/271/FIN-TD/41: 26 pp.Google Scholar
- Poll, M., 1953. Poissons non Cichlidae. Résultats scientifique de exploration hydrobiologique du Lac Tanganika (1945–47).Vol 3, fasc. 5A. Institute Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Bruxelles: 251 pp.Google Scholar
- Roest, F., 1988. Predator-prey relations in northern Lake Tanganyika and fluctuations in the pelagic fish stocks. In D. Lewis (ed.), Predator-prey Relationships, Population Dynamics and Fisheries Productivities of Large African Lakes. FAO, Rome. CIFA Occas. Pap. 15: 104–129.Google Scholar
- Roest, F., 1992. The pelagic fisheries resources of Lake Tanganyika. Mitt. int. Ver. Limnol. 23: 11–15.Google Scholar
Copyright information
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 1999