Abstract
A multispecifies trophic model called ECOPATH II, which can be used to describe the trophic relationships in aquatic ecosystems on a quantitative basis, is briefly presented. When properly used, it can help to explain the trophic relationships in ecosystems and possible evolution of fishstocks after modifications of the environment (e.g. eutrophication, introduction of a new population and/or a significant increase of the fishing effort), and to compare the trophic structure of several ecosystems. Examples are provided on two shallow lakes: Lake Ihema and Lake Naivasha. They are compared with Lake George which was previously documented.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen, K. F., 1971. Relation between production and biomass. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 20: 1573–1581.
Andersen, K. P. & E. Ursin, 1978. A multispecies analysis of the efforts of variations of effort upon stock composition of eleven North Sea Fish Species. I.C.E.S. Symposium of the changes in the North Sea Fish Stocks and their causes. I.C.E.S. Rep. 112: 286–291.
Beadle, L. C., 1981. The inland Waters of Tropical Africa—An introduction to tropical limnology. Second edition. Longman, London and New York, 475 pp.
Brown, L. H. & J. B. Hopcraft, 1973. Population structure and dynamics in the African fisheagle at Lake Naivasha, Kenya. East Afr. Wildlife J. 11: 255–267.
Burgis, M. J. & G. Dunn, 1978. Production of three contrasting ecosystems. In Gerking S. D., (ed.), Ecology of freshwater fish production. Blackwells Sc. Publ. Oxford.
Burgis, M. L. & J. J. Symoens (eds), 1987. African wetlands and shallow water bodies: a directory. Travaux Doc. O.R.S.T.O.M., 211: 650 pp. Publ. O.R.S.T.O.M. Paris, France.
CECODEL (Centre de coopération au développement de l'Université de Liège), 1988. La pêcherie Ihema. Mimeo, Publ. Univ. Liège, Belgique, 43 pp.
Christensen, V. & D. Pauly, 1992. ECOPATH II a software for balancing steady state ecosystems models and calculating network characteristics. Ecol. Model. 61: 169–185.
Christensen, V. & D. Pauly (eds), 1993. Trophic models of aquatic ecosystems ICLARM. Conf. Proc. 26, Publ. International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management, Manila, Philippines, 390 pp.
Darlington, J. P., 1977. Temporal and spatial distribution in benthic invertebrates fauna of Lake George, Uganda. J. Zool. Lond. 181: 95–111.
Fourniret, Y., P. D. Plisnier & J. C. Micha, 1992. Régime alimentaire de quatre espèces du genre Haplochromis (Teleostei, Cichlidae) du lac Ihema (Rwanda). Annls Limnol. 28: 8–24.
Gayanilo, F. C., M. Soriano & D. Pauly, 1989. A draft guide to the Compleat ELEFAN. ICLARM Software 2, International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management. Manila, Philippines.
Dadzie, S. & P. A. Aloo, 1990. Reproduction of the north american black bass, Micropterus salmoïdes (Lacepède), in an equatorial lake, Lake Naivasha, Kenya Aquaculture and Fisheries Management 21: 449–458.
Hannon, B. & C. Joiris, 1989. A seasonal analysis of the southern North Sea ecosystem. Ecology 70: 1916–1934.
Harper, D. M., 1992. The ecological relationships of aquatic plants at Lake Naivasha, Kenya. Hydrobiologia 232: 65–71.
Harper, D. M., K. M. Mavuti & S. M. Muchiri, 1990. Ecology and management of Lake Naivasha, Kenya, in relation to climatic change, alien species introductions and agricultural development. Envir. conserv. 17: 328–335.
Jarre, A., M. L. Palomares, M. L. Soriano, V. C. Sambilay Jr. & D. Pauly, 1990. A User's manual for MAXIMS. A computer program for estimating the food consumption of fishes from diel stomach contents data and population parameters. ICLARM Software 4, International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management, Manila, Philippines, 27 pp.
Kiss, R., 1976. Etude hydrobiologique des lacs de l'Akagera moyenne. Publ. no. 16. Inst. Nat. Rech. Sci. Butare Rwanda: 167 pp.
Kudhonghania, A. W. & A. J. Cordone, 1974. Bathospatial distribution patterns and biomass estimates of major demersal fishes in Lake Victoria. Afr. J. Trop. Hydrobiol. Fish. 3: 15–32.
Laevastu, T. & H. A. Larkins, 1981. Marine Fisheries Ecosystems. Its quantiative evaluation and management. Fishing New Books. Farnham, U.K.
Lauzanne, L., 1978. Aspects qualitatifs et quantitatifs de l'alimentation des poissons du Lac Tchad. Thèse Doct. d'Etat Univ. Paris. VI, 284 pp.
Lévêque, C., 1979. Productivité du Lac Tchad. Proc. Intern. Workship on African Limnology. SIL/UNEP Nairobi (Kenya) December 1979.
Lévêque, C., J. R. Durand & J. D. Ecoutin, 1977. Relations entre le rapport P/B et la longévité des organismes. Cah. ORSTOM. Sér. Hydrobiol. 11: 17–31.
Mavuti, K. M., 1983. Studies on the community structure, population dynamics and the production on the limnetic zooplankton of a tropical lake, Lake Naivasha, Kenya, Ph. D. Thesis, Univ. Nairobi,Kenya, 209 pp.
Mavuti, K. M., 1990. Ecology and role of zooplankton in the fishery of Lake Naivasha. Hydrobiologia 208: 131–140.
Mavuti, K. M., 1992. Diel vertical distribution a zooplankton in Lake Naivaska Kenya. Hydrobiologia 232: 31–41.
Merona, B., 1983. Modèle d'estimation rapide de la croissance des poissons d'eau douce d'Afrique. Rev. Hydrobiol. Trop. 16: 103–113.
Moreau, J., J. Arrignon & R. A. Jubb, 1988. Let introductions d'espèces dans les eaux continentales africaines, interêts et limites. In Lévêque C., M. N. Bruton and G. W. Ssentongo: Biologie et écologie des poissons d'eaux douces d'Afrique. Trav. Doc. O.R.S.T.O.M. 216. Publ. O.R.S.T.O.M. Paris, France: 395–426.
Moreau, J., V. Christensen & D. Pauly, 1993. Analysis of trophic relationships in an african lake using a multispecific trophic model. The example of Lake George (Uganda): 124–129 in Christensen V. & D. Pauly (eds) 1993, Trophic models of aquatic ecosystems ICLARM. Conf. Proc. 26, Publ. International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management, Manila, Philippines.
Moreau, J., W. Ligtvoet & M. L. Palomares, 1993. Trophic relationships in fish community of Lake Victoria with emphasis on the impact of Nile perch (Lates niloticus). 144–152 in Christensen V. & D. Pauly (eds) 1993, Trophic models of aquatic ecosystems ICLARM. Conf. Proc. 26, Publ. International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management, Manila, Philippines.
Muchanda, M., 1989. Etude du peuplement piscicole du lac Ihema (Rwanda) et de l'exploitation des Tilapia spp. A. Smith, 1840 (Pisces: Cichlidae) et de Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822 (Pisces: Claridae) en relation avec quelques variables abiotiques et biotiques. Ph. D. Thesis. Univ. Catholique Louvain, Belgium, 218 pp.
Muchiri, S. M., D. M. Harper & P. J. B. Hart, 1995. The feeding ecology of Tilapia in relation to ecological changes in Lake Naivasha, Kenya. In Pitcher, T. & P. J. B. Hart (eds): Chapman et Harll, London, U.K.
Munyandorero, J., 1993. La pêche dans les lacs du parc naturel de l'Akagera, biologie de Clarias gariepinus et exploitation des stocks dans le lac Ihema (Rwanda). Ph.D. thesis. I.N.P. Toulouse, 187 pp.
Murwanashyaka, J. J., 1989. Alimentation et parasitisme chez Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) au lac Ihema. Impact de la prédation sur le stock d'Haplochromis. Msc Dissertation Faculty of Agriculture. National University of Rwanda. Mimeo: 44 pp.
Palomares, M. L., 1991. La consommation de nourriture chez les poissons: étude comparative, mise au point d'un modèle prédictif et application à l'étude des relations trophiques. Ph.D. Thesis. Institut National Polytechnique, Toulouse, 218 pp.
Palomares, M. L., K. Horton & J. Moreau, 1993. An ECOPATH II model of the Lake Tchad system during the period 1970–1972, 153–158 in Christensen V. & D. Pauly (eds) 1993, op. cit.
Palomares, M. L. & D. Pauly, 1989. A multiple regression model for predicting the food consumption of marine fish populations. Austr. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 40: 259–273.
Pauly, D. & M. L. Palomares, 1987. Shrimp consumption by fishes in Kuwait waters, a methodology, preliminary results and their implication for management and research. Kuwait Bull. mar. Sci. 8: 101–125.
Payne, A. J., 1986. The ecology of tropical lakes and rivers. Publ. Wiley and Sons, New York, 301 pp.
Plisnier, P. D., 1991. Ecologie comparée et exploitation rationnelle de deux populations d'Haplochromis spp. (Teleostei, Cichlidae) des lacs Ihema et Muhazi (Rwanda). Thêse Doct. Sciences Agronomiques, Université Catholique. Louvain la Neuve, 324 pp.
Plisnier, P. D., J. C. Micha & V. Franck, 1988. Biologie et exploitation des poissons du Lac Ihema (Bassin de l'Akagera, Rwanda). Publ. presses univ. Namur, 212 pp.
Polovina, J. J., 1984. Model of a coral reef ecosystem. Part 1. ECOPATH and its application to French Frigate Shoals. Coral Reefs 3: 1–11.
Polovina, J. J. & M. D. Ow, 1985. An approach to estimating an ecosystem box model. U.S. Fish. Bull. 83: 457–460.
Richer, W. E., 1969. Food from the sea, In Resources and Man. A study and recommendations by the Committee on Resources and Man, Division of Earth Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council. Freeman and Company, San Francisco, 259 pp.
Symoens, J. J., M. Burgis & J. J. Gaudet, 1980. The ecology and utilisation of African inland waters. UNEP Rep. Ser. 1, 260 pp.
Sumba, S. J. A., 1983. Biology of the Africa fish eagle with special reference to breeding in the Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda. Ph.D. Thesis Univ. Nairobi, Kenya, 162 pp.
Trewavas, E., 1983. Tilapiine fishes of the genera Sarotherodon, Oreochromis and Danakila. British Museum (Natural History), London, 583 pp.
Ulanowicz, R. E. & C. J. Puccia, 1990. Mixed trophic impacts in ecosystems. Coenoses 5: 7–16.
Welcomme, R. L., 1988. International introduction of inland aquatic species. FAO Fish. Tech. Pap. 294, 318 pp.
Winberg, G. G., 1971. Method for the estimation of production of aquatic animals. Acad. Press, London, 278 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mavuti, K., Moreau, J., Munyandorero, J. et al. Analysis of trophic relationships in two shallow equatorial lakes Lake Naivasha (Kenya) and Lake Ihema (Rwanda) using a multispecifies trophic model. Hydrobiologia 321, 89–100 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00023166
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00023166