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Achieng AO, Arhonditsis GB, Mandrak N, Febria C, Opaa B, Coffey TJ, Masese FO, Irvine K, Ajode ZM, Obiero K, Barasa JE, Kaunda-Arara B. Monitoring biodiversity loss in rapidly changing Afrotropical ecosystems: an emerging imperative for governance and research. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220271. [PMID: 37246384 PMCID: PMC10225856 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Africa is experiencing extensive biodiversity loss due to rapid changes in the environment, where natural resources constitute the main instrument for socioeconomic development and a mainstay source of livelihoods for an increasing population. Lack of data and information deficiency on biodiversity, but also budget constraints and insufficient financial and technical capacity, impede sound policy design and effective implementation of conservation and management measures. The problem is further exacerbated by the lack of harmonized indicators and databases to assess conservation needs and monitor biodiversity losses. We review challenges with biodiversity data (availability, quality, usability and database access) as a key limiting factor that impacts funding and governance. We also evaluate the drivers of both ecosystems change and biodiversity loss as a central piece of knowledge to develop and implement effective policies. While the continent focuses more on the latter, we argue that the two are complementary in shaping restoration and management solutions. We thus underscore the importance of establishing monitoring programmes focusing on biodiversity-ecosystem linkages in order to inform evidence-based decisions in ecosystem conservation and restoration in Africa. This article is part of the theme issue 'Detecting and attributing the causes of biodiversity change: needs, gaps and solutions'.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. O. Achieng
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - G. B. Arhonditsis
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M1C 1A4
| | - N. Mandrak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Scarborough, ON, Canada M1C 1A4
| | - C. Febria
- Department of Integrative Biology, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada N9B 3P4
| | - B. Opaa
- Department of Natural Resources Management, National Land Commission, P.O. Box 44417-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - T. J. Coffey
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
| | - F. O. Masese
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - K. Irvine
- IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Department of Water Resource and Ecosystems, Westvest 7, 2611 AX Delft, The Netherlands
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Z. M. Ajode
- African Center for Aquatic Research and Education (ACARE), 2200 Commonwealth Blvd, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - K. Obiero
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Directorate of Freshwater Aquaculture, P.O. Box 136-40111 Pap Onditi, Kenya
| | - J. E. Barasa
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - B. Kaunda-Arara
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
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Ronco F, Büscher HH, Indermaur A, Salzburger W. The taxonomic diversity of the cichlid fish fauna of ancient Lake Tanganyika, East Africa. JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH 2020; 46:1067-1078. [PMID: 33100489 PMCID: PMC7574848 DOI: 10.1016/j.jglr.2019.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Ancient Lake Tanganyika in East Africa houses the world's ecologically and morphologically most diverse assemblage of cichlid fishes, and the third most species-rich after lakes Malawi and Victoria. Despite long-lasting scientific interest in the cichlid species flocks of the East African Great Lakes, for example in the context of adaptive radiation and explosive diversification, their taxonomy and systematics are only partially explored; and many cichlid species still await their formal description. Here, we provide a current inventory of the cichlid fish fauna of Lake Tanganyika, providing a complete list of all valid 208 Tanganyikan cichlid species, and discuss the taxonomic status of more than 50 undescribed taxa on the basis of the available literature as well as our own observations and collections around the lake. This leads us to conclude that there are at least 241 cichlid species present in Lake Tanganyika, all but two are endemic to the basin. We finally summarize some of the major taxonomic challenges regarding Lake Tanganyika's cichlid fauna. The taxonomic inventory of the cichlid fauna of Lake Tanganyika presented here will facilitate future research on the taxonomy and systematics and the ecology and evolution of the species flock, as well as its conservation.
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