%0 Journal Article
%T Fish Diversity and Abundance of Lake Tanganyika: Comparison between Protected Area (Mahale Mountains National Park) and Unprotected Areas
%A Emmanuel A. Sweke
%A Julius M. Assam
%A Takashi Matsuishi
%A Abdillahi I. Chande
%J International Journal of Biodiversity
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/269141
%X High biodiversity is the most remarkable characteristic of Lake Tanganyika including vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. A few protected areas have been created along the lake to protect its biodiversity. However, limited studies have been carried out to ascertain their effectiveness. The current study aimed at assessing and comparing fish diversity and abundance of Lake Tanganyika in a protected area (Mahale Mountains National Park (MMNP)) and unprotected areas surrounding it. The data were collected in the near shore zone at 5£¿m and 10£¿m depths using stationary visual census (SVC) technique. The protected area recorded higher fish richness and abundance than unprotected areas ( ). It was concluded that the protected area is effective in conserving the fish diversity and abundance of the lake. However, more studies should be carried out regularly to explore the efficacy of the protected area in conservation of aquatic biodiversity and abundance. 1. Introduction High biodiversity is the most remarkable characteristic of Lake Tanganyika including vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants [1¨C3]. It contains more than 1300 species of fish, invertebrates, and plants among which 500 species do not exist anywhere else on earth (endemic species) making it an important contributor to global biodiversity [4, 5]. The lake has received relatively less human impact than many other African lakes [6] and could serve as an example of managing lakes in other developing countries. The complex ecosystem of the lake in terms of number of species as well as their complex interactions is without any doubt unique in the world [5]. The fishery of Lake Tanganyika is of great importance to the surrounding region where protein is scarce [1, 7]. Fishing is the greatest simple economic activity depended upon by the communities surrounding the lake and it is perceived to be one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. The removal of large quantities of fish (app. 130,000 to 170,000 tons of fish£¿year) might be expected to have a direct impact on the biodiversity of the fish (and other aquatic organisms) in the lake [8]. The productivity of an ecosystem promotes its quality whereby living organisms are manufactured through interactions of community and environment. Standing crop, rate of removal of resources, and rate of production are the measures of the quality of an ecosystem, [9, 10] recommended strengthening of prohibition of fishing activities within the park to enhance biodiversity and biomass within park boundaries. The reputation for high biodiversity in Lake Tanganyika is
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijbd/2013/269141/