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The Biodiversity of Lake Tanganyika By Dr. Muderhwa NSHOMBO Director General of the Center for Hydrobiological Research in Uvira DR Congo Biodiversity... • "Biological diversity" means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems’. Article 2, Convention on Biological Diversity 1992) Lake Tanganyika’s Biodiversity There are more than 2,150 species of plants and animals in the Lake # species • Molluscs – Gastropoda – Bivalvia • Arthropod – Decapoda – Ostracoda – Copepoda • Fish – Cichlidae – Noncichlidae % endemic 64 15 94% 60% 15 84 69 97% 71% 47% 185 145 97% 42% Objectives of Biodiversity Special Study: • Review the current levels of Biodiversity in Lake Tanganyika • Identify the distribution of major habitat types, with a focus on existing and suggested protected areas • Suggest priority zones for conservation • Develop a sustainable monitoring programme for biodiversity Results: I. Review of current levels of biodiversity Literature Database Training of National Teams National teams were trained in underwater research methods (SCUBA) and taxonomy Distribution of major habitat types Dive teams mapped substrates around the lake Suggestions for priority zones for conservation Rusizi Gombe Mahale Nsumbu • Burundi: – Rusizi Natural Reserve • DRC: – Pemba/Luhanga/Bangwe • Tanzania: – Gombe Stream N.P. – Mahale Mountains N.P. • Zambia: – Nsumbu N.P. – Lufubu/Chisala 65.0% 76.5% 73.3% 56.4% 70.8% 75.3% Development of monitoring programme Biodiversity team at a monitoring site Development of monitoring programme Key Activities Supporting the monitoring program: • • • • • Identification of key indicator groups for biodiversity Maintenance of a specimen reference collection Production of field identification keys for major groups Collation of relevant literature at all field stations Maintenance and updating of literature database Achievements: • Establishment of databases detailing the current levels of Biodiversity in Lake Tanganyika • Establishment of national dive teams ready to collect and analyze and produce reports • Recommendations of priority zones for conservation • Establishment of a sustainable monitoring programme for biodiversity Recommendations • Continue with biological surveys especially in DR Congo and Tanzania which have long coastlines • Research the possibility of developing tourism around biodiverisity • Create new protected areas for conservation of diversity identified by BIOSS in each country, and assist governments in setting up adequate legislation relating to management of these areas.