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NILE PERCH
Lates niloticus
Created By:
Mrs. Henry
Distribution
• This fish is native to
Lake Chad, and the
Nile and Zaire Rivers
in Africa.
• It was introduced to
Lake Victoria in the
1950’s, where it can
be found today in
huge numbers.
Effects on People
• The Nile Perch provides food for locals.
• This fish caused a decline of small fisheries and
an increase in large fishing operations
• Increased fish exports=more money and jobs!
Effects on the Ecosystem
• Extinction of 200
species of cichlids
• Huge increase in
algae levels,
therefore, levels of
oxygen in the Lake
decreased.
• Increased # of insects
( prey of cichlids)
Position in Food Web
Changes to the Food Web
• Decline in fish eaten
by the Nile Perch
such as catfish and
lungfish.
• Increase in algae
causing death of
small animals and
plant life.
So Successful!
• No known predators living in Lake Victoria.
• Reproduce in large numbers. A female
can produce up to 16 million eggs at one
time!!!!
The Future of the Nile Perch
• Population may
decline due to
inadequate food
supply and
overfishing.
The Nile Perch
• I hope you learned more about an invasive
species and how it can impact the
ecosystem in which it now lives.