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Renewed Energy to Help Save Darwin’s Dreampond
…an SSP attempts to remain hopeful
Lake Victoria Cichlid Species Survival Plan
C. Lee, S. Bailey, G. Whittaker, J. Hemdal & D. Warmolts,
L. Kaufman, J. Balirwa, P. Nyamenya & Wm. Ojwang
8th IAC Two Oceans Aquarium
Cape Town, South Africa
Kisumu, Kenya looking west
1
What you’ll be listening to… for the next 15 minutes
• Where & what is Lake Victoria?briefly…. • Haplochromine?! Qu’est-ce que c’est Haplochromine? • …and what’s all the fuss about? • LVSSP’s mission- what has been accomplished… • LVSSP’s objectives going forward-
Are the ‘aquarist bits’ still doable? Lake Victoria view Jinja, Uganda
traditional fishing vessel
Queen Victoria …during her runway model days
cichlid sex stuff
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Lake Victoria Geography & Geology Tutorial
• 3 countries comprise border- Uganda, Kenya, & Tanzania • E African Rift Lake- 1 of 6 sizeable, including Malawi & Tanganyika, occupying shallow plateau between 2 arms of the forked Great Rift Valley • World’s 2nd largest freshwater lake • vulnerable to climate change- precipitation driven vs large river inflow, shallow, large surface area compared to volume ratio • Dry 12-14,000 yrs ago- phenomenal speciation since… 3
• >500 LV species- spectacular species radiation
• group named for genus Haplochromis- by design 80% of Lake Victoria’s biomass
• nomenclature often pending, hence use of common names (chironym)
• evolutionary plasticity- rapid response to localized & diverse environmental conditions
• ~14 trophic guilds recognised
• Considerable trophic diversity- planktivores, paedophages, parasitivores, fin & scale eaters, to molluscavores, with bizarre dentition stops in between …that’d make dentists swoon!
P. perrieri
argenteus
drama’s principal actors- Haplochromine Cichlids
Astatotilapia sp.
Oreochromis variabilis Lee Newman Labrochromis ishmaeli
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Traditional Fishery
• 5.4M lake region residents in ‘48 • ~75% of local protein needs was fishery derived • Haplochromines accounted for 80% of biomass • simple fishing gear used • primarily near-shore fishery • targeted specific species • women dominated activity • no capacity for export to coast • nutrient poor lake fishery
cyprinid minnow Omena sun drying
fishermen & simple gear
packing dried fish
Ugandan fish landing
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Modern Lake Fishery
commercial fishing vessel
mixed species catch vs. targeted catch
commercial fishery employment is huge slice of demographic
• Contrast >25m people in LVictoria Basin …2010 estimate • Targets commercially successful Lates niloticus …after its introduction in ’54 • Introduced tilapia spp outcompete endemic tilapia ...and tastes much differently • Focuses on exports- Europe, Middle East, US, & Australia • Beyond financial resources of local population … which results in a net loss of protein & rise of malnutrition • ‘boomtown environment’- 54,000 boats, cholera, HIV, social upheaval • LVictoria characteristics not conducive to perch population support • Haplochromine drop to 1% biomass • Largest mass extinction event- >65% species lost • Omena (cyprinid) exploded without cichlid predators • Cichlid morphological plasticity- bending to Lake’s condition • Nile perch decline …cannibalism, now! • Pollution/ eutrophication- now ‘nutrient rich lake fishery 'with only 60’ O2 zone in H2O column • Market decline- cholera, heavy metals
Lates niloticus
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Fishery Impacts loss of traditional food source
deforestation
Darwin’s Dreampond Tijs Goldschmidt’s book Darwin’s Nightmare Hubert Sauper’s documentary
Nile perch for the locals- filleted carcasses
fueling rampant population growth
Eutrophication – H2O hyacinth explosion
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Lake Victoria Species Survival Plan …..a synoptic retrospective
Lipochromis melanopterus Lates niloticus 2 stripe white lip 8
• Maintain genetic stocks with intent of reintroduction… someday
this is the pure AquaristAdrenaline stuff
• Exhibits both NAmerica and East Africa • Staff Training of EAfrican Aquarists • Education both NAmerica and East Africa • Graduate Student support • Research Pjts in both EAfrica and NAmerica
Systematics and genetic confirmation Faunal Assessments Field Reconnaissance Mycobacteria challenge
holding system- NaFIRRI
haplochromine rearing ponds NMK-Kisumu
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Exhibitry & Aquaculture
Projects
Paticipating Institutions: Columbus Zoo, New England Aquarium, Saint Louis Zoo, Shedd Aquarium, Toronto Zoo, Vancouver Aquarium
glass tank construction at NaFIRRI
fish rearing ponds construction at NMK- Kisumu
carpenters’ fascia fabrication
transformation of herp gallery
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Staff Training
• Multiple SSP partners over the years hosting EAfrican colleagues
• Staff exchanges
• EAfrican exposure to sophisticated exhibitry in NAmerica
• NAmericans benefits numerous
• Institutional media opportunity
• Staffer reward/invigoration
• bypassing the immigration line
• EAfrican staff trained on site with their exhibit systems
trained aquarist NMK- Nairobi
Toronto Zoo program holding 11
Education Unsophisticated and straight forward- • mtl’s dissemination …little is known of Lake • classroom tank install …have never seen live fish
Kisumu primary school
classroom aquarium
private school/academy presentation
traditional performance of lake story
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Graduate Student Support Gertrude Namulemo MS Makerere University
William Ojwang PhD Boston University
Objectives: • assist EAfricans in becoming good candidates for fisheries positions to work on Lake Victoria based projects
Gertrude Namulemo- NaFIRRI William Ojwang- KMFRI
• facilitate collaboration with NAmerican universities to broaden experience- Boston University, Ohio State University Harvard, UMass-Boston
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Research Projects
systematics work- name ‘em before they’re gone!
Mycobacteria prevalence survey know thine enemy
faunal assessment exercises
cryopreservation- get the past on ice for the future!
14
Reevaluation Time …RAW 2012 • Been ~ 8 yrs since last thorough
assessment/thrashing • Evaluate Program Parts
• Take stock of what is working • Determine what is not
– How much bang for the $$ – Are there efficiencies
• Collaborations with new Partners • Open discussions with other AZA
taxa pgm • Find EAfrican team members with
proven records – Political upheaval – Performance marks
15
Dr. Les Kaufman Boston University & NEAq Research Dpt
LVSSP founder, scientific adv.
Reevaluation Time …RAW 2012
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Dr. Les Kaufman Boston University & NEAq Research Dpt
LVSSP founder, scientific adv.
LVSSP Objectives, Current
…what is working well Protopterus aethiopicus
marbled lungfish
impressive jaws and teeth
dried lungfish burrows
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Exhibits
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Bantu for ‘lake’
weaver bird aviary
Cichlatron and scientists’ station python crawl-through and hedge hog 19
Nyanja! …..on the road to E. Africa, Part I NMK-Kisumu Museum, Kenya
newly renovated exhibits building
dusty preserved Nile perch comes out of storage
installation begins with species ID’s 20
Kisumu Exhibit Opening – April ‘09
Chris Augusta artwork- 85 species ID’s
Lake species maybe observed for 1st time cichlid dentition interactive
Students, parents, visitors, in awe
a multi-day event- exhibit opening and lectures
21
Nyanja! …on the road to E. Africa, Part II National Fisheries Resources Research Institute Jinja, Uganda
Research institute created by Brits in 1950s
NaFIRRI’s labs and administrative offices
note the haplochromine and Nile perch on gate
view of Lake from an academy in the mtns 22
used grounds to full extent with temporary outdoor venues to accommodate entire pgm
young NaFIRRI scientists showcase their pjts artist hired to facilitate student art project
Dr Balirwa asks fishermen to bring their boats
23
Nyanja! opening day December ‘08
LVSSP’s Gertrude Namelamo now working on PhD Ugandan Fisheries Minister opening ceremony
…..and AZA partners breathe a sigh of relief!
24
• will become annual festival at NaFIRRI celebrating the Lake • CEF $$$ catalyst for starting program • clear demonstration- small $$’s go a very long way
fund research, students, curriculum creation, education pgms, exhibits, creates media opportunities, scientists’ work on display, etc…
Nyanja! at NaFIRRI diverse stakeholders come together
outstanding media coverage- Dr B interviews with BBC East Africa
CEF funds purchases- monitor & DVD player
Ugandan fishermen invited for discussions
25
Nyanja! at NaFIRRI Student exhibit contributions were extensive
students read everything! ….just like here in ‘Merica
8 schools participated
students lecture on their species subject choice
CEF funds bussed students to festival
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Nyanja! at NaFIRRI exhibits
fishermen demonstrate their gear to visitors NaFIRRI staff set up the aquatics
vinyl interpretive panels are displayed on CEF-bought marquees highschoolers set up microscopes for viewing
27
Nyanja! at NaFIRRI exhibits
CEF-bought cool event uniform shirts for NaFIRRI staffers
students view Lake Story DVD
Haplochromine diversity offered as tactile sculptural elements EU funded NGOs participation
included manning info booths 28
Nyanja! at NaFIRRI Lecture Series
• Fishermen extended invitations to participate in Fisheries Ministry lectures • NaFIRRI researchers presenting findings to public for 1st time vs published papers strategy • Discussion topics include- mesh sizes, catch quotas, closed areas, season, minimum/maximum size regulations • Lively and spirited; considered great opportunity by fishermen
NaFIRRI researcher explains food web dynamics
Ugandan Fisheries Ministers respond to fishermen’s questions
Fishermen react during Q & A session
29
Ugandan School Visits Education
Victoria Nile School students are visited by researcher S.B. Wandera
Students of boys academy appreciate the scientists’ efforts
Gertrude Namulemo about to lecture
Principal of rural school IT savvy and has become an Enthusiastic AquaLinks participant
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Toronto Zoo Pgm ‘97 – present
Canadian teacher visiting EAfrica
Toronto classroom
Atlantic salmon release in Ontario
Education
• Sharing curricula • Comparing fauna, challenges, successes • Collegial atmosphere • Forging connections and creating bonds • Mutual travel
31
• Realities within Program Institution Community: – culturing vs exhibiting fishes- what are holding system (space use) priorities?
e.g.Loss of Toledo Aquarium’s extensive holding
– Mycobacteria in LVSSP fishes- threat posed/ naiveté of wild stock to organism – likelihood of reintroduction in EAfrica- as the prospect diminishes, so does
the appeal of the program to institution resource decision makers – program participation
• reduced to 8 priority species in culture, with only 11 institutions participating
– species plasticity i.e. Are these still the same species after 20 yrs away from Lake?!
– fitness of program species • several species no longer minimum viable population MVP, and thus removed from
program
• Realities in-country: – lake ecology, mycobacteria, politics, logistics, funding
Lipochromis melanopterus Lates niloticus H. ‘2 stripe white lip’ 32
LVSSP 2011 Species Studbook …a book with fewer chapters
DEGENI 1 241 at 3 inst. 73 ARGENS 1 225 at 4 inst. 88 TWOSTRPWHITELIP 1 293 as 3 inst. 100
ISHMAELI 1 206 at 1 inst. 90 PERRIERI 1 397 at 4 inst. 100
PICEATUS 1 726 at 4 inst. 98 MELANOPTERUS 2 53 at 2 inst. 100
RED-EYE GUIARTI
3 0 at 0 inst. 0
SALMON 4 0 at 0 inst. 0 ESCULENTUS 4 536 at 3 inst. 100
PLAGIODON 5 6 at 1 inst. 0
VARIABILIS 5 9 at 1 inst. 100 XENOGNATHUS 5 25 at 1 inst. 0 33
LVSSP’s Culturing Challenge…never enough resources <sigh>
Oreochromis esculentus on exhibit
LVSSP holding system Toronto Zoo Program’s culturing mandate has challenges: • LVSSP program species compete with other Rift Lake species for exhibits ..Malawi & Tanganyika • exhibit species will always have higher priority vs those not seen by visitors • when culture scenario placed on visitor path, not as aesthetically engaging, requires a lot of interpretation • long term holding is rarely able to accommodate all demands/requests LVSSP holding system Toledo Zoo 34
LVSSPers’ reactions to these developments
35
Concluding thoughts...
36
Moody Gardens haplochromine breeding pgm on exhibit
Thanks!
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Haplochromine story @ exhibit at Moody Gardens Aquarium, TX