Reproduction de Bagrus bajad (Fabricius, 1775, Bagridae) du Lac Albert, Bassin du Nil, République Démocratique du Congo (RDC)

Le Bagrus bajad figure parmi les espèces des poissons très pêchées dans les cours d’eau tropicaux d’Afrique dont les informations sur la reproduction sont rares. Quelques paramètres de reproduction de Bagrus bajad du Sud-ouest du Lac Albert ont été étudiés durant cette recherche. Les échantillons ont été collectés entre décembre 2019 et décembre 2020 au moyen des éperviers, des palangres et des filets maillants de maille standard (20,2, 25,4 et 30,5 mm). Au total, 520 spécimens dont 283 femelles et 237 males ont été étudiés. Les informations sur le sex-ratio, le stade de maturité sexuelle, le rapport gonadosomatique, le rapport hepathosomatique, la fécondité et le facteur de condition ont été analysés. L’étude a révélé l’égalité entre les mâles et les femelle parmi les individus, même si les femelles étaient supérieurs aux mâles (1: 0,84; p-value<0.05). Tous les poissons étudiés ont présenté tous les stades de maturité sexuelle (I, II, III, IV, et V). Les matures (III, IV et V) ont une plus grande proportion (III, IV et V) par rapport aux immatures (I et II). Les mâles ont une taille de première maturité sexuelle de 43.5 cm contre 44 cm pour les femelles. Les valeurs mensuelles des indices gonadosomatiques et celles des stades gonadiques macroscopiques prouvent que B. bajad a trois périodes de fraie au cours de l’année : (i) Janvier-Avril ; (ii) Juin-Août et (iii) Octobre-Novembre alternées par une période d’un mois de repos en mai, septembre et décembre. La fécondité absolue est de 525 à 34440 ovocytes mais n’est pas significativement corrélées avec la longueur totale (R2=0,002) et le poids (R2=0,12). Les connaissances de la présente étude constituent une base fondamentale pour assurer la surveillance des risques d’épuisement du stock potentiel cette espèce et orienteront les décideurs à développer des politiques et stratégies efficaces garantissant l’exploitation et la conservation rationnelle de cette espèce.   Bagrus bayad is one of the highly fished fish species in tropical African rivers for which information on reproduction is scarce. Some reproduction parameters of B. bayad from the southwest of Lake Albert were studied. The samples were collected between December 2019 and December 2020 using cast nets, longlines, and standard mesh gillnets (20.2, 25.4, and 30.5 mm). A total of 520 specimens including 283 females and 237 males were examined. Information on sex ratio, stage of sexual maturity, gonadosomatic ratio, hepatosomatic ratio, fecundity, and condition factor was analyzed. The study revealed equality between males and females among individuals, although females were superior to males (1:0.84; p-value<0.05). All fish investigated showed all stages of sexual maturity (I, II, III, IV, and V). The mature (III, IV and V) have a greater proportion (III, IV and V) compared to the immature (I and II). Males have a size at first sexual maturity of 43.5 cm against 44 cm for females. The monthly values of gonadosomatic indices and those of macroscopic gonad stages show that B. bajad has three spawning periods a year: (i) January-April; (ii) June-August and (iii) October-November, alternated by a one-month rest period in May, September, and December. Absolute fecundity varies between 525 and 34440 oocytes but is not significantly correlated with total length (R2=0.002) and weight (R2=0.12). Knowledge from this study constitutes a fundamental basis for ensuring the monitoring of the risks of depletion of the potential stock of this species and will guide decision-makers in developing effective policies and strategies guaranteeing rational exploitation and conservation of this species

Unusual massive phytoplankton bloom in the oligotrophic Lake Tanganyika

peer reviewedBackground and aims – Massive algae growth resulting in a phytoplankton bloom is a very rare event in the meromictic and oligotrophic Lake Tanganyika. Such a bloom was observed in the north of the lake in September 2018. Phytoplankton species composition during this bloom is compared to a documented bloom in 1955, and to the composition in September 2011–2013. Meteorological observations suggest hydrodynamics could explain the occurrence of the 2018 bloom. Material and methods – Phytoplankton net samples were taken in the pelagic and littoral zone near Uvira during five consecutive days of the bloom in 2018. For the period 2011–2013, quantitative phytoplankton samples were obtained during a weekly sampling at the same sites. Samples were analysed with an inverted microscope and relative abundances of the algal species were compared. Key results – Dolichospermum flosaquae (Cyanobacteria) initially dominated the bloom followed by high relative abundance of Limnococcus limneticus (Cyanobacteria) on the third sampling day in September 2018. In the pelagic zone an increase of Nitzschia asterionelloides (Bacillariophyta), and Dictyosphaerium and Lobocystis (Chlorophyta) was observed while in the littoral zone increasing abundances of dinophytes were noted. Dolichospermum flosaquae was also responsible for the bloom reported in 1955, but was only sporadically observed in the 2011–2013 samples. Although Limnococcus limneticus was present in 2011–2013, it never reached relative abundances as high as during the 2018 bloom. Meteorological data indicate that 2018 experienced different conditions compared to previous years: strong south-east winds from May to September with a more eastern direction of the wind, and a well-marked drop in atmospheric pressure between August and September. Conclusion – After a very windy season, the combination of strong hydrodynamics, calmer lake conditions, and high solar radiation and air temperature in September 2018 was favourable for a massive Cyanobacteria bloom in the north of Lake Tanganyika. © 2021 Christine Cocquyt, Pierre-Denis Plisnier, N’sibula Mulimbwa, Muderhwa Nshombo

Jaw Laterality and Related Handedness in the Hunting Behavior of a Scale-Eating Characin, Exodon paradoxus

BACKGROUND: Asymmetry in animal bodies and behavior has evolved several times, but our knowledge of their linkage is limited. Tanganyikan scale-eating cichlids have well-known antisymmetry in their bodies and behavior; individuals open their mouths leftward (righty) or rightward (lefty), and righties always attack the right flank of the prey, whereas lefties attack the left. This study analyzed the morphological asymmetry in a scale-eating characiform, Exodon paradoxus, and its behavioral handedness. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Each eight E. paradoxus was observed for 1-h with a prey goldfish in an aquarium to detect the behavioral handedness. Following the experiment, the lateral differences in the mandibles and head-inclination of these eight and ten additional specimens were analyzed. Both measurements on the morphology showed a bimodal distribution, and the laterality identified by these two methods was always consistent within a given individual, indicating that the characin has morphological antisymmetry. Furthermore, this laterality significantly corresponded to behavioral handedness; that is, lefties more often rasped scales from the right flank of the prey and vice versa. However, the correlation between laterality and handedness is the opposite of that in the cichlids. This is due to differences in the feeding apparatus and technique. The characin has cuspids pointing forward on the external side of the premaxilla, and it thrusts its dominant body side outward from its body axis on the flank of the prey to tear off scales. By contrast, the cichlids draw their dominant body side inward toward the axis or rotate it to scrape or wrench off scales with the teeth lined in the opened mouth. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrated that the antisymmetry in external morphology and the corresponding behavioral handedness have evolved in two lineages of scale-eating fishes independently, and these fishes adopt different utilization of their body asymmetry to tear off scales

Histopathological disturbances in two fish species Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus 1758) and Labeo barbus pellegrini (Bertin et Estève 1948) from downstream mining sites in the upper Ulindi and Elila river basins, Eastern DR Congo

peer reviewedThe effect of intensive mining on the health status of fish living in the upper basins of the Ulindi and Elila rivers was investigated between June 2018 and March 2022 by comparing the reproductive, hepatic and gill systems of fish collected from sites upstream and downstream of the mining sites. Biometric indices and organ histopathology are biomarkers that were studied at two different trophic levels using two fish species Oreochromis niloticus and Labeobarbus pellegreni. Histological evaluation was performed on the liver, gonads and gills of both species. Water and sediment samples were analysed for total mercury (T-Hg) concentration by (atomic absorption spectrophotometry). Histological changes were assessed semi-quantitatively, and the results were graded according to the severity of the histological responses. The results showed that L. pellegrini accumulated more T-Hg than O. niloticus. The T-Hg level was higher in the organs of both species during the rainy season than during the dry season in the following order: Gonads > Liver > Gills and exceeded the WHO/FAO recommended limit (T-Hg = 1.0 mg/kg wet weight) only in the testes and gills of L. pellegrini collected at the downstream sites of the Ulindi and Elila rivers. This does not necessarily reflect the level in the carcass. Taken together, the results suggest that mercury accumulated downstream of gold mining operations is altering the health of fish populations and that L. pellegrini can be considered a sentinel species for monitoring this pollution. To protect fish health, it is recommended that certain mining practices such as the misuse of mercury be avoided throughout the Congo River basi

Lateralized Kinematics of Predation Behavior in a Lake Tanganyika Scale-Eating Cichlid Fish

Behavioral lateralization has been documented in many vertebrates. The scale-eating cichlid fish Perissodus microlepis is well known for exhibiting lateral dimorphism in its mouth morphology and lateralized behavior in robbing scales from prey fish. A previous field study indicated that this mouth asymmetry closely correlates with the side on which prey is attacked, but details of this species' predation behavior have not been previously analyzed because of the rapidity of the movements. Here, we studied scale-eating behavior in cichlids in a tank through high-speed video monitoring and quantitative assessment of behavioral laterality and kinematics. The fish observed showed a clear bias toward striking on one side, which closely correlated with their asymmetric mouth morphologies. Furthermore, the maximum angular velocity and amplitude of body flexion were significantly larger during attacks on the preferred side compared to those on the nonpreferred side, permitting increased predation success. In contrast, no such lateral difference in movement elements was observed in acoustically evoked flexion during the escape response, which is similar to flexion during scale eating and suggests that they share a common motor control pathway. Thus the neuronal circuits controlling body flexion during scale eating may be functionally lateralized upstream of this common motor pathway

ICDP workshop on the Lake Tanganyika Scientific Drilling Project: a late Miocene–present record of climate, rifting, and ecosystem evolution from the world's oldest tropical lake

The Neogene and Quaternary are characterized by enormous changes in global climate and environments, including global cooling and the establishment of northern high-latitude glaciers. These changes reshaped global ecosystems, including the emergence of tropical dry forests and savannahs that are found in Africa today, which in turn may have influenced the evolution of humans and their ancestors. However, despite decades of research we lack long, continuous, well-resolved records of tropical climate, ecosystem changes, and surface processes necessary to understand their interactions and influences on evolutionary processes. Lake Tanganyika, Africa, contains the most continuous, long continental climate record from the mid-Miocene (∼10 Ma) to the present anywhere in the tropics and has long been recognized as a top-priority site for scientific drilling. The lake is surrounded by the Miombo woodlands, part of the largest dry tropical biome on Earth. Lake Tanganyika also harbors incredibly diverse endemic biota and an entirely unexplored deep microbial biosphere, and it provides textbook examples of rift segmentation, fault behavior, and associated surface processes. To evaluate the interdisciplinary scientific opportunities that an ICDP drilling program at Lake Tanganyika could offer, more than 70 scientists representing 12 countries and a variety of scientific disciplines met in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in June 2019. The team developed key research objectives in basin evolution, source-to-sink sedimentology, organismal evolution, geomicrobiology, paleoclimatology, paleolimnology, terrestrial paleoecology, paleoanthropology, and geochronology to be addressed through scientific drilling on Lake Tanganyika. They also identified drilling targets and strategies, logistical challenges, and education and capacity building programs to be carried out through the project. Participants concluded that a drilling program at Lake Tanganyika would produce the first continuous Miocene–present record from the tropics, transforming our understanding of global environmental change, the environmental context of human origins in Africa, and providing a detailed window into the dynamics, tempo and mode of biological diversification and adaptive radiations.© Author(s) 2020. This open access article is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License