Application Note: Fish Diversity, Nutrient Recycling And Periphyton Productivity In The Littoral Zone Of Lake Tanganyika

By Dr. Yvonne Vadeboncoeur. Department of Biology, Wright State University

Lake Tanganyika in East Africa is the second deepest lake in the world reaching a maximum depth of 1,470 m (4, 820 feet) and is also the second largest lake by volume. The lake is divided among the countries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Tanzania and Zambia. Most of the lake’s massive volume of water sits in its dark depths, where a lack of oxygen makes it impossible for fish and other animals to live. But swimming near the well-lit shoreline is one of the most diverse freshwater fish communities in the world. The lake supports nearly 275 fish species, many of which are endemic and are popular aquarium pets. In fact, nearly 98% of the Tanganyika cichlid species are found nowhere else.