ISSN 2756-3421
African Journal of Dentistry ISSN 2756-3421 Vol. 10 (5), pp. 001-007, September, 2022. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Preliminary gut content and dentition analysis reveal subtle resource partitioning and feeding adaptations within a haplochromine cichlid community of Lake Victoria satellite lake
Romulus Abila
Department of Fisheries Management and Aquaculture Technology, South Eastern University College, P. O. Box 170 – 90200, Kitui, Kenya. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected].
Accepted 30 August, 2022
Abstract
The trophic relationships between six haplochromine cichlids of Lake Kanyaboli, a satellite lake of Lake Victoria that has not been infested by the Nile perch (Lates niloticus), were studied as a first step towards understanding the cichlid community structure in this threatened wetland ecosystem. Co-efficient of similarity analysis of diet revealed subtle trophic resource partitioning within this haplochromine community. Trophic specializations are further revealed by differences in dentition structures. Of the six haplochromine species examined, Astatotilapia nubila and Astatoreochromis alluadi had the highest coefficient of similarity (0.5256±0.300), indicating highest diet overlap, while Astatotilapia ‘big eye’ and Xistichromis phytophagus were the most ecologically separated (0.0210±0.019). Resource partitioning is further enhanced by a diurnal spatial distribution of the six species within the lake. Overall, the haplochromine cichlid community of Lake Kanyaboli is characterized by a relatively high trophic diversity compared to Lake Victoria. Small water bodies (SWBs) thus present opportunities for conservation of trophic diversity threatened by introduction of exotics in the Lake Victoria basin.
Key words: Community structure, haplochromines, resource partitioning, satellite lakes, trophic ecology.