Fish diversity of Gambia River floodplain (Senegal) and Turkana Lake (Kenya), two fish communities endangered by dam construction
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| Year of publication | 2013 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | The River Gambia is unique in being the last major river in West Africa with a natural hydrological regime. The large adjacent floodplains in the lower half of the river are seasonally inundated by floodwater. Sampling occured over five years (2004-2008) in Niokolo Koba National Park and its vicinity in 22 sites representing five major habitat types (main river, tributaries, large oxbow lakes, temporary water bodies and spring pools). Our sampling resulted in 62 fish species from 22 families and only native species were found. Data were compared with records from the 1950s, yielding a conservative estimate of 73 fish species occurring in the park. There have been several plans to dam the River Gambia but the most recent one suggests construction of hydroelectric power plant at Sambangalou, on the Senegal-Guinea border. Significant effects on the hydrology of the river having wide ecological consequences along the entire stretch of the River Gambia are expected. Lake Turkana is located in the Great Rift Valley in arid northwestern part of Kenya and it is world’s largest permanent alkaline desert lake, forming with its only permanent inlet, the Omo River, a closed-basin. Most of fish species occuring in Turkana Lake belong to Nilo-Sudaninan fish assemblage and only 13 species are endemic. Our sampling took place over three years (2008-2010) at eight sites throught the lake. Our effort resulted in 48 species from 19 families, three of which were recorded in Turkana Lake for the first time. According to latest publications it can be estimated that the Turkana basin is inhabited by 67 fish species. Turkana Lake fish assemblages will be soon influenced by ongoing construction of huge Gibe III dam of the only permanent inlet River Omo. Mostly affected species appear to be those dependent with reproduction on seasonal floods in Omo delta. |
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