Author(s)

Moshe Gophen^*

Migal-Scientific Research Institute, Kiryat Shemone, Israel.

A few specimens of the exotic fish, Nile Perch, (Lates niloticus, Linnaeus 1758) were transferred into Lake Victoria in early 1950’s. In early 1980’s this fish occupied the Lake Victoria ecosystem eliminating the local endemic Haplochromines (app. 400 species). As a result of this change, together with intensification of pollution constrains from the catchment and dust deposition the ecology of Victoria’s ecosystem was modified: cyanobacteria replaced diatoms, anoxia enhanced, secchi depth became shallower, euphotic zone became thinner, fishery enhanced fully comprised of Nile Perch and Rastrineobola. The ecological significances are discussed and future propositions are presented.

Lake Victoria, Nile Perch, Ecological Changes, Fish, Plankton

Gophen, M. (2015) Ecological Devastation in Lake Victoria: Part B: Plankton and Fish Communities. Open Journal of Ecology, 5, 315-325. doi: 10.4236/oje.2015.57026.