Lake Victoria SSP - Two Oceans Aquarium

Renewed Energy to Help Save
Darwin’s Dreampond
…an SSP attempts to remain hopeful
Lake Victoria Cichlid Species Survival Plan
C. Lee, S. Bailey, G. Whittaker,
J. Hemdal & D. Warmolts,
L. Kaufman, J. Balirwa, P. Nyamenya & Wm. Ojwang
8th IAC
Two Oceans Aquarium
Cape Town, South Africa
Kisumu, Kenya looking west
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What you’ll be listening to…
for the next 15 minutes
•  Where & what is Lake Victoria?
•  Haplochromine?!
•  …and what’s all the fuss about?
•  LVSSP’s mission- what has been
accomplished…
•  LVSSP’s objectives going forwardbriefly….
Qu’est-ce que c’est Haplochromine?
Lake Victoria view Jinja, Uganda
Are the ‘aquarist bits’ still doable?
traditional fishing vessel
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cichlid sex stuff
Queen Victoria
…during her runway model days
Lake Victoria Geography & Geology Tutorial
•  3 countries comprise border- Uganda, Kenya, & Tanzania
•  E African Rift Lake- 1 of 6 sizeable, including Malawi & Tanganyika,
occupying shallow plateau between 2 arms of the forked Great Rift Valley
•  World’s 2nd largest freshwater lake
•  vulnerable to climate change- precipitation driven vs large river inflow,
shallow, large surface area compared to volume ratio
•  Dry 12-14,000 yrs ago- phenomenal speciation since…
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drama’s principal actors-
Labrochromis ishmaeli
Haplochromine Cichlids
Lee Newman
Oreochromis variabilis
•  >500 LV species- spectacular species
radiation
P. perrieri
•  group named for genus Haplochromis- by
design 80% of Lake Victoria’s biomass
•  nomenclature often pending, hence use
of common names (chironym)
Astatotilapia sp.
•  evolutionary plasticity- rapid response to
localized & diverse environmental conditions
•  ~14 trophic guilds recognised
•  Considerable trophic diversityplanktivores, paedophages,
parasitivores, fin & scale eaters, to
molluscavores, with bizarre dentition
stops in between …that’d make dentists swoon!
argenteus
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Traditional Fishery
fishermen & simple gear
Ugandan fish landing
•  5.4M lake region residents in ‘48
•  ~75% of local protein needs was fishery
derived
•  Haplochromines accounted for 80% of
biomass
•  simple fishing gear used
•  primarily near-shore fishery
•  targeted specific species
•  women dominated activity
•  no capacity for export to coast
•  nutrient poor lake fishery
packing dried fish
cyprinid minnow Omena sun drying5
Modern Lake Fishery
• Contrast >25m people in LVictoria
Basin …2010 estimate
• Targets commercially successful
Lates niloticus …after its introduction in ’54
• Introduced tilapia spp outcompete
endemic tilapia ...and tastes much differently
• Focuses on exports- Europe, Middle
East, US, & Australia
• Beyond financial resources of local
population … which results in a net loss of
protein & rise of malnutrition
•  ‘boomtown environment’-
54,000 boats,
commercial fishing vessel
Lates niloticus
cholera, HIV, social upheaval
• LVictoria characteristics not
conducive to perch population support
• Haplochromine drop to 1% biomass
• Largest mass extinction event- >65%
species lost
mixed species catch
vs. targeted catch
commercial fishery employment
is huge slice of demographic
• Omena (cyprinid) exploded without
cichlid predators
• Cichlid morphological plasticitybending to Lake’s condition
• Nile perch decline …cannibalism, now!
• Pollution/ eutrophication- now ‘nutrient
rich lake fishery 'with only 60’ O2 zone in H2O column
• Market decline- cholera, heavy metals
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Fishery Impacts
loss of traditional
food source
fueling rampant population growth
deforestation
Darwin’s Dreampond Tijs Goldschmidt’s book
Darwin’s Nightmare Hubert Sauper’s documentary
Eutrophication – H2O hyacinth explosion
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Nile perch for the locals- filleted carcasses
Lake Victoria Species Survival Plan
…..a synoptic retrospective
Lates niloticus
2 stripe white lip
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Lipochromis melanopterus
•  Maintain genetic stocks
with intent of reintroduction… someday
this is the
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pure AquaristAdrenaline stuff
Exhibits
Staff Training
Education
Graduate Student
Research
both NAmerica and East Africa
of EAfrican Aquarists
both NAmerica and East Africa
support
Pjts in both EAfrica and NAmerica
 
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haplochromine rearing ponds
NMK-Kisumu
Systematics
Faunal Assessments
Field Reconnaissance
Mycobacteria challenge
and genetic confirmation
holding system- NaFIRRI
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transformation of herp gallery
carpenters’ fascia
fabrication
glass tank construction at
NaFIRRI
Exhibitry &
Aquaculture
Projects
fish rearing ponds construction at NMK- Kisumu
Paticipating Institutions: Columbus Zoo, New England Aquarium, Saint Louis Zoo, Shedd
Aquarium, Toronto Zoo, Vancouver Aquarium
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Staff Training
•  Multiple SSP partners over the
years hosting EAfrican colleagues
•  Staff exchanges
•  EAfrican exposure to
sophisticated exhibitry in
NAmerica
•  NAmericans benefits numerous
•  Institutional media
opportunity
•  Staffer reward/invigoration
•  bypassing the immigration line
•  EAfrican staff trained on site with
their exhibit systems
trained aquarist
NMK- Nairobi
Toronto Zoo program
11 holding
Education
Unsophisticated and straight forward•  mtl’s dissemination …little is known of Lake
•  classroom tank install …have never seen live fish
classroom aquarium
private school/academy presentation
traditional performance
of lake story
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Kisumu primary school
Graduate Student Support
Gertrude Namulemo MS
Makerere University
Objectives:
•  assist EAfricans in becoming good
candidates for fisheries positions to work
on Lake Victoria based projects
Gertrude Namulemo- NaFIRRI
William Ojwang- KMFRI
•  facilitate collaboration with NAmerican
universities to broaden experienceBoston University, Ohio State University
Harvard, UMass-Boston
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William Ojwang PhD
Boston University
Research Projects
cryopreservationsystematics work- name ‘em before they’re gone!
Mycobacteria prevalence survey
know thine enemy
get the past on ice for the future!
faunal assessment exercises
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Reevaluation Time
…RAW 2012
•  Been ~ 8 yrs since last thorough
assessment/thrashing
•  Evaluate Program Parts
•  Take stock of what is working
•  Determine what is not
– 
– 
How much bang for the $$
Are there efficiencies
•  Collaborations with new Partners
•  Open discussions with other AZA
taxa pgm
•  Find EAfrican team members with
proven records
–  Political upheaval
–  Performance marks
Dr. Les Kaufman
Boston University & NEAq Research Dpt
LVSSP founder, scientific adv.
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Reevaluation Time
…RAW 2012
Dr. Les Kaufman
Boston University & NEAq Research Dpt
LVSSP founder, scientific adv.
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LVSSP Objectives, Current
…what is working well
Protopterus aethiopicus
marbled lungfish
impressive jaws and teeth
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dried lungfish burrows
Exhibits
Bantu for ‘lake’
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weaver bird aviary
Cichlatron and scientists’ station
python crawl-through and hedge hog 19
Nyanja! …..on the road to E. Africa, Part I
NMK-Kisumu Museum, Kenya
newly renovated exhibits building
dusty preserved Nile perch comes out of storage
installation begins with species ID’s
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Kisumu Exhibit Opening –
April ‘09
a multi-day event- exhibit opening and lectures
Lake species maybe observed for 1st time
Chris Augusta artwork- 85 species ID’s
cichlid dentition interactive
Students, parents, visitors, in awe
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Nyanja!
…on the road to E. Africa, Part II
National Fisheries Resources Research Institute
Jinja, Uganda
Research institute created by Brits in 1950s
NaFIRRI’s labs and administrative offices
note the haplochromine and Nile perch on gate
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view of Lake from an academy in the mtns
used grounds to full extent with temporary
outdoor venues to accommodate entire pgm
artist hired to facilitate student art project
Dr Balirwa asks fishermen to bring their boats
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young NaFIRRI scientists showcase their pjts
Nyanja! opening day
LVSSP’s Gertrude Namelamo now working on PhD
December ‘08
Ugandan Fisheries Minister opening ceremony
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…..and AZA partners breathe a sigh of relief!
Nyanja! at NaFIRRI
diverse stakeholders come together
Ugandan fishermen invited for discussions
• will become annual festival at
NaFIRRI celebrating the Lake
• CEF $$$ catalyst for starting
program
• clear demonstration- small $$’s go
a very long way
 fund research, students,
curriculum creation, education
pgms, exhibits, creates media
opportunities, scientists’ work
on display, etc…
outstanding media coverageDr B interviews with BBC East Africa
CEF funds purchases- monitor & DVD player
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Nyanja! at NaFIRRI
Student exhibit contributions were extensive
CEF funds bussed students
to festival
students lecture on their species subject choice
8 schools participated
students read everything!
….just like here in ‘Merica
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Nyanja! at NaFIRRI exhibits
highschoolers set up microscopes for viewing
NaFIRRI staff set up the aquatics
vinyl interpretive panels
are displayed on CEF-bought marquees
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fishermen demonstrate their gear to visitors
Nyanja! at NaFIRRI exhibits
CEF-bought cool event uniform shirts
for NaFIRRI staffers
EU funded NGOs participation
included manning info booths
students view Lake Story DVD
Haplochromine diversity offered as
tactile sculptural elements
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Nyanja! at NaFIRRI Lecture Series
Ugandan Fisheries Ministers respond
to fishermen’s questions
NaFIRRI researcher explains food web dynamics
• Fishermen extended invitations to
participate in Fisheries Ministry lectures
• NaFIRRI researchers presenting
findings to public for 1st time vs
published papers strategy
• Discussion topics include- mesh sizes,
catch quotas, closed areas, season,
minimum/maximum size regulations
• Lively and spirited; considered great
opportunity by fishermen
Fishermen react during Q & A session
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Education
Ugandan School Visits
Principal of rural school
IT savvy and has
become an
Enthusiastic
AquaLinks
participant
Gertrude Namulemo about to lecture
Students of boys academy
appreciate the scientists’ efforts
Victoria Nile School students are
visited by researcher S.B. Wandera
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Education
Canadian teacher visiting EAfrica
Atlantic salmon release
in Ontario
Toronto Zoo Pgm ‘97 – present
Toronto classroom
• Sharing curricula
• Comparing fauna, challenges, successes
• Collegial atmosphere
• Forging connections and creating bonds
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• Mutual travel
•  Realities within Program Institution Community:
–  culturing vs exhibiting fishes- what are holding system (space use) priorities?
e.g.Loss of Toledo Aquarium’s extensive holding
–  Mycobacteria in LVSSP fishes- threat posed/ naiveté of wild stock to organism
–  likelihood of reintroduction in EAfrica- as the prospect diminishes, so does
the appeal of the program to institution resource decision makers
–  program participation
•  reduced to 8 priority species in culture, with only 11 institutions participating
–  species plasticity i.e. Are these still the same species after 20 yrs away from Lake?!
–  fitness of program species
•  several species no longer minimum viable population MVP, and thus removed from
program
•  Realities in-country:
–  lake ecology, mycobacteria, politics, logistics, funding
Lates niloticus
H. ‘2 stripe white lip’
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Lipochromis melanopterus
LVSSP 2011 Species Studbook
…a book with fewer chapters
DEGENI
1
241 at 3 inst.
73
ARGENS
1
225 at 4 inst.
88
TWOSTRPWHITELIP
1
293 as 3 inst.
100
ISHMAELI
1
206 at 1 inst.
90
PERRIERI
1
397 at 4 inst.
100
PICEATUS
1
726 at 4 inst.
98
MELANOPTERUS
2
53 at 2 inst.
100
RED-EYE
GUIARTI
3
0 at 0 inst.
0
SALMON
4
0 at 0 inst.
0
ESCULENTUS
4
536 at 3 inst.
100
PLAGIODON
5
6 at 1 inst.
0
VARIABILIS
5
9 at 1 inst.
100
XENOGNATHUS
5
25 at 1 inst.
0
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LVSSP’s Culturing Challenge…never enough resources <sigh>
Oreochromis esculentus on exhibit
Program’s culturing mandate has
challenges:
•  LVSSP program species compete with
other Rift Lake species for exhibits ..Malawi &
LVSSP holding system Toronto Zoo
Tanganyika
• exhibit species will always have higher
priority vs those not seen by visitors
• when culture scenario placed on visitor
path, not as aesthetically engaging,
requires a lot of interpretation
•  long term holding is rarely able to
accommodate all demands/requests
LVSSP holding system Toledo Zoo
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LVSSPers’ reactions to these developments
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Concluding thoughts...
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Thanks!
Haplochromine story @ exhibit
at Moody Gardens Aquarium, TX
Moody Gardens haplochromine
breeding pgm on exhibit
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