Ichtyologie Français - Royal Museum for Central Africa

Ichtyologie Français - Royal Museum for Central Africa

Biodiversity studies on
African freshwater fishes in the
Royal Museum for Central Africa,
Tervuren
Jos Snoeks
Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren
and KU Leuven (Leuven University), Belgium
History
1897 : Brussels World
Fair with temporary
colonial section in
Tervuren
1898 : turned into a
permanent exhibition,
the Museum
• Fish from the Congo were on display in formalin
aquaria
• Ichthyological collections, studied by G. Boulenger
(BMNH) and later by J. Pellegrin (MNHN)
History
• 1932 : first ichthyologist Prof. M. Poll
• Important collections from “Belgian Congo”
• 1962: second ichthyologist Prof. Em. D. Thys van den
Audenaerde
• Important collections from a.o. West Africa
History
• Eighties start of period with many students and
temporary contracts; Guy Teugels appointed as curator
in 1988; Jos Snoeks in 1996
• Collections continued to grow especially from the great
lakes region but also from Central West Africa and the
area around Kisangani (Tuur De Vos)
Staff
Prof. Dr. Jos Snoeks, Head of Vertebrates & curator of fishes
Dr. Emmanuel Vreven, curator of fishes
Miguel Parrent, collection manager (section BCDM)
Gert Boden, FishBase
Tobias Musschoot, FishBase
Dimitri Geelhand, FishBase
Dr. Maarten Van Steenberge, Genbas project
Eva Decru, PhD project N-E Congo
Jolien Bamps, Cobafish project (with KBIN)
PhD students & associated PhD students (2008-2014)
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Dieter Anseeuw (Belgium, KU Leuven & Kulak; 2008)
Armel Ibala-Zamba (R. Congo Brazzaville, KU Leuven; 2010)
Soleil Wamuini (D.R. Congo, Université de Liège; 2010)
Mamadou Bamba (Côte d’Ivoire, KU Leuven; 2012)
Gaspard Caporal Banyankimbona (Burundi, KU Leuven; 2012)
Maarten Vansteenberge (Belgium, KU Leuven; 2014)
Tuur Moelants (Belgium, KU Leuven; 2015)
Djiman Lederoun (Bénin, Université de Liège; 2014)
Eva Decru (Belgium, KU Leuven)
Bauchet Katemo Manda (D.R. Congo, KU Leuven)
Tchalondawa Kisekelwa (D.R. Congo, KU Leuven)
Emmanuel Abwe (D.R. Congo, KU Leuven)
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Maarten Vanhove (Belgium, KU Leuven, 2012)
Arnold Nyom Bitja (Caméroun, Université de Yaoundé, 2012)
Mekonen Gebrehiwot (Ethiopie, KU Leuven, 2013)
Célestin Danadu (D.R. Congo, Université de Kisangani, 2014)
Yitayal Alemu Taffere (Ethiopia, KU Leuven)
History
Fish collections
about 1.000.000
specimens
Largest collection
of African freshand brackish
water fishes
 1897-1920
 1921-1961
 1962-1980
 1981-2004
map G. Boden
Core business
Curating of fish collections
Biodiversity research (collection based)
Dissemination of knowledge
General public
Study visits and loans
Short term training
M.Sc. & Ph.D. level
Databases
Biodiversity research
Study of the biological diversity of African fresh- and
brackish water fishes based on old and new collections (field
work) using morphology, osteology, colour pattern analysis,
zoogeography, and genetics, etc...
• description of new species
• systematic revisions (genera of Cichlidae, Clariidae,
Mastacembelidae, Schilbeidae, Chrysichthys, Hepsetidae)
• preparation of regional faunas
The International Code of
Zoological Nomenclature
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/host
ed-sites/iczn/code/
Faunal
guides
• The fresh- and brackish water fishes of West Africa
• The fresh- and brackish water fishes of Central-West Africa
• Guide to the fishes of the Ruvubu National Park (Burundi)
• Cichlids of Lake Malawi
International collaborations
Faunal
guides
Research activities
on the African frsh
and brackish water
fishes 2007-2014;
not including
FishBase or IUCN
activities
The problem
Turkana
Albert
Edouard
Kivu
Victoria
Tanganyika
Malawi
Indigenous species richness in East African lakes
cichlids
Turkana
Albert
Edward
Kivu
Victoria
Tanganyika
Malawi/Nyasa
8
20
60
16
600
250
800
50%
65%
92%
94%
99%
98%
99%
non-cichlids
36
37
21
7
45
75
45
17%
5%
5%
0%
16%
59%
29%
total
44
57
81
23
645
325
845
Cichlid species numbers of Edward, Victoria, Tanganyika and Malawi/Nyasa are
estimates. Only lake, not whole basin; introduced species excluded. Percentages
are of endemism in cichlids and non-cichlids respectively. Lake Edward includes
Snoeks, 2000
Lake George species.
Pourcentage de l'endémisme des cichlidae et des non-cichlidae
des grands lacs de l'Afrique de l'Est
100
80
60
40
20
0
Turkana
Edouard
Albert
Victoria
Kivu
Malawi/Nyasa
Tanganika
cichlidae
non-cichlidae
Snoeks, 2000
How ?
morphometrics
• measurements, counts,
qualitative observations
• univariate and multivariate
data analyses
2,5
1,5
How ?
0,5
PC 3
multivariate data analysis
• log-transformed measurements
-0,5
-1,5
-2,5
• raw meristics
-3,5
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
pictus
nitidus
intermedius
PC 2
4
multidisciplinary
approach
3
2
1
PC3
0
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-2
,5
-1
,5
-0
,5
0
,5
P
C
2
1
,5
2
,5
3
,5
b
rich
a
rd
i
cra
ssu
s
m
a
ru
n
g
u
en
sis
fa
lcicu
la
g
ra
cilis
o
liv
a
ceu
s
sp
len
d
en
s
sa
v
o
ry
i
p
u
lch
er
The case of the so-called pan African pike
One family, one genus, one species: Hepsetus odoe.
A big fish, one of the easiest recognizable species,
distributed over a large part of Africa, everywhere
in the Congo basin
No problem except that ….
Decru et al. 2012, 2013
The case of the so-called pan African pike
.... there are six clearly distinct
species (two new)
Decru et al. 2012, 2013
There is more than morphometrics
The Mormyridae: elephantsnout fishes© John Sullivan: www.tolweb.org
Example of
Brienomyrus from
Gabon:
Differences in the
shape of the snout,
the morphologie of
the electrogenic units
and the EOD’s
Sullivan et al., 2002
There is more than
morphometrics:
molecular studies and barcoding
Haplochromines of the region of
lakes Victoria, Edward & Kivu :
Example: Mt-DNA of limited use
for delimiting species
Central Africa:
Intra-specific distinction : Congo
versus Lower Guinea
Basse Guinée
(Kouilou-Niari)
Congo (Léfini)
Pantodon buchholzi, butterfly fish
Disjunct distribution:
Congo (+ Upper Ogowe)
Niger (+ nearby coastal rivers)
Large genetic divergence (ca. 60 million BP).
Morphological stasis; Almost no morphological differences
between populations from Congo and Niger.
Lavoué et al, 2011
A revision of the genus Tropheus from Lake Tanganyika
 Endemic to the lake; living on rocky
shores.
 Most extreme example of geographic
variation in colour pattern.
 Currently six species described.
 ± 12 DNA-lineages.
 More than 100 colour forms.
 Revision including morphometrics
(traditional and geomorphometric), an in
depth analysis of colour patterns and
complementary molecular work.
Additional data from Monogenean
parasites (M. Vanhove)
Van Steenberge et al.
Ophthalmotilapia in Lake Tanganyika:
problem of delimiting genera
Hanssens, Snoeks, Verheyen, unpublished
Ophthalmotilapia
35 - 40 scales lline
Cyathopharynx
48-67 scales lline
O
p
h
th
a
lm
o
tila
p
ian
a
su
ta
C
Np
o
p
u
la
tio
n(w
e
s
tc
o
a
s
t lo
c
a
litie
s
)
Cap Banza
Cap Muzimu
3
,5
2
,5
Rubana
1
,5
PC3(BodyD,DentAreaL)
0
,5
-0
,5
R
u
b
a
n
a
C
a
pB
a
n
z
a
-1
,5
C
a
pM
u
z
im
u
Yungu
Y
u
n
g
u
-2
,5
-1
,8
-1
,4
-1
,0
-0
,6
-0
,2
0
,2
P
C2(A
n
a
lFin
L
,C
a
u
d
a
lP
e
d
L
,L
o
w
e
rJ
a
w
W
)
Kabimba
0
,6
1
,0
1
,4
K
a
b
im
b
a
Telmatochromis temporalis
Telmatochromis sp. ‘tanzania’
Complexity : geographical
variation in morphology (7 to
11 of 25 measurements
significantly different)
Telmatochromis sp.
North East
Central East
p
c
alo
gm
e
a
s
u
re
m
e
n
ts
S
o
u
th
Central West
PC3
N
o
rthE
a
s
t
C
e
n
tra
lW
e
s
t
C
e
n
tra
lE
a
s
t
T. te
m
p
o
ra
lis
T. s
p
. 'ta
n
z
a
n
ia
'
T. s
p
.
P
C2
South
Complexity : introgressive hybridization
N. pulcher
Salzburger et al. 2002
© Pierre-Denis Plisnier
The Congo Biodiversity Initiative
Consortium of four institutions (RMCA, RBINS, NBGB,
UNIKIS)
Multidisciplinary expeditions 2009 & 2010
The study of the biodiversity of the Congo
Training of Congolese scientists
Creation of a Biodiversity Centre in Kisangani/Yangambi
 www.congobiodiv.org
Major multidisciplinary
expeditions 2009 &
Boyekole Ebale 2010
PhD Armel Ibala
Zamba 2006-2010
Lower Congo &
Pool Malebo
Project 2004-2008
PhD Soleil Wamuini
2006-2010
PhD Eva Decru
2012-2016
Biodiversity Centre Kisangani,
Cobafish project
PhD Célestin Danadu 2010-2014
PhD Tuur Moelants
2009-2014
PhD Gaspard
Banyankimbona
2009-2013
PhD Maarten Van
Steenberge 2009-2014
PhD Maarten Vanhove
(2007-2012)
Vreven/Cocha/
Schliewen
project 2012
In addition: new MbiSa-Congo project on 10
protected areas and Tilapia project on fish parasites
MSc Maarten
Van Steenberge
2008-2009
The poorly known Lefini Basin (Congo-Brazzaville)
Right bank Congo affluent north of Brazzaville. Virtually nothing known
about its fish diversity before 2005. Since 2010 inventory of 140 species, of
which at least five are new to science.
1.0
1.0
First attempt for an ecological study on microhabitat distribution of fishes
in the Congo. Five habitat types characterised by a unique combination of
the most abundant species.
Ibala-Zamba et al.
Pf2
Pf1
Af1
Avf2
Avf1
V: forest with little
canopy coverage
IV: forest with
moderate canopy
Ah2
coverage
T°
Af2
Avh1
III: forest with
dense canopy
closure
Ah1
Avh2
Ph2
I: grass &
poolshaped
III
Mesc
I
Ctea
Dist
Ah1
Avh2
Ph2
Ph1 Phai
II
-1.0
-1.0
Bryg Xens
Disa
II: grass
ACR Axe 1 (Eigenvalues : 20,6)
Citm Malm
Hepo
Heme
Tilc
Pelv
Pf1 Af1
Bryp
Hydf
XenonTyll
Papc
Altn
Marcm
Masc Avf2
Pard
Micn
Schg
Cten
Chro
Parp Chaa
Hems
Morf
Chrt Nant Ctew
Gnap
Gnae
Panb
Avf1 Claa Synf PetcMark Polyw Pols
Chrp
Batc Pell
Alel
Ah2
Poln Morb
Morz
Af2 Marm
Mors
Mica
Schm
Odal
Sync
Phab
Alesc
Brycm Eugm Disl
Peln
Hipw
Morn
Avh1
Barh Bars
Synn
Bryi Braa
Pari
Disf
Diss
Petb
Brycb
Cteo
Disn
Phei
Tilb
Ctek
Raic
Polym
Tetm
Hetm
Ph1
-1.0
V
Mormb
ACR Axe 1 (Eigenvalues : 9,3)
ACR Axe 2 (Eigenvalues : 9,3)
Pf2
IV
Hauc
Couc
1.0
-1.0
Stop
ACR Axe 1 (Eigenvalues : 20,6)
1.0
Moelants, Vanstallen et al.,
Prey-specific abundance (%)
100
80
Terr.
insect
Input terrestrial
material?
Plants
Lomami
Maiko
Chitin
60
DipN
Col
Ants
Unknown
Coleopter
a (larvae)
Unknown
40
20
Spider
Ants
Plants
Chitin
0
0
20
40
60
80
Frequency of occurence (%)
100
Hybridization in spiny eels in the Lower Congo rapids
M. brichardi (Poll, 1958)
M. brachyrhinus Boulenger, 1898
M. brichardi (Poll, 1958)
M. brachyrhinus x M. brichardi (hybrid)
Vreven, in prep.
Intergeneric hybridisation :
Varicorhinus latirostris x Labeobarbus sp. ‘inkisi’ ?
Vreven, Schliewen & Wamuini
Collaboration IUCN
Collaboration since 2004 aiming at a
pan-African revision of the conservations
status of the biodiversity of the African
freshwaters,
Two important publications.