Morphomeristic Characterization of Enteromius Species in Small Water-bodies of the North Rift, Kenya
Main Article Content
Keywords
Enteromius, small water-bodies, morphomeristic analysis, principal component analysis
Abstract
Enteromius, a diverse genus of cyprinid fish native to tropical Africa, comprises around 350 species. These species inhabit various aquatic habitats, notably in Kenya’s North Rift region. Rivers and reservoirs in this area provide essential habitats but face threats from agricultural activities and habitat fragmentation. Morphometric and meristic traits help manage fisheries by offering insights into population dynamics and species identification, although misidentifications pose challenges. Conservation of Enteromius is crucial as these fish support local biodiversity and food security, yet they are increasingly threatened by environmental changes and human activities. The study, conducted in Kenya's North Rift sampled small water bodies, involved sampling 25 rivers and reservoirs impacted by agriculture. Fish were collected from February to July 2018 using electrofishing and seine nets. A total of 972 Enteromius specimens were identified, measured, and analyzed for morphometric and meristic traits. Measurements were taken with Vernier calipers, and 11 meristic counts were recorded. Unidentified samples were preserved for further identification at the National Museums of Kenya. The analysis was performed at UoE Labs following established methodologies. The results indicated that E. paludinosus from Kapsaina Reservoir had the highest standard length (SL) of 8.1±0.8 cm, while E. neumayeri from Ellegrin Reservoir reached 9.4±1.3 cm. Notable differences in operculum length, prepectoral length, prepelvic length, preanal length, and body depth were recorded across different reservoirs and rivers. For instance, Karara Reservoir populations showed the highest operculum length in E. paludinosus (28.2±4.9) and E. neumayeri (25.5±3.2). Meristic traits, such as lateral scales above and dorsal fin rays, also varied significantly, with Kapsaina Reservoir exhibiting the highest range for E. paludinosus. In conclusion, significant trait variations among E. paludinosus, E. apleurogramma, E. neumayeri, and E. cercops across habitats indicate complex genetic and environmental influences, emphasizing the need for further research to understand these adaptations and their evolutionary implications.
References
Bănărescu, P., & Coad, B. W. (1991). Cyprinids of Eurasia. In Cyprinid Fishes: Systematics, biology and exploitation (pp. 127-155). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands.
Bell, A. M., & Foster, S. A. (2017). The evolutionary biology of the threespine stickleback. Oxford University Press.
Bryndum‐Buchholz, A., Tittensor, D. P., & Lotze, H. K. (2021). The status of climate change adaptation in fisheries management: Policy, legislation and implementation. Fish and Fisheries, 22(6), 1248-1273.
Cantonati, M., Poikane, S., Pringle, C. M., Stevens, L. E., Turak, E., Heino, J., ... and Znachor, P. (2020). Characteristics, main impacts, and stewardship of natural and artificial freshwater environments: consequences for biodiversity conservation. Water, 12(1), 260.
Chakona, A., Jordaan, M. S., Raimondo, D. C., Bills, R. I., Skelton, P. H., & van Der Colff, D. (2022). Diversity, distribution and extinction risk of native freshwater fishes of South Africa. Journal of Fish Biology, 100(4), 1044-1061.
Correa, S. B., Araujo, J. K., Penha, J. M., da Cunha, C. N., Stevenson, P. R., & Anderson, J. T. (2015). Overfishing disrupts an ancient mutualism between frugivorous fishes and plants in Neotropical wetlands. Biological Conservation, 191, 159-167.
Gonzalez-Martinez, A., De-Pablos-Heredero, C., González, M., Rodriguez, J., Barba, C., & García, A. (2021). Morphological Variations of Wild Populations of Brycon dentex (Characidae, Teleostei) in the Guayas Hydrographic Basin (Ecuador). The Impact of Fishing Policies and Environmental Conditions. Animals, 11(7), 1901.
Harrison, I. J., Green, P. A., Farrell, T. A., Juffe‐Bignoli, D., Sáenz, L., & Vörösmarty, C. J. (2016). Protected areas and freshwater provisioning: a global assessment of freshwater provision, threats and management strategies to support human water security. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 26, 103-120.
Hoban, S., Bruford, M., Jackson, J. D. U., Lopes-Fernandes, M., Heuertz, M., Hohenlohe, P. A., ... & Laikre, L. (2020). Genetic diversity targets and indicators in the CBD post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework must be improved. Biological Conservation, 248, 108654.
IUCN. (2018). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2018-2. Retrieved from http://www.iucnredlist.org.
Jawad, L. A., Ibáñez, A. L., Kiki, M., and Gnohossou, P. (2020). Determination of body shape and meristic characters variations in wild and cultured populations of cichlid fish, Oreochromis niloticus, from the Republic of Benin, West of Africa. Fisheries and Aquatic Life, 28(3).
Jones, M. R., Mills, L. S., Alves, P. C., Callahan, C. M., Alves, J. M., Lafferty, D. J., ... & Good, J. M. (2018). Adaptive introgression underlies polymorphic seasonal camouflage in snowshoe hares. Science, 360(6395), 1355-1358.
Kajee, M., Henry, D. A., Dallas, H. F., Griffiths, C. L., Pegg, J., Van der Colff, D., ... and Shelton, J. M. (2023). How the Freshwater Biodiversity Information System (FBIS) is supporting national freshwater fish conservation decisions in South Africa. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11, 303.
Kasumyan, A. O., and Isaeva, O. M. (2023). Taste Preferences of Cyprinid Fishes (Cyprinidae). A Comparative Study. Journal of Ichthyology, 63(1), 119-146.
Kunal, K., Garima, and Ganie, P. A. (2023). Fishery Resources and Ichthyofaunal Diversity in the Temperate Himalayas. In Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Temperate Himalayas (pp. 11-23). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.
Losos, J. B. (2011). Convergence, adaptation, and constraint. Evolution: Education and Outreach, 4(3), 489-495.
Mbewe, G., Mutondo, M., Maseka, K., & Sichilongo, K. (2016). Assessment of heavy-metal pollution in sediments and tilapia fish species in Kafue River of Zambia. Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology, 71, 383-393.
Moyle, P. B., & Leidy, R. L. (2023). Endangered freshwater fishes: does California lead the world.
Okoyen, E., Raimi, M. O., Oluwatoyin, O. A., & Williams, E. A. (2020). Governing the environmental impact of dredging: Consequences for marine biodiversity in the niger delta region of Nigeria. Okoyen E, Raimi MO, Omidiji AO, Ebuete A W. Governing the Environmental Impact of Dredging: Consequences for Marine Biodiversity in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Insights Mining Science and Technology, 2(3), 555586.
Siddha, S., & Sahu, P. (2023). Integrating GIS and irrigation water quality index approaches for identifying groundwater irrigation potential zones in Central Gujarat, India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195(9), 1082.
Smith, T. B., Wayne, R. K., Girman, D. J., & Bruford, M. W. (1997). A role for ecotones in generating rainforest biodiversity. Science, 276(5320), 1855-1857.
Stapley, J., Garcia, M., & Andrews, R. M. (2015). Long-term data reveal a population decline of the tropical lizard Anolis apletophallus, and a negative affect of El Nino years on population growth rate. PLoS One, 10(2), e0115450.
Sumaila, U. R., & Tai, T. C. (2020). End overfishing and increase the resilience of the ocean to climate change. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7, 523.
Winemiller, K. O., Fitzgerald, D. B., Bower, L. M., & Pianka, E. R. (2015). Functional traits, convergent evolution, and periodic tables of niches. Ecology letters, 18(8), 737-751.
Wong, B. B., & Rosenthal, G. G. (2006). Female disdain for swords in a swordtail fish. The American Naturalist, 167(1), 136-140.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
Hildah Jepleting , School of Science, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya
School of Science, University of Eldoret, Kenya
Emily J. Chemoiwa, School of Science, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya
School of Science, University of Eldoret, Kenya
James E. Barasa , School of Environmental and Natural Resources, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya
School of Environmental and Natural Resources, University of Eldoret, Kenya
James O. Wanga, School of Science, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya
School of Science, University of Eldoret, Kenya