Stable Oxygen and Carbon Isotopic Compositions of Lates stappersii Otoliths from Lake Tanganyika,East Africa

In this study, we measured growth trends in oxygen and carbon isotopic ratios in whole sagittal otoliths from three adult centropomid fish (Lates stappersii) from each of three sub-basins of Lake Tanganyika, East Africa. Sampling density was 20 to 50 samples per otolith. Both δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values increase with age. The δ¹⁸O data suggest that otoliths were precipitated near the expected equilibrium with the ambient environment (ca. +3.5‰) and support a migration pattern from surface waters during larval stages to deeper waters (40 to 80 m) for mature fish. Relatively high δ¹⁸O values in the southern sub-basin are consistent with cooler temperatures in the region during seasonal upwelling. The δ13C increase from otolith core to edge is large (up to 4‰) and is interpreted as due to ontogenetic changes in diet and contributions from a decrease in the proportion of respired CO₂ incorporated into otolith carbonate as metabolic rates of the fish dropped with maturity. The data seem to successfully reveal life strategy and migration patterns of L. stappersii, document regional differences in lake conditions, and provide a record of temperature within the water column during which the fish lived. Higher resolution studies and analyses of historical samples could be used to constrain modern and past growth patterns, and to reconstruct past temperature gradients and productivity patterns in the lake.     

Impacts of Nile Perch,Lates niloticus,introduction on the ecology,economy and conservation of Lake Victoria,East Africa

Nile perch were secretly introduced into Lake Victoria in the 1950s, and officially in the 1960s, amid unresolved controversy. Proponents were of the view that the introduction would improve fisheries production and sport fishing. Although the former objective was achieved, the side effects were dire, including extinction of many native species, especially the ecologically important haplochromines, because of predation. The introduction also changed the habitat, trophic dynamics and water clarity. The change in water clarity is thought to be responsible for hybridization of haplochromines, further contributing to the loss of species diversity among cichlids. The establishment and expansion of the Nile perch also altered the fishery and socio‐economic settings characterizing the lake. A local economy which, until the early 1980s, was based on native fish species has been replaced by an export‐oriented exotic fish processing industry that destroyed the once‐cherished traditional resource. Other socio‐economic issues associated with Nile perch include the high HIV/AIDS prevalence among fishers, and border conflicts attributable to the migratory and transboundary nature of the fishery resource. Conservation measures for the fishery should include establishment of co‐management units that have so far registered both successes and challenges. Other efforts include establishment of the Nile perch Fisheries Management Plans that focus on curbing overfishing and eradicating illegal fishing.     

Paleolimnological evidence of the effects of recent cultural eutrophication during the last 200 years in Lake Malawi,East Africa

To assess the long-term water quality changes in Lake Malawi, paleolimnological reconstructions of four radiometrically dated sediment cores collected in 1997/98 along a longitudinal transect of the lake were based on preserved diatom assemblages, as well as stratigraphies of organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and biogenic silica concentrations. Population growth, deforestation and intensive agriculture, especially in the southern catchments, have accelerated soil erosion causing rivers to transport greater sediment and nutrient loads into Lake Malawi. Southern cores contain evidence of nutrient enrichment starting around 1940, as indicated by increased silica, carbon and nitrogen influxes. By 1980, increased rates of sedimentation, phosphorus influx, diatom influx, and relative abundances of eutrophic diatom taxa are attributable to accelerated nutrient enrichment accompanying soil erosion. The succession of diatoms in southern Lake Malawi begins with dominance by Aulacoseira nyassensis and Fragilaria africana, followed by a shift in 1980 towards Stephanodiscus, Cyclostephanos and Nitzschia, diatom taxa that have reduced silica requirements. Paleoecological results indicate that patterns of diatom assemblage change are not uniform lake-wide. Evidence of eutrophication extends to central Lake Malawi, but is not observable in the paleo-record from the deeper northern basin. The recent cultural eutrophication of the southern lake has impacted the biogeochemical cycling of silica, the available silica to phosphorus ratios, and the diatom communities of a large portion of Lake Malawi. These results provide a warning that eutrophication of this great lake is underway and will continue unless changes are made to current land use practices within the lake's catchment.     

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures of organic matter sources in near-shore areas of Lake Victoria,East Africa

Stable isotope ratios of organic carbon and nitrogen (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) were measured in suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediment in the near-shore areas of Tanzanian waters of Lake Victoria (LV) to identify the various sources of organic matter in different areas of the lake. Spatial variations in δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, and C/N ratios in SPM and sediments in inshore areas were due to differences in the proportions and sources of autochthonous or allochthonous matter. Watershed characteristics, such as urbanization, and lake characteristics, such as algal blooms, also immensely influenced the stable isotope signal of the organic matter in sediments. Stable C and N ratios showed that inshore areas in bays without pronounced fluvial input were dominated by autochthonous planktonic organic matter; conversely, for bays receiving significant fluvial inflows, the composition of organic matter depended on the extent of preservation of shoreline vegetation. Signals resulting from input of anthropogenic organic waste as a result of urbanization were distinguishable from natural sources. This work demonstrates the potential to discriminate between input sources of organic material into lakes using stable isotope signals in sediment and suspended particulate matter.     

Ontogenetic habitat use and seasonal activity of Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) in the Lake Albert delta,East Africa

Crocodiles play important roles in many ecosystems, but their populations worldwide are threatened by human exploitation and habitat destruction. We studied ontogenetic changes in habitat use and seasonal activity patterns in a population of Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) inhabiting the Lake Albert Delta Wetland System, a Ramsar Site of international importance in Murchison Falls National Park of western Uganda. A total of 186 crocodile observations were made from monthly surveys of five transects during October 2017 to September 2018. Crocodiles exhibited a marginally bi-modal seasonal pattern, with the fewest observations from July to August and October to November, and the highest observations from January to February and April to May. Crocodiles were most frequently encountered along the north shore of the delta, especially on riverbanks with woody vegetation, followed by Cyperus papyrus-Vossia dominated habitats, while crocodiles were infrequently observed on islands and muddy banks. Habitat niche breadth was narrowest in hatchlings and widest in sub-adults, with juveniles and large adults exhibiting intermediate values. Overlap in habitat resource use across size classes was generally high, with the lowest overlap between hatchlings and juveniles, and the highest between large and sub-adult crocodiles. Our study on Nile crocodiles in the Lake Albert delta provides insights into habitat partitioning among different demographic segments of this population that can be utilized to improve its management in one of Africa’s Great Lakes by spatially and temporally focusing conservation efforts on the most used habitats and seasonal aggregations, respectively.     

Local perceptions on the state of the pelagic fisheries and fisheries management in Uvira,Lake Tanganyika,DR Congo

The fisheries of Lake Tanganyika play an important role in food security in Central and Eastern Africa. Conservation of these valuable fish stocks will benefit from documenting the ideas, opinions and observations of stakeholders. Knowledge of the perceptions and an understanding of the concerns and struggles of stakeholders of these fisheries can provide policy-makers with recommendations for more suitable fisheries management. We did 1018 interviews with stakeholders, in one close-ended and three semi-open ended surveys. Factor analysis revealed seven clusters of opinions. Linear-mixed effects models identified common grounds and differences in opinions between groups of stakeholders about strategies in fisheries management. Stakeholders of the fisheries indicated challenges due to weather or climate variability, a noticeable decrease in fish abundance and size, and an increase in the price of fish. Fishermen experienced a lack of safety on the lake, including aggression and dangerous weather conditions, and hardly had access to safety gear and infrastructure. Landing site officials, state employees who monitor the beaches, mentioned capture of juveniles and declining catch-rates as the biggest threats to the fisheries. None of the groups of stakeholders attributed the problems in the fisheries to overfishing or overpopulation. We found similarities in opinions over a wide range of stakeholder groups, with many stakeholders asking for better and fair enforcement of existing legislation. State employees were more positive than the other groups towards creating more strict regulation of the fisheries. The results presented offer focuspoints for policy-makers to improve the management of the Lake Tanganyika pelagic fisheries.     

Distribution and exploitation of Nile perch Lates niloticus in relation to stratification in Lake Victoria,East Africa

Stratification restricts habitable areas forcing fish to balance between favourable temperature and minimum dissolved oxygen requirements. Acoustic surveys conducted during the stratified and isothermal periods on tropical Lake Victoria indicated that stratification of temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) affected vertical distribution of Nile perch. There was higher mean temperature (25.6 ± 0.5 °C) and lower DO (6.4 ± 1.8 mg/l) during stratified period compared to the isothermal period (mean temperature 24.9 ± 0.3 °C; mean DO 7.3 ± 0.6 mg/l). Higher mean densities of Nile perch were recorded in the coastal (0.44 ± 0.03) and deep (0.27 ± 0.02 g/m³) strata during the stratified compared to the isothermal season (coastal: 0.24 ± 0.01; deep: 0.12 ± 0.02 g/m³). In addition, Nile perch density in the upper 0–40 m depth layers in the coastal and deep strata increased by over 50% from the isothermal to the stratified season. Daily landings from 65 motorised fishing boats between October 2008 and September 2010 show higher mean catch (26.29 ± 0.17 kg/boat/day) during stratified compared to the isothermal (23.59 ± 0.15) season. Thermal stratification apparently compresses the habitat available to Nile perch and can potentially result in higher exploitation. Managers should evaluate the potential benefits of instituting closed seasons during the stratified period, and stock assessment models should take into account the seasonal niche compression.     

The Potential Link Between El Nino and Water Hyacinth Blooms in Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria, East Africa: Evidence from Satellite Imagery

This study evaluates the link between the occurrence of El Nino events in East Africa and water hyacinth blooms in Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria using remote sensing technology. A time-series of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) analyzed from data acquired by the multispectral Aqua/Terra sensors aboard the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite are used to monitor areal extent and density of the aquatic plants. We related the NDVI derived from MODIS imagery to data on El Ni?o South Oscillation (ENSO) events that were obtained from NOAA and rainfall data from the study site. Our results from the 11-year time-series data show a statistically significant positive correlation (R = 0.6, P = 0.021) between the occurrence of El Ni?o events and water hyacinth blooms in Winam Gulf. The proliferation of water hyacinth rafts in Winam Gulf may be a response to dramatic environmental and water quality changes in Lake Victoria. The patterns of impact of ENSO events and rainfall show spatial and temporal variation patterns in the region, depending on the time and space evolution of each individual ENSO event that could explain the differences in general patterns of water hyacinth cover in Lake Victoria during different El Ni?o events. Although the problems eutrophication and water hyacinth are severe in the Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria some of the solutions to the problem are located several hundreds of kilometers away in the rich agricultural farmlands of the Lake Victoria catchment area. These include better land management practices and strategies aimed at limiting pollution and soil erosion within the lake’s drainage basin.     

Current state of the sponge fauna (Porifera: Lubomirskiidae) of Lake Baikal: Sponge disease and the problem of conservation of diversity

The spatial distribution of healthy and diseased sponges in Lake Baikal was investigated. The endemic sponges were studied in May ? June 2015 at 11 transects within the depth range of 0 to 40 m. More than 500 sponge specimens were collected, and 29 taxa including 12 species and 17 morphospecies (sp. taxa) were identified. Among the 29 taxa, only B. martinsoni specimens and 14 morphospecies were healthy, whereas specimens of the other 11 species and 3 morphospecies were diseased, making up 35% of the total number of specimens (512). The different body forms of sponge found among the specimens were encrusting (66%), globulous (21%), and branched (13%). Sponges with necrosis signs, discolored specimens or covered with violet film or brown spots, were found in all transects under study (37 stations of 68). The percent cover of the bottom (per m²) by various body forms of sponges was evaluated with a sponge faunal state assessment test. Changes in the diversity and abundance of sponges due to their disease may jeopardize the functioning of the entire ecosystem of Lake Baikal which is a World Heritage Site. This baseline data on patterns of sponges, including their spatial distribution and percent cover, will be utilized to support future management and monitoring of Lake Baikal. Data on the current state of Baikal endemic sponge fauna are essential for understanding the causes and prognosis of disease processes of freshwater sponges.     

水泥固化东湖淤泥的工程性质试验研究

利用将水泥、化学固化剂和机械力脱水三种方法相结合的方式对东湖淤泥进行固化处理,通过界限含水率、强度试验(包括CBR和直剪试验)以及渗透试验研究了在使用水泥固化过程中水泥掺量、养护龄期以及压实度对固化土工程性质的影响。结果发现:仅使用化学固化剂和机械脱水固化处理后的淤泥属于高液限粉土,CBR强度低,不能满足路基填料的要求。使用水泥能够有效提高一次改性固化土的CBR强度和直剪黏聚力,养护龄期对CBR强度影响很小,而水泥掺量、养护龄期和压实度对内摩擦角的影响均不大。此外,在水泥掺量从0%增大到8%的过程中,渗透系数呈现出先增大后减小的趋势,在水泥掺量为2%时达到最大值。综合分析,在水泥二次改性过程中,为符合路基填筑要求,水泥掺量宜为8%,压实度宜大于92%。     

Seasonal patterns of thermal stratification and primary production in the northern parts of Lake Tanganyika

Thermal stratification in meromictic Lake Tanganyika weakens during the cool, dry and windy season, allowing intrusions of deeper nutrient-rich waters into the upper mixed layer enhancing primary productivity. The current study examined the seasonal influence of thermal structure on the patterns of primary production in Lake Tanganyika. Two sites (Kigoma Bay and Mahale) were sampled on a monthly basis for 1?year. Water temperature and chlorophyll a fluorescence profiles (0–100?m) were measured using a multisonde. Water samples were taken every 20?m (0–100?m) to measure soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), chlorophyll a and primary production. Pulse Amplitude Modulated Fluorometry was used for the measurements of primary production. The results show that the dry season coincided with higher wind speeds, elevated SRP and some peaks of chlorophyll a and primary production at both sites. During the wet season, high levels of chlorophyll a and primary production coincided with an increase in the euphotic depth, a deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) and a contribution from metalimnetic areal production at both sites. Our results suggest that the vertical distribution of primary production in Lake Tanganyika is affected by the lake thermal structure, nutrient availability and the extent of the euphotic zone. In Lake Tanganyika, estimates of areal primary production were significantly affected by DCM and required estimation throughout the entire upper mixed layer and the metalimnion which extended to ~89?m.     

Physicochemical gradients and water fluxes between Nyanza Gulf and main Lake Victoria,East Africa: Tracing dynamics of gulf-main lake interaction

Variability in physico-chemical water column structure along a gradient between Nyanza Gulf and Lake Victoria was characterized, and the exchange between the two basins estimated. Specific conductivity (SC) measurements between March 2005 and March 2006 identified three morphologically distinct zones, the inner-gulf, the connecting Rusinga Channel and the main lake basin. The relatively shallow, wide and river-influenced inner-gulf had higher turbidity and SC compared to the channel and the main lake. The deep, narrow and more wind-exposed mid-channel area was significantly cooler than the rest of the study areas. Observational data revealed “density-driven” underflow of the cooler channel water into the main lake and compensatory surface flow into the gulf as well as seasonal patterns of gulf-main lake exchange in relation to variation in tributary input. The wind field was dominated by a diurnal lake-land breeze which resulted in wind-driven diurnal reversal of water flow in and out of the gulf, where the constriction of flow within the channel induced strong currents. The exchange between the gulf and the main lake was estimated using a box model, with SC as a conservative tracer. A net annual residual water flow of 35?m³?s^?1 occurred from the gulf into the main lake although during months with low tributary discharge the flow was towards the gulf. The daily flow in and out of the gulf resulted in relatively high exchange flux compared to residual flow across the Rusinga Channel leading to the development of the well-defined physicochemical gradient along the Rusinga Channel.     

Diversity and ecology of phytoplankton in Lake Edward (East Africa): Present status and long-term changes

Lake Edward is one of the African Rift Valley lakes draining into the Nile River basin. We conducted three sampling series in Lake Edward in October-November 2016, March-April 2017 and January 2018, in distinct seasonal conditions and in several sites varying by depth and proximity to river outlets, including the Kazinga Channel, which connects the hypertrophic Lake George to Lake Edward. The phytoplankton was examined using microscopy and marker pigment analysis by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and subsequent CHEMTAX processing for estimating abundance of phytoplankton groups. Chlorophyll a concentration in the pelagic and littoral open lake sites barely exceeded 10 µg L⁻¹ whereas, in contrast, in the semi-enclosed Bay of Katwe influenced by the Kazinga Channel chlorophyll a was up to 100 µg L⁻¹. Despite substantial seasonal variations of limnological conditions such as photic and mixed layer depths, cyanoprokaryotes/cyanobacteria represented on average 60% of the phytoplankton biomass, followed by diatoms, which contributed ~25% of chlorophyll a, and by green algae, chrysophytes and cryptophytes. 248 taxa were identified with clear prevalence of cyanobacteria (104 taxa), from the morphological groups of coccal and filamentous species (non-heterocytous and heterocytous). The high proportion of heterocytous cyanobacteria, along with a relatively high particulate organic carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio, suggest N limitation as well as light limitation, most pronounced in the pelagic sites. During the rainy season, the most abundant diatoms in the plankton were needle-like Nitzschia. Comparison with previous studies found differences in water transparency, total phosphorus, and phytoplankton composition.     

Impacts of water level changes in the fauna,flora and physical properties over the Balkhash Lake watershed

The water level variations of the Lake Balkhash, the Kapshagay Reservoir and the Ili River and the linkage with salinity and biological conditions are investigated in this work using different techniques: satellite radar altimetry, in situ gauges, historical archives of fish population counting and field works. We show that it is possible now to monitor, over decades, in near real time, with high precision, the water level changes in the Lake Balkhash from satellite altimetry, over the reservoir and also along the Ili River. The vulnerability of the lake fauna and flora populations is enhanced by the morphometry of the lake: shallow and separation of the eastern basin from the western basin through the narrow Uzun‐Aral strait. Water policy of the Ili River also plays a fundamental role in the evolution of the Balkhash Lake. The Ili River that provides 80% of the surface water of the lake is a transboundary river. Development of intense irrigated agriculture in the upstream part of this river, located in the Chinese territory, could lead in the future to high hydrological stress in the downstream regions with potentially high damage in the delta and for fishery production. We show here the recent evolution of the Lake Balkhash basin from satellite data. Some interannual oscillation of 6–8 years over the last decade has been highlighted, with a water level of the lake still at a high value, but prediction on increasing irrigation is also highlighting the vulnerability of this lake. Linkage between water level change along the river and the downstream waters is also investigated. It shows that the role of the reservoir is not fundamental in the understanding of the Lake Balkhash water level changes which is in contrast highly correlated to upstream river level changes.     

Relationship of sediment influx to ostracode populations on the variably deforested Luiche and Mahale platform coasts of Lake Tanganyika,Tanzania

We investigated the hypothesis that ostracode populations are sensitive to variations in sediment discharge related to watershed differences at Lake Tanganyika. Many ostracode species are documented to be sensitive to high turbidity which increases during runoff from strong rainfall events and changes in ostracode populations can impact organisms higher in the food web. We compared surficial death assemblages of ostracodes around two sites with extensive shell beds, the highly deforested Luiche Platform area, heavily populated since the 20th Century, and the less deforested Mahale Platform area, with recent population increases, to understand the impacts of increasing sedimentation within and between sites. The study found that whereas the Mahale Platform area is less disturbed, the faunal differences between sites is not large. The data showed high species richness and abundance of ostracodes at 10–20 m depth at both sites, within shell bed zones, with no statistical difference in raw species richness between the sites. The Mahale Mountain area ostracode populations were however statistically more diverse (Shannon H) than at Luiche. We conducted a multi-response permutation procedure and found that the sites are statistically different, but with very small differences in species richness and ostracode abundance. Non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination of species assemblages shows that most samples overlap on both major axes. This study synthesized with ongoing research about shell bed communities in less disturbed regions of the lake will give insights into how conservation projects can be optimized to preserve the lake’s benthic ecosystem from the effects of deforestation.     

Empirical modeling of chlorophyll a from MODIS satellite imagery for trophic status monitoring of Lake Victoria in East Africa

We detail our attempts at empirical modeling of MODIS derived Chlorophyll a (Chl a) distribution on Lake Victoria in East Africa and consequently its trophic status. This was motivated by the need for Lake Victoria specific algorithms, as the current satellite based standard algorithms overestimate derived Chl a. In situ Chl a data was hence collected in three field campaigns in November 2014, March 2015 and July 2015. In situ reflectances were collected during the July campaign only. We first developed models from in situ reflectances and in situ Chl a, which when applied to MODIS bands performed dismally (R² = 0.03). We then proceeded to derive empirical models by directly comparing MODIS bands with in situ Chl a based on data collected in November 2014 and July 2015. The March 2015 dataset couldn’t be used due to cloud cover hence no matchups could be obtained. The best model derived (R² = 0.88) was based on the ratio 488 nm/645 nm, and was then used to determine the trophic status of Lake Victoria using Carlson’s Chl a Trophic State Index (TSI). The results show that large areas of the lake are mesotrophic with eutrophic displays closer to the shores. The modeled TSI was then validated against in situ TSI derived from the March dataset and posted an 80% matchup. One of the main challenges, however is the prevalence of cloud cover, which hinders synoptic mapping of the lake. That notwithstanding, the study demonstrates the potential of earth observation in providing accurate TSI information for improved management of Lake Victoria.     

东居延海湿地生态系统健康评价

为明确东居延海湿地生态系统健康状况,基于PSR模型,从压力、状态、响应3个方面构建东居延海湿地生态系统健康评价指标体系,运用SPSS软件中的Pearson双变量分析,检验各分项指标与体系指数间的相关性。结果表明:东居延海湿地生态系统自然压力呈减小趋势,社会经济压力(人为压力)呈增大趋势;湿地中整体动植物响应状况明显,逐步向积极方向发展;湿地年代际健康状况为健康—亚健康—病态—亚健康—健康—很健康;东居延海湿地生态系统健康状况与入湖水量、动物种类的相关性最强,主要外界压力来自于渔业、旅游等方面。     

The last snapshot of natural pelagic fish assemblage in Lake Turkana,Kenya: A hydroacoustic study

A hydroacoustic survey and supplementary gillnet investigation were carried out in the open water of the central part of Lake Turkana in September 2009. Overall acoustic fish density and biomass were assessed as 1381 ind./ha and 30 kg/ha, respectively. The fish density estimate was lower than the results from two previous investigations in the 1970s and 1980s (long-term average 3739 ind./ha), but the biomass remained relatively unchanged (long-term average 25.4 kg/ha). A decreasing gradient in pelagic fish density from the western to eastern shore of the lake was observed. Fish were distributed unevenly within the water column. During the day, a majority of fish aggregated in the mid-water layers (10–12 m below the water surface), creating on echograms the so-called Midwater Scattering Layer. This feature dissipated completely during dusk and the majority of fish occurred in the surface layers at night. These diel vertical fish migrations influenced day and night hydroacoustic estimates of the total fish abundance. Synodontis spp., Lates spp. and Schilbe uranoscopus dominated the catch of both mid-water and bottom gillnets installed in open water areas. Hydrocynus forskalii and Brycinus spp. contributed significantly to the catch of mid-water gillnets while Bagrus bayad and the endemic Haplochromis macconneli occurred only in the catch of the bottom gillnets.     

First insights into the diversity and ecology of non-biting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) of the unique ancient Skadar Lake basin (Montenegro/Albania)

In the present study, based on faunistic information collected during 2014 and 2015, in association with physical–chemical conditions of the collection sites, the environmental factors influencing the composition and distribution of chironomid assemblages were investigated. In total, 164 Chironomidae taxa reported in this study extended the existing checklist with 152 taxa newly found in the Skadar Lake basin. The comparison based on the list of species from the six large, well-studied European lakes showed that Lake Constance (Switzerland/Germany/Austria) is the most species-rich waterbody with 174 taxa, followed by Lake Skadar with 164 taxa. For pupal exuviae, the most species-rich site was situated in the centre of the small lake (north-western part of the Skadar Lake). A Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) revealed that shallow coastal parts of the lake are much richer in species than the open, deeper parts of the lake. This first investigation since 1979 of non-biting midge species (including imagines) diversity will help to monitor biodiversity of the basin and to understand how protection programs influence biodiversity within the lake basin.