Fish Populations in East African Saline Lakes

New Cichlid Fossils from the Middle-Late Miocene Alkaline Lakes of Africa

“…Most primary production is due to alkaliphilic or alkali-tolerant cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae, which are very abundant and diverse (Grant and Jones, 2016;, unlike vascular plants (Kipkemboi, 2016). Although this microflora is a rich food source for consumers, only a few groups of zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and vertebrates are adapted to tolerate highly alkaline conditions (Kavembe et al, 2016;Mengistou, 2016;Yasindi and Taylor, 2016). Lakes with low alkalinity and salinity, e.g., Lake Turkana, may host a more diverse macroflora and fauna (Kavembe et al, 2016;Kipkemboi, 2016) than the depauperate macrodiversity that is typical of lakes with more extreme conditions, e.g., Lakes Natron and Magadi (Melack, 1996).…”

“…Although this microflora is a rich food source for consumers, only a few groups of zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and vertebrates are adapted to tolerate highly alkaline conditions (Kavembe et al, 2016;Mengistou, 2016;Yasindi and Taylor, 2016). Lakes with low alkalinity and salinity, e.g., Lake Turkana, may host a more diverse macroflora and fauna (Kavembe et al, 2016;Kipkemboi, 2016) than the depauperate macrodiversity that is typical of lakes with more extreme conditions, e.g., Lakes Natron and Magadi (Melack, 1996). The only vertebrates known to inhabit the latter two are extremophile cichlids of Oreochromis (Alcolapia), as well as the lesser flamingo (Kavembe et al, 2016;.…”

“…Lakes with low alkalinity and salinity, e.g., Lake Turkana, may host a more diverse macroflora and fauna (Kavembe et al, 2016;Kipkemboi, 2016) than the depauperate macrodiversity that is typical of lakes with more extreme conditions, e.g., Lakes Natron and Magadi (Melack, 1996). The only vertebrates known to inhabit the latter two are extremophile cichlids of Oreochromis (Alcolapia), as well as the lesser flamingo (Kavembe et al, 2016;.…”

“…The ability to adapt to life in the alkaline-saline conditions found in 'soda lakes' (salinity >5‰, pH >9; e.g., Schagerl and Renaut, 2016) is one aspect of cichlid evolution that has attracted particular interest (Onyango and Kisia, 2007;Kavembe et al, 2016). Although most cichlids are freshwater fish, members of all cichlid subfamilies exhibit resistance to increased salinity (Ward and Wyman, 1977;Reinthal and Stiassny, 1991;Martinez-Palacios et al, 1996;Oldfield, 2004;Langston et al, 2010).…”

Biogeochemistry and biodiversity in a network of saline–alkaline lakes: Implications of ecohydrological connectivity in the Kenyan Rift Valley

“…Marine research showed that Cyanobacterial viruses tend to be tightly linked to their hosts, to the extent that they are able to acquire from them a large number of genes (e.g., Clokie et al, 2006); these can be used to sustain host physiology during infection, in order to ensure that cells are 'healthy' and can maintain an energy source to produce more viruses. It is also known that the diversity of the cyanoviruses may drive bacterial diversity; this indicates that viruses are important for bacterial population Zaccara et al, 2014;Kavembe et al, 2016b;Krienitz et al, 2016bBettinetti et al, 2011Magadi van Zyl et al, 2016Zavarzina et al, 2013;Ghauri et al, 2006;Kevbrin et al, 1998;Jones, 2016 Kambura et al, 2016;Foti et al, 2006;Grant et al, 1999Mikhodiuk et al, 2008Kotut and Krienitz, 2011;Krienitz et al, 2012;Schagerl, 2016 Seegers et al, 1999;Seegers and Tichy, 1999;Zaccara et al, 2014;Kavembe et al, 2016a,b;Krienitz et al, 2016bJones et al, 1977Deocampo and Renaut, 2016 Nasikie Engida Jones et al, 1977;Renaut, 2011;Deocampo andRenaut, 2016 Oloidien Dadheech et al, 2009;Luo et al, 2017Krienitz et al, 2013a,c Yasindi and Taylor, 2016Krienitz et al, 2016bVerschuren et al, 2000Naivasha Krienitz et al, 2013b,c Owino et al, 2001…”