Characterization of Habitats and Haplochromine Diversity to Guide Conservation of Biodiversity amidst Hydropower Developments along the Upper Victoria Nile

Study Extent

The study covered parts of the Upper Victoria Nile. The sampling was conducted in October and November 2016.

Sampling

Fish sampling was carried out using monofilament gillnets of stretched mesh sizes 1 to 6 inches in increments of 0.5 inches. In habitats where gillnets could not be used, especially rocky areas, hooks of sizes number 18 and 20 were used. In a few cases, a beach seine was used. Since the emphasis of the study was on haplochromine cichlids, the fish had to be caught, examined, and photographed when still alive. Consequently, gillnets were set during daytime for one hour to facilitate identification of haplochromine species with their live colors. After hauling, individual fish specimens were photographed alive in a cuvette, using a digital camera and identified to the lowest possible taxon. Because most of the species endemic to the Nile River are un-described, those fishes that could not be identified to species level were given cheironyms.

Quality Control

Photos were taken to facilitate identification of fish specimens.

Method steps

1. For more details on methodology, see Natugonza et al (2020).

Haplochromines

1. Astatoreochromis alluaudi
   rank: species
2. Astatotilapia
   rank: genus
3. Astatotilapia brownae
   rank: species
4. Astatotilapia nubila
   rank: species
5. Cichlidae
   rank: family
6. Haplochromis
   rank: genus
7. Harpagochromis
   rank: genus
8. Lipochromis
   rank: genus
9. Lithochromis xanthopteryx
   rank: species
10. Mbipia
    rank: genus
11. Mbipia mbipi
    rank: species
12. Neochromis
    rank: genus
13. Neochromis greenwoodi
    rank: species
14. Neochromis simotes
    rank: species
15. Paralabidochromis
    rank: genus
16. Paralabidochromis flavus
    rank: species
17. Paralabidochromis sauvagei
    rank: species
18. Psammochromis
    rank: genus
19. Psammochromis riponianus
    rank: species
20. Psammochromis acidens
    rank: species
21. Ptyochromis
    rank: genus
22. Pundamilia
    rank: genus
23. Pundamilia azurea
    rank: species
24. Pundamilia igneopinnis
    rank: species
25. Pundamilia macrocephala
    rank: species
26. Pundamilia pundamilia
    rank: species
27. Pyxichromis orthostoma
    rank: species
28. Xystichromis
    rank: genus

This dataset covers the Upper Victoria Nile, part of the River Nile connecting lakes Victoria and Kyoga (Uganda).