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Shallow intermediate habitat, Cape Banza, DRC

Congo, the Democratic Republic of the, Fizi, Ubwari Peninsula

Located on the Ubwari Peninsula in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cape Banza (4°04’88.9″S 29°24’23.9″E) is one of the regions with the lowest anthropogenic impact on the entire coast of Lake Tanganyika. With very low population density (0.5 people/km2; DRC 1988), there are no roads. Watersheds are small, limiting sediment discharge.

Since the discovery of sub-lacustrine hydrothermal fields at Cape Banza, along the western arm of the East African Rift, in the late 1980s, the region has suffered from the ecological threat of hydrocarbon exploration. Currently, the Ubwari Peninsula region is involved in armed clashes. Photographic records and videos are extremely rare.

Cabo Banza is characterized by a rocky coastline, typically made of sandstone, which extends downhill to an average depth of 4 meters and the intercalated bottom of rocks and sand in the shallow regions. By choosing this region, I hope I can help with awareness and preservation.

Submitted by: Marcus Vinicius David
Approved by: Ad Konings & Stefano Valdesalici

GPS: -4.0498838, 29.2423897

Geographical region: Cenral Africa
Drainage Basin: Northern basin of the Lake Tanganyika
River catchment
Water body type: Lake
Water body name: Lake Tanganyika
Water body part: Open water
Water body course
Water body: tributary of
Tributary name

Videos above and below water

Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type: Fresh water
Water color: Clear water
Water transparency: High
Concentration of sediments: Low
Water temperature: 26-28 °C
Water flow/curent: Strong

Chemical parameters

pH: 9.1
Conductivity: 650
GH: 224 mg/l
KH: 340 mg/l
Dissolved Oxygen

Substrate in nature

Sand: Beige
Pebble/Gravel: Beige
Stone: Mixed
Stone form: Irregular
Silt/Mud: None
Leaves: Few
Driftwood: Few
Submerged terrestrial vegetation: No

Aquatic Biotope

Date of collecting
Collecting area
Water depth
Air temperature
Sunlight

Environment

Environment

Untouched

Surrounding area

Cape Banza is located in the far north of the Ubwari Peninsula, in the northern basin of Lake Tanganyika, in East Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The Ubwari peninsula is delineated by two geological faults.

Underwater landscape

A rocky shoreline.

Fishes:

Xenotilapia leptura (Boulenger, 1901), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Cyathopharynx furcifer (Boulenger, 1898), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Eretmodus marksmithi (Burgess, 2012), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Limnotilapia dardennii (Boulenger, 1899), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Ophthalmotilapia nasuta (Poll & Matthes, 1962), Cichlidae: <2% of population at sit
Ophthalmotilapia ventralis (Boulenger, 1898), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Petrochromis ephippium (Brichard, 1989), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Petrochromis famula (Matthes & Trewavas, 1960), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Petrochromis fasciolatus (Boulenger, 1914), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Petrochromis orthognathus (Matthes, 1959), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Pseudosimochromis curvifrons (Poll, 1942), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Pseudosimochromis marginatus (Poll, 1956), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Spathodus marlieri (Poll, 1950), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Telmatochromis dhonti (Boulenger, 1919), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Telmatochromis temporalis (Boulenger, 1898), Cichlidae: 5–10% of population
Tropheus moorii (Boulenger, 1898), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Altolamprologus compressiceps (Boulenger, 1898), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Aulonocranus dewindti (Boulenger, 1899), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Chalinochromis brichardi (Poll, 1974), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Chrysichthys brachynema (Boulenger, 1900), Claroteidae: <2% of population at site
Julidochromis marlieri (Poll, 1956), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Julidochromis transcriptus (Matthes, 1959), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Lamprologus callipterus (Boulenger, 1906), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Lobochilotes labiatus (Boulenger, 1898), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Neolamprologus furcifer (Boulenger, 1898), Cichlidae: 2–5% of population
Neolamprologus leleupi (Poll, 1956), Cichlidae: 2–5% of population
Neolamprologus mondabu (Boulenger, 1906), Cichlidae: 2–5% of population
Neolamprologus tretocephalus (Boulenger, 1899), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site each
Neolamprologus toae (Poll, 1949), Cichlidae: 2–5% of population
Synodontis dhonti (Boulenger, 1917), Mochokidae: <2% of population at site
Synodontis multipunctatus (Boulenger, 1898), Mochokidae: <2% of population at site
Synodontis petricola (Matthes, 1959), Mochokidae: <2% of population at site
Xenotilapia flavipinnis (Poll, 1985), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Xenotilapia sima (Boulenger, 1899), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Lamprichthys tanganicanus (Boulenger, 1898), Poeciliidae: <2% of population at site
Neolamprologus brichardi (Poll, 1974), Cichlidae: >10% of population
Neolamprologus multifasciatus (Boulenger, 1906), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Neolamprologus savoryi (Poll, 1949), Cichlidae: 2–5% of population
Telmatochromis bifrenatus (Myers, 1936), Cichlidae: >10% of population
Cyprichromis microlepidotus (Poll, 1956), Cichlidae: 5–10% of population
Xenotilapia tenuidentata (Poll, 1951), Cichlidae: 2–5% of population
Neolamprologus calliurus (Boulenger, 1906), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Paracyprichromis brieni (Poll, 1981), Cichlidae: 2–5% of population
Paracyprichromis nigripinnis (Boulenger, 1901), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Mastacembelus ellipsifer (Boulenger, 1899), Mastacembelidae: <2% of population at site
Mastacembelus moorii (Boulenger, 1898), Mastacembelidae: <2% of population at site
Cyphotilapia frontosa (Boulenger, 1906), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Lamprologus lemairii (Boulenger, 1899), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Lepidiolamprologus attenuatus (Steindachner, 1909), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Lepidiolamprologus cunningtoni (Boulenger, 1906), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Lepidiolamprologus elongatus (Boulenger, 1898), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Lepidiolamprologus profundicola (Poll, 1949), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Neolamprologus fasciatus (Boulenger, 1898), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Perissodus microlepis (Boulenger, 1898), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site
Plecodus straeleni (Poll, 1948), Cichlidae: <2% of population at site

Crustacean:

Candonopsis depressa, Candonidae: <2% of population at site
Allocypria aberrans, Cyclocyprididae: <2% of population at site each
Allocypria claviformis, Cyclocyprididae: <2% of population at site each
Allocypria humilis, Cyclocyprididae: <2% of population at site each
Mecynocypria cf. conoidea, Cyclocyprididae: <2% of population at site each
Mecynocypria deflexa, Cyclocyprididae: <2% of population at site each
Mecynocypria emaciata, Cyclocyprididae: <2% of population at site each
Mecynocypria opaca, Cyclocyprididae: <2% of population at site each
Mecynocypria subangulata, Cyclocyprididae: <2% of population at site each
Cypridopsis obliquata, Cyprididae: <2% of population at site each
Cypridopsis serrata, Cyprididae: <2% of population at site each
Tanganyikacypridopsis acanthodes, Cyprididae: <2% of population at site each
Tanganyikacypridopsis calcarata, Cyprididae: <2% of population at site each
Tanganyikacypridopsis depressa, Cyprididae: <2% of population at site each
Archaeocyprideis tuberculata, Cytherideidae: <2% of population at site
Mesocyprideis irsacae, Cytherideidae: >10% of population
Romecytheridea ampla, Cytherideidae: 5–10% of population each
Romecytherideatenuisculpta, Cytherideidae: 5–10% of population each
Tanganyikacythere burtonensis, Cytherideidae: <2% of population at site
Tanganyikacythere caljoni, Cytherideidae: 2–5% of population
Gomphocythere alata, Limnocytheridae: 5–10% of population
Gomphocythere cristata, Limnocytheridae: <2% of population at site
Gomphocythere curta, Limnocytheridae: >10% of population

Mollusc:

Caelatura burtoni, Unionidae: 2–5% of population
Mutela spekei, Mutelidae:<2% of population at site
Anceya giraudi, Thiaridae:>10% of population
Bridouxia giraudi, Thiaridae: 2–5% of population
Bridouxia Ponsonbyi, Thiaridae: <2% of population at site
Bridouxia sp., Thiaridae: 5–10% of population
Lavigeria sp. “fine striped”, Thiaridae: >10% of population
Lavigeria grandis, Thiaridae: 2–5% of population
Lavigeria cf. nassa “fine ribbed”, Thiaridae: 5–10% of population
Lavigeria cf. nassa “small fine”, Thiaridae: <2% of population at site
Lavigeria cf. paucicostata “coarse ribbed”, Thiaridae: <2% of population at site
Lavigeria cf. paucicostata “sand lav”, Thiaridae: 5–10% of population
Lavigeria cf. paucicostata “spiny”, Thiaridae: <2% of population at site
Mysorelloides multisulcata, Thiaridae: <2% of population at site
Paramelania damoni form: crassigranulata, Thiaridae: <2% of population at site
Paramelania damoni form: imperialis, Thiaridae: <2% of population at site).
Reymondia horei, Thiaridae: >10% of population
Spekia sp. “coheni”, Thiaridae: 2–5% of population
Stanleya neritinoides, Thiaridae: <2% of population at site
Stormsia minima, Thiaridae: <2% of population at site
Syrnolopsis minuta, Thiaridae: <2% of population at site

Plants:

Typha capensis (Typhaceae)
Typha domingensis (Typhaceae)
Vossia cuspidata (Poaceae)
Cyperus papyrus (Cyperaceae)
Phragmites australis (Poaceae)
Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae)
Pistia stratiotes (Araceae)
Azolla filiculoides (Azollaceae)
Lemna spp. (Lemnaceae)
Salvinia molesta (Salviniaceae)
Hydrilla verticillate (Hydrocharitaceae)
Ceratophyllum demersum (Ceratophyllaceae)
Potamogeton spp. (Potamogetonaceae)
Vallisneria spiralis (Hydrocharitaceae)

Threats to ecology

The main threat is oil exploration.

Riparian zone

Trees near the aquatic habitat: Many -

Bibliography

→ Hydrobiologia 436: 59–71, 2000 - Diatom assemblages in surface sediments along the east coast of Lake Tanganyika by C. Cocquyt & D. Schram
→ Conservation Biology 13(5), 1017–1033, 1999 - Effects of Landscape Disturbance on Animal Communities in Lake Tanganyika, East Africa by SIMONE R. ALIN, ANDREW S. COHEN, ROGER BILLS, MASTA MUKWAYA GASHAGAZA, ELLINOR MICHEL, JEAN-JACQUES TIERCELIN, KOEN MARTENS, PETER COVELIERS, SIMA KEITA MBOKO, KELLY WEST, MICHAEL SOREGHAN, SONA KIMBADI, AND GASPARD NTAKIMAZI
→ (2011) ACTA ICHTHYOLOGICA ET PISCATORIA. 41(3). p.201-214 - A RECENT INVENTORY OF THE FISHES OF THE NORTH-WESTERN AND CENTRAL WESTERN COAST OF LAKE TANGANYIKA (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC CONGO) by Maarten Van Steenberge, Maarten PM Vanhove, Donatien Muzumani Risasi, Théophile Mulimbwa N'sibula, Fidel Muterezi Bukinga, Antoine Pariselle, Céline Gillardin, Emmanuel Vreven, Joost Raeymaekers (UGent) , Tine Huyse, Filip AM Volckaert, Venant Nshombo Muderhwa and Jos Snoeks
→ Bitumens in Ore Deposits. Special Publication of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits, vol 9. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. - Hydrocarbons, Sulphides, and Carbonate Deposits Related to Sublacustrine Hydrothermal Seeps in the North Tanganyika Trough, East African Rift by J. -J. TiercelinJ. BoulègueB. R. T. Simoneit
→ Applied Geochemistry 15 (2000) 355–368 - Hydrothermal petroleum from lacustrine sedimentary organic matter in the East African Rift by Bernd R.T.Simoneit, Tarek A.T.Aboul-Kassim, J.J.Tiercelin
→ Geology (1993) 21 (6): 499–502 - Hydrothermal vents in Lake Tanganyika, East African, Rift system by Jean-Jacques Tiercelin; Catherine Pflumio; Maryse Castrec; Jacques Boulégue; Pascal Gente; Joël Rolet; Christophe Coussement; Karl O. Stetter; Robert Huber; Sony Buku; Wafula Mifundu
→ Japan. J. Ichthyol. 42(1): 39-43, 1995 - eolamprologus longicaudatus, a New Cichlid Fish from the Zairean Coast of Lake Tanganyika by Kazuhiro Nakaya and Masta Mukwaya Gashagaza
→ Basin Research (1997) 9, 107–132 - New palaeogeographic and lake-level reconstructions of Lake Tanganyika: implications for tectonic, climatic and biological evolution in a rift lake by A. S. Cohen, K.-E. Lezzar, J.-J. Tiercelin, M. Soreghan
→ Geology (1989) 17 (11): 1053–1056 - Discovery of sublacustrine hydrothermal activity and associated massive sulfides and hydrocarbons in the north Tanganyika trough, East African Rift by Jean-Jacques Tiercelin; Catherine Thouin; Tchibangu Kalala; André Mondeguer
→ Naturwissenschaften, 1971 - Lake Tanganyika: Water Chemistry, Sediments, Geological Structure by T. DEGENS, RICHARD P. VON HERZEIX and HOW-KIN WONG
→ Journal of Great Lakes Research 46 (2020) 1067–1078 - The taxonomic diversity of the cichlid fish fauna of ancient Lake Tanganyika, East Africa by Fabrizia Ronco, Heinz H. Büscher, Adrian Indermaur, Walter Salzburger
→ Congo Research Group. February 2019 - The CNPSC Rebellion, Social Marginalization and State Complicity in South Kivu by Congo Research Group

Sitography

→ tanganyika.si
→ Tech monde Brésil
→ Wikipedia
→ malawicichlids.com
→ Youtube
→ Youtube
→ Youtube

Comment by the expert

Ad Konings: Criteria #3 – Very extensive list of species although many have never been reported from Cape Banza. Criteria #4 – Perfect! Criteria #5 – I’m certain that the fishes can live “harmoniously” together for a long time but one of the three species does not occur anywhere near Cape Banza, i.e. N. multifasciatus only occurs in the southernmost part of the lake mainly in Zambia. The title of a the biotope is “Shallow intermediate habitat”, but none of the three species occur in such habitat. N. leleupi occurs in pure rocky habitats (only black morph at Banza) at depths below 15 m and L. ocellatus is mostly found below 5m on sandy/muddy bottoms without rocks and certainly no plants.

Stefano Valdesalici: Perfect biogeography!