bin
Shallow Rocky Habitat, Kigoma, Tanganyika, Tanzania
Tanzania, Ujiji, Kigoma region
Lake Tanganyika is a large lake in Africa. It is estimated to be the second largest by volume, and the second deepest lake in the world. It covers 32,900 km², with a shoreline of 1,828 km, a mean depth of 570 m and a maximum depth of 1,470 m, it holds an estimated 18,900 km³ water.
The lake is covered with steep walls of mountains. Major inflows are Ruzizi, Malagarasi and Kalambo Rivers. One major outflow is Lukuga River. The basin contains several forest reserves and national parks. Underwater habitats in the lake differ from each other in terms of species consisted and their food chain.
All different features of lake under water habitats is attributed to them by their different depth and bottom structure and so species in different habitats evolved by finding best way to survival. BIN is a point in Kigoma shoreline and fascinating with it is rocky bottom structure. It harbors lots of species and feeding areas.
- Submitted by
- Uğur Ruşen Doğan
- Approved by
- Ad Konings & Michael Salter
- GPS
- -4.8133712, 29.6096668
- Geographical region
- Eastern Africa
- Drainage Basin
- River catchment
- Water body type
- Lake
- Water body name
- Lake Tanganyika
- Water body part
- Water body course
- Water body: tributary of
- Tributary name
Videos above and below water
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Water Chemistry
Water information
- Water type
- fresh-water
- Water color
- Clear water
- Water transparency
- High
- Concentration of sediments
- No
- Water temperature
- 27.5 °C
- Water flow/curent
- Strong
Chemical parameters
- pH
- 8.5
- Conductivity
- 620
- GH
- 12 mg/l
- dGH
- KH
- 20 mg/l
- dKH
- Dissolved Oxygen
- 0.7 %
Substrate in nature
- Sand
- Pebble/Gravel
- Beige
- Stone
- Beige
- Stone form
- Roundish
- Silt/Mud
- Leaves
- Driftwood
- Submerged terrestrial vegetation
Aquatic Biotope
- Date of collecting
- May 2016
- Collecting area
- Shore line
- Water depth
- 1,0m
- Air temperature
- 28.5 °C
- Sunlight
- Full sun
Environment
- Environment
- Human settlements
- Human settlements
- Surrounding area
BIN is located in a small bay in the shoreline of Kigoma. A narrow steep, rocky and bushy shoreline is covered with bushy and forestry hills. After shoreline a rising inclination starts. Shoreline is not longer than 50 meters.
Surrounding area has a terrestrial beauty and a popular region. There are residents living nearby and formed region according to their needs. Wet and dry season are two major seasons observed in area.
- Underwater landscape
BIN is typical shallow rocky bottom habitat of Lake Tanganyika which is 1-3 meters depth and close to shoreline. It shows clearly it is extension of steep and rocky shoreline. Rocks are positioned on each other and create an amazing scene.
Substrate (sand) of the bottom is not seen and the bottom is almost completely covered with rocks. Because of waves, sediment is not deposited on rocks and high amount of sunshine due to depth promotes algae growth. Rocks are curved edged and in light colors. Rock sizes differ from huge plates to hand-sized stones.
The habitat is a feeding area for lots of species, because algae existence invites algae eater species. Omnivores and carnivores go around them. Visibility is high and water color is light blue. Thanks to turbulence, water is highly saturated, low nitrated and faunal waste (CO2) sent to atmosphere fast. Low depth keeps temperature very steady.
Fishes:
- Xenotilapia ochrogenys
- Xenotilapia nasus
- Xenotilapia flavipinnis
- Xenotilapia boulengeri
- Xenotilapia bathyphilus
- Tropheus duboisi
- Tropheus brichardi
- Trematocara zebra
- Trematocara cf. stigmaticum
- Telmatochromis cf. temporalis
- Tanganicodus irsacae
- Spathodus marlieri
- Pseudosimochromis marginatus
- Petrochromis famula
- Petrochromis ephippium
- Ophthalmotilapia sp. ‘whitecap’
- Ophthalmotilapia sp. ‘paranasuta’
- Neolamprologus walteri
- Neolamprologus ventralis
- Neolamprologus tretocephalus
- Threats to ecology
Riparian zone
- Trees near the aquatic habitat
-
Many -
Bibliography
-
Tanganyika Cichlid in Their Natural Habitat. 4th Edition,2019
by Ad Konins
Comment by the expert
Ad Konings: Crieria 3 – GH is about 200 mg/L (not 12 mg/L) and KH is about 300 mg/L (not 20 mg/L) and dissolved oxygen is close to 100% at the surface (not 0.7% which would kill most cichlids from suffocation).
Michael Salter: The habitat desciption is very general; some water parameters are incorrect.
