Lake Barombi Mbo

Lake Barombi Mbo

Satellite photo from NASA. Barombi Mbo is the largest circular lake, just above center.
Coordinates 4°40′N 9°24′E / 4.667°N 9.400°E / 4.667; 9.400Coordinates: 4°40′N 9°24′E / 4.667°N 9.400°E / 4.667; 9.400
Type Crater lake
Primary outflows Mungo River
Basin countries Cameroon
Surface area 5 square kilometres (1.9 sq mi)[1]
or
7 square kilometres (2.7 sq mi)[2][3]
Average depth 69 metres (226 ft)[1]
Max. depth 111 metres (364 ft)[1]
Surface elevation 300 metres (980 ft)[1]
Official name Barombi Mbo Crater Lake
Designated October 8, 2006 [4]

Lake Barombi Mbo or Barombi-ma-Mbu is a lake near Kumba in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. It is located in the Cameroon volcanic chain, and is the largest volcanic lake in this region.[1] It is one of the oldest radiocarbon-dated lakes in Africa.[5] On old colonial maps the area was known as Elefanten Sea (Elephant Lake), but the elephants living in the area were extirpated due to ivory trading.[6]

Biology

Sarotherodon linnellii (above) and Stomatepia pindu (below), two of the many cichlid species found only in Lake Barombi Mbo

Until now, 15 species of fishes have been recorded from the lake.[1] Among others, this includes Labeobarbus batesii, a member of the Fundulopanchax mirabilis group, and the endemic catfish Clarias maclareni. Perhaps most noteworthy are the 11 species of cichlids that are endemic to the lake (Konia spp., Stomatepia spp., Myaka myaka, Pungu maclareni, Sarotherodon caroli, S. linnellii, S. lohbergeri, and S. steinbachi).[7] These cichlids are commonly recognized as a prime example of sympatric speciation,[7] but studies indicate that they were not the result of a single founding event.[8]

All the endemic fish are seriously threatened by pollution and sedimentation from human activities. They are potentially also threatened by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos),[2][3][9] although studies indicate that Barombo Mbo lacks excess amounts of this gas.[10] Commercial fishing is forbidden in the lake.[2][3][9] Additionally, the lake has an endemic species of sponge (Corvospongilla thysi), and an endemic species of shrimp (Caridina sp.).[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Freshwater Ecoregions of the World (2008). Western Equatorial Crater Lakes.
  2. 1 2 3 Moelants, T. (2009). "Stomatepia mongo". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 Moelants, T. (2009). "Konia dikume". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  4. ↑ "Ramsar List". Ramsar.org. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  5. ↑ Past climate variability through Europe and Africa
  6. ↑ Elephants and Their Interactions with People and Vegetation in the Waza-Logone Region, Cameroon, Part I Introduction and General Background, 1.1 The Problem, pg 3.
  7. 1 2 Schliewen, U.K., Tautz, D., and Pääbo, S. (1994). Sympatric speciation suggested by monophyly of crater lake cichlids. Nature 368(6472): 629-632.
  8. ↑ Martin; Cutler; Friel; Touokong; Coop; and Wainwright (2015). Complex histories of repeated gene flow in Cameroon crater lake cichlids cast doubt on one of the clearest examples of sympatric speciation. Evolution 69-6: 1406–1422. doi:10.1111/evo.12674
  9. 1 2 Moelants, T. (2009). "Konia eisentrauti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  10. ↑ Freeth, S.J.; C.O. Ofoegbu; and K.M. Onuoha (1992). Natural Hazards in West and Central Africa, pp. 50—51. ISBN 978-3-663-05239-5
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