The approximately 25 000 km 2 area of lake waters is augmented by the congo river and its several tributaries, including the uganga, lualava, luapula, lulonga and tschuapa. A recent narrativestyle article in smithsonian magazine highlighted research in the largely unexplored congo river in central africa, where researchers have identified new fish species. Molecular phylogenetics reveals convergent evolution in lower. Congo river fish evolution shaped by intense rapids amnh. The congo river in central africa is one of the worlds great rivers, carrying 1. There are many rivers that we have all heard of like the river niger, river gamba, and of course the river congo this was formerly known as the river zaire. Within this equatorial domain, the congo and its principal tributaries form a separate ecological milieu. Congo river fish evolution shaped by intense rapids by american museum of natural history a pair of aquariumheld cichlids of the species telegramma brichardi. Nov 03, 2009 stiassny thinks the rivers power is shaping evolution in the congo. An extreme case of species divergence and convergent evolution. For most of its length it is slow and lazy, descending gently through central africas tropical forests. The congo tetra has a typical fullbodied tetra shape. Dying fish revealed congo is worlds deepest river live. Its overall length of 4,700 km 2,922 miles makes it the second longest in africa after the nile.
The animal population of the great waterways often has fewer affinities with the. Evolution in a vortex fish diversity in the lower congo. By providing a novel comparative framework for this newly discovered system. Stanleys famous 1874 expedition in which he mapped the congo river. The congo river may rank ninth in length in the world, but it trails only the amazon in terms of total water discharge, has the greatest depths of any river, and rejoices in a basin so large that it covers percent of the african continent.
Stiassny thinks the rivers power is shaping evolution in the congo. Historical exploration of the congo river exploring the. The lower congo rivers depths have made it a natural lab for convergent evolution, yielding fish with unexpected features. Document library about nsf careers staff directory. Hydrocynus goliath is found in the congo river basin including lualaba river and lake upemba, and lake tanganyika. However, due to it being relatively uncharted, the real number is probably far higher. New research provides compelling evidence that a group of strangelooking fish living near the mouth of the congo river are evolving due to. Visit smithsonian magazine to read the recent article evolution in the deepest river in the world by kyle dickman, one of the whitewater kayakers who naviagted the river from pool malebo to pioka some 90km downstream during our 2008 field season in bas congo. Being the second largest country, the democratic republic of the congo boasts of housing over 400 fish species, several of which are endemic to the country. The river congo is the largest river in western central africa reaching a length of 2,922 miles. Multilocus phylogeny reveals convergent evolution in lower congo river spiny eels. Near the city of kinshasa, the water puddles against a natural rock barrier, creating an expansion called pool malebo. Evolution in the deepest river in the world science smithsonian.
An ecological and systematic survey of fishes in the rapids. Fish in the congo the science show abc radio national. During periods of high water, floodplains and swamps may expand. The congo rivers sources are in the highlands and mountains with the east african rift, also lake tanganyika and river mweru. The congo basin contains some 33 000 km of river channels, amounting to about 34 000 km2. The congo basin contains some 33 000 km of river channels, amounting to about 34 000 km 2. Molecular phylogenetics reveal convergent evolution in lower congo river spiny eels. Pollution of the congo river by emmie walker on prezi. New dnabased research provides compelling evidence that a group of strangelooking fish living near the mouth of the congo river are evolving due to the intense hydraulics of the rivers rapids. The odd thing about the worlds deepest river conde nast. It is not in any way a biotope, since it includes fish and plants not only not found in the same locale within a river system, but mixed from nigeria, the congo, cameroon, sierra leone and several other countries about 45 species of fish crammed like sardines into one 180 liter tank. She has authored numerous scientific papers, books, and articles and is a. Congo river fish evolution shaped by intense rapids.
The lower congo river holds the potential to provide a greater understanding of. The congo has by far the highest diversity of any african river system. There have been 700 fish species recorded in the river. Evolution in a vortex fish diversity in the lower congo river. The congo river is located on the continent of africa. The congo river also known as zaire river is the largest river in africa. Native fish of the democratic republic of the congo. Evolution in the deepest river in the world science. Evolution, population genetics and speciation in african. The approximately 25 000 km2 area of lake waters is augmented by the congo river and its several tributaries, including the uganga, lualava, luapula, lulonga, and tschuapa. The researchers preliminarily confirmed that strong currents in deep waters had isolated the breeding populations of certain fishes, including the bottomfeeding elephant fish. Genomic study in lower congo reveals microscale diversification. It is also the worlds deepest recorded river, with measured depths in excess of 220 m 720 ft. Photo of speciesrich assemblage of fishes in the lower congo river.
An ecological and systematic survey of fishes in the rapids of the lower zaire or congo river. Some of the most pregnant months in my life were spent in kinshasa, on the other side of the congo river, living, working and being the guest of young black people in a popular parish of kinshasa, eating, dancing, listening to music, drinking, sleeping totally grafted into a group of about twenty young people, mostly teenagers who wanted to. The animal life of the congo basin is identified to a certain extent with that of the equatorial forest, which is sharply distinct from the wildlife of the savannas. New research provides compelling evidence that a group of strangelooking fish living near the mouth of the congo river are evolving due to the intense hydraulics of the rivers rapids and deep. Phenotypic convergence, cryptophthalmia, fish, congo river, phylogenetics, biogeography, molecular divergence. The source of the congo river lies in the southeast of the democratic republic of the congo at an altitude of between 1400 and 1500 m, and consists of a number of small streams, swamps and lakes. Earths deepest river conceals an evolutionary mystery. New dnabased research provides compelling evidence that a group of strangelooking fish living near the mouth of the congo river are. New dnabased research provides compelling evidence that a group of strange looking fish living near the mouth of the congo river are. Nov 24, 2009 a recent narrativestyle article in smithsonian magazine highlighted research in the largely unexplored congo river in central africa, where researchers have identified new fish species. New dnabased research provides compelling evidence that a group of strange looking fish living near the mouth of the congo river are evolving due to the. The congo tetra phenacogrammus interruptus is a species of fish in the african tetra family, found in the central congo river basin in africa. A tented or lodged true wilderness adventure in maipili rc congo near the surrounding bush. It is also of great evolutionary importance, as 7 out of 10 fish families in lake tanganyika have evolved from its waters.
Winding 4,700 km2,900 miles through west africa, the congo is the second longest african river, after the nile. New dnabased research provides compelling evidence that a group of strangelooking fish living near the mouth of the congo river are evolving due to the. New species evolve when some geographic barriera mountain range, an ocean, a glacierdivides a population. It is found in congo river system and lake tanganyika. A contemporaneous connection from the congo system to the headwaters of the upper zambezi was suggested via the kasai river 19,28, 29, which served as a dispersal route for various fish taxa 11.
Congo river basin, west africa, 180 l biotope aquarium. Countries it runs through angola, burundi, cameroon, central african republic, congo kinshasa, gabon, congo brazzaville, rwanda, tanzania, and zambia. Flowing through the worlds second largest area of rainforest, the system is also home to more than 700 species of freshwater fishes. Aug 29, 2009 the congo is a large meandering african river. The river forms the vast majority of the border between zaire and also the republic of congo and drains greater than 1, 600, 000 square miles of land. Balancing hydropower and biodiversity in the amazon, congo, and mekong, basinscale planning is needed to minimize impacts in megadiverse rivers. We study the origins of fish diversity in african rivers and lakes, with a current focus. This occurs after the river spills over the side of a raised plateau and flows to the atlantic ocean. Evolution, population genetics and speciation in african freshwater. A study published in 2011 revealed several mtdna clades in this region, suggesting a higher tigerfish species richness than traditionally recognized. They found cichlids, a freshwater fish known to evolve quickly in new. The river and its tributaries flow through the second largest rain forest area in the world, 1 second only to the amazon rainforest in south america. It uses his expedition across the congo to tell the region. It is the only fish that doesnt fear crocodile, locals say, and it actually eats smaller ones.
Tim butchers top 10 books about congo books the guardian. The congo river is an enormous waterway with a split personality. Apr 25, 2017 the democratic republic of the congos biodiversity of fish is widely dominated by various catfish species. Questions on congo river fishes the new york times. By 10,000 years ago, the ice caps had melted and sea level was pretty much as it is today.
Fao fishery country profile democratic republic of the congo. Stiassny thinks the river s power is shaping evolution in the congo. In 1885, belgium officially gained control of the land the congo free state became the belgian congo. Congo river fish evolution shaped by intense rapids 17 february 2017 a pair of aquariumheld cichlids of the species telegramma brichardi. New species are born in the turbulence of the congo river. Earths deepest river conceals an evolutionary mystery the new. The fishes found only in the lower congo rapids can only have evolved after the formation of. An extreme tented adventure in kinshasa drc congo travelling long distances to uncharted areas of the river, searching for the mbenga local name for goliath tiger fish, or. The lower congo river s depths have made it a natural lab for convergent evolution, yielding fish with unexpected features. Just imagine what an adultsized version of this fish can do. New research provides compelling evidence that a group of strangelooking fish living near the mouth of the congo river are evolving due to the intense hydraulics of the river s rapids and deep. With a length of 2,900 miles 4,700 km, it is the continents second longest river, after the nile. Stanley remained in the congo until 1884, setting up 22 small towns along the river and guiding the effort to establish four steamers on the congo source.
1457 468 561 82 1375 316 1641 1594 74 1460 1359 1165 1269 743 281 722 165 801 601 310 1088 109 1184 454 1285 1546 1117 694 1464 839 1138 1215 1130