The proportion of different eco-ethological sections of reproductive guilds of fishes in some African inland waters

Synopsis The continent of Africa has a wide variety of inland waters ranging from rift valley lakes to endorheic and coastal lakes, floodplains and rivers. This paper makes a preliminary comparison of the number of species in different eco-ethological sections of the reproductive guild categories of non-guarders, guarders and bearers in ancient African Great Lakes (Malawi, Victoria and Tanganyika), fluctuating endorheic lakes (Ngami, Chad and Chilwa), typical rivers (Orange-Vaal, Limpopo, Phongolo, Sabi-Lundi, Middle and Lower Zambezi, Kafue, Cunene, Okavango, Niger, Luongo, Lower Zaire) and wetlands (Okavango Delta and Kafue floodplain). The results indicate that the highest percentage of bearers and guarders is found in the ancient African Great Lakes, which are characterised by relatively predictable physico-chemical regimes, whereas a higher percentage of non-guarders is found in the rivers and wetlands, which have less predictable physico-chemical regimes. The management implications of this observation are discussed, and the usefulness of the species as a unit in ecology is assessed.