Abstract:
Over the last century, water temperatures in Lake Tanganyika have risen due to
climate change, which increased thermal stratification and reduced the magnitude of
nutrient availability. A rise in temperature increases the C:N:P ratio resulting in a
poor algal diet. In addition, lake littoral habitat is experiencing increased sediment
load due to deforestation of the watershed caused by anthropogenic activities.
Sediments cover benthic algae and reduce its nutritional value, consequently affecting
the foraging behavior, distribution, and growth performance of algivorous fish.
Algae and algivorous fish are an important link in the lake food chain; therefore, if
the rise in temperature will continue as predicted, then this may have a cascading
effect for the rest of the community in the food chain including human being. This,
in turn, may contribute to food insecurity at local and regional levels. To counteract
this adaptation and mitigation measures such as environmental monitoring systems
and creating new opportunities should be considered.
