Lake Barombi Mbo

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.[2] It is one of the oldest radiocarbon-dated lakes in Africa,[6] with the youngest lava flow in it being about one million years old.[1] 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.[7]

Lake Barombi Mbo
Satellite photo from NASA. Barombi Mbo is the largest circular lake, just above center.
Location of Lake Barombi Mbo in Cameroon.
Location of Lake Barombi Mbo in Cameroon.
Lake Barombi Mbo
Location of Lake Barombi Mbo in Cameroon.
Location of Lake Barombi Mbo in Cameroon.
Lake Barombi Mbo
Coordinates4°40′N 9°24′E
TypeVolcanic crater lake
Primary outflowsMungo River
Basin countriesCameroon
Max. length2.15 km (1.34 mi) (diameter)[1]
Surface area5 km2 (1.9 sq mi)[2]
or
7 km2 (2.7 sq mi)[3][4]
Average depth69 m (226 ft)[2]
Max. depth111 m (364 ft)[2]
Surface elevation300 m (980 ft)[2]
Official nameBarombi Mbo Crater Lake
Designated8 October 2006
Reference no.1643[5]
Bakundu Forest Reserve, Lake Barombi

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.[2] 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).[8] These cichlids are commonly recognized as a prime example of sympatric speciation,[8] but studies indicate that they were not the result of a single founding event.[9] The lake is strongly stratified with essentially no oxygen deeper than 40 m (130 ft), meaning that fish are restricted to the upper parts closer to the surface.[1] However, one of the cichlid species, Konia dikume, has an unusually high level of hemoglobin in its blood, allowing it to briefly enter low-oxygen water to feed on glassworms (Chaoborus). Other cichlid species in the lake include both generalist and specialist feeders. A highly unusual specialist is Pungu maclareni, which mainly feeds on the endemic sponge Corvospongilla thysi.[1][10] All the Barombi Mbo cichlids are mouth brooders.[10] In addition to the sponge, the lake is home to an endemic species of Caridina shrimp.[2]

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),[3][4][11] although studies indicate that Barombo Mbo lacks excess amounts of this gas.[12] Commercial fishing is forbidden in the lake.[3][4][11] Nevertheless, extensive subsistence fishing has caused declines in the Barombi Mbo cichlids, but it is shifting to more sustainable practices.[10]

  • Lake Barombi, Crater Lake
    Lake Barombi, Crater Lake
  • Full extent, Lake Barombi
    Full extent, Lake Barombi
  • Side view of Lake Barombi, Kumba
    Side view of Lake Barombi, Kumba

See also

References
  1. Thieme, M.L.; R. Abell; N. Burgess; B. Lehner; E. Dinerstein; and D. Olson (2005). Freshwater Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar: A Conservation Assessment, pp. 58–60. Island Press. ISBN 1-55963-365-4
  2. Freshwater Ecoregions of the World (2008). Western Equatorial Crater Lakes. Archived 2011-10-05 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Moelants, T. (2010). "Stomatepia mongo". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T20865A9233664. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T20865A9233664.en. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  4. Moelants, T. (2010). "Konia dikume". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T11054A3248087. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T11054A3248087.en. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  5. "Barombi Mbo Crater Lake". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  6. Past climate variability through Europe and Africa
  7. 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.
  8. Schliewen, U.K., Tautz, D., and Pääbo, S. (1994). Sympatric speciation suggested by monophyly of crater lake cichlids. Nature 368(6472): 629–632.
  9. 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
  10. Steeves, G. (2010). Insight on Barombi Mbo, Cameroon. Cichlid-forum Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  11. Moelants, T. (2010). "Konia eisentrauti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T11055A3248338. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T11055A3248338.en. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  12. 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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