Acronym: LT-Stolo
Collaborators: Carl Vangestel (JEMU-RBINS), Gontran Sonet (JEMU-RBINS), Massimiliano Virgilio (JEMU-RMCA), Zoe De Corte (RBINS), Maarten Van Steenberge (RMCA), Maarten Vanhove (RBINS), Jos Snoeks (RMCA), Joost Raeymaekers (KU Leuven), Filip Volckaert (KU Leuven)
Year: 2017
Summary: The Lake Tanganyika sprat (Stolothrissa tanganicae) and the Lake Tanganyika sardine (Limnothrissa miodon), form the bulk of the lake’s fisheries, which provide a livelihood for tens of thousands of lakeshore fishermen and a cheap source of protein for millions of people in the neighbouring countries. Yet, in spite of their economic and ecological importance, very little is known about the population structure of these species. Hence, it is still unclear whether the fisheries of these two clupeid species should be managed as a single or as a set of distinct units. This is, however, crucial information as the Lake is shared between four different countries, which differ in fisheries practices and in access to domestic and foreign consumers. Hence, the delineation of potential fisheries units would allow us to propose a management plan of the lake’s pelagic fisheries. In this project we will apply next-generation sequencing techniques (RADseq) to investigate potential population structure in the Lake Tanganyika sprat (Stolothrissa tanganicae).
Output:
- Peer-reviewed paper: First genomic study on Lake Tanganyika sprat Stolothrissa tanganicae: a lack of population structure calls for integrated management of this important fisheries target species. De Keyzer, E.L.R., De Corte, Z., Van Steenberge, M., Raeymaekers, J.A.M., Calboli, F.C.F., Kmentová, N., Sibula Mulimbwa, T.M., Virgilio, M., Vangestel, C., Masilya Mulungula, P., Volckaert, F.A.M. & Vanhove, M.P.M. 2019. BMC Evolutionary Biology 19, 6.