Identifying context
Research question
How has the introduction of Nile perch affected the native species in Lake Victoria, Kenya?
Environmental Issue
Alien species are species that are introduced to a new environment and the introduction is mainly with the aim of increasing biodiversity in that specific environment although it sometimes can be for decorative purposes, pest control among others (Society, 2017). Some are intentionally introduced while other come into the new environment by mistake such as Bighead and Silver Carp fish that escaped from firms into Missouri river in North America (Society, 2017).They can have both negative and positive impacts in the new environment. Alien species only become invasive if they have negative impacts …show more content…
However this was endangered by the reduction in fish numbers due to high demand for two common species of tilapia thus overexploitation of the existing numbers. Therefore to increase the supply of fish, Nile perch was introduced to Lake Victoria in 1954 by the British colonialists and by 1970s there had been an increase in the fishing output from the lake, firstly observed in Nyanza , Kenya although this was at an expense ("Lake Victoria Fisheries: An Introduction", 2017). Nile perch turned out to be an invasive species by feeding one of the native species, haplochromine cichlids, thus reducing their numbers because the Nile perch population had already outnumbered its prey at this point. From the knowledge of the predator-prey relationship, if the predators are more than the prey then there is more pressure on the preys which makes them susceptible to extinction, although Nile perch caused economic upsurge, its introduction was next to fatal for some native species haplochromine cichlids among others of Lake Victoria (Society, & NAT GEO WILD, 2017). Therefore it is beneficial to study the impacts of the introduction of alien species on the native species of the new environment and the effects on biodiversity. I will use secondary data in my study and be able to gain an understanding on the impacts of Nile Perch on the native species of Lake Victoria and deduce solutions or alternatives to avoid those impacts in the
Research question
How has the introduction of Nile perch affected the native species in Lake Victoria, Kenya?
Environmental Issue
Alien species are species that are introduced to a new environment and the introduction is mainly with the aim of increasing biodiversity in that specific environment although it sometimes can be for decorative purposes, pest control among others (Society, 2017). Some are intentionally introduced while other come into the new environment by mistake such as Bighead and Silver Carp fish that escaped from firms into Missouri river in North America (Society, 2017).They can have both negative and positive impacts in the new environment. Alien species only become invasive if they have negative impacts …show more content…
However this was endangered by the reduction in fish numbers due to high demand for two common species of tilapia thus overexploitation of the existing numbers. Therefore to increase the supply of fish, Nile perch was introduced to Lake Victoria in 1954 by the British colonialists and by 1970s there had been an increase in the fishing output from the lake, firstly observed in Nyanza , Kenya although this was at an expense ("Lake Victoria Fisheries: An Introduction", 2017). Nile perch turned out to be an invasive species by feeding one of the native species, haplochromine cichlids, thus reducing their numbers because the Nile perch population had already outnumbered its prey at this point. From the knowledge of the predator-prey relationship, if the predators are more than the prey then there is more pressure on the preys which makes them susceptible to extinction, although Nile perch caused economic upsurge, its introduction was next to fatal for some native species haplochromine cichlids among others of Lake Victoria (Society, & NAT GEO WILD, 2017). Therefore it is beneficial to study the impacts of the introduction of alien species on the native species of the new environment and the effects on biodiversity. I will use secondary data in my study and be able to gain an understanding on the impacts of Nile Perch on the native species of Lake Victoria and deduce solutions or alternatives to avoid those impacts in the