Population Genomics of The Lake Tanganyika Sprat (Stolothrissa tanganicae)

The Lake Tanganyika sprat (Stolothrissa tanganicae) and the Lake Tanganyika sardine (Limnothrissa miodon), form the bulk of the fisheries in Lake Tanganyika, 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 lakeÕs 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).

Funding

Belgian Science Policy (BELSPO)

Joint Experimental Molecular unit (JEMU)