Publications
2022
A mismatch between morphological and molecular data in lineages of Enteromius (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from the Lowa basin (East Democratic Republic of the Congo: DRC) with the description of a new species.
Authors : TCHALONDAWA KISEKELWA, JOS SNOEKS, EVA DECRU, FREDERIC B. D. SCHEDEL, MWAPU ISUMBISHO & EMMANUEL VREVEN.
Six populations of morphologically similar Enteromius specimens with a weakly thickened and serrated dorsal spine from the Lowa basin were investigated using an integrative approach including qualitative characters, multivariate morphometrics, and DNA analyses (mtCOI and ncMyh6). These populations are nested within the COI lineage of the E. miolepis species-complex, but differ from all known Enteromius species from the Congo basin, by their dorsal spine morphology, colour pattern, and scale pattern at the dorsal-fin base.
For more : https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772000.2022.2135630
Current status and strategic way forward for long-term management of Lake Kivu (East Africa).
Authors ; Muvundja Fabrice Amisi, Masilya Pascal Mulungula, Kisekelwa Tchalondawa Kisse, Balagizi Charles Muhigirwa, Pasche Natacha, Hyangya Béni Lwikitcha, Mudakikwa Ruhanamirindi Eric, Akonkwa Balagizi Désiré, Nahayo Déo, Ajode Z. Migeni, Stephanie Smith, Alfred Wüest, Ted Lawrence,
Lake Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes lying in the Albertine Rift. It provides livelihoods to 5.7 million people living in the two riparian countries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda. Lake Kivu is currently experiencing numerous stressors, including fish habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species, weak governance and law enforcement as well as conflict between riparian countries. One of the biggest challenges on Lake Kivu is the limitation of coordinated and consistent research on the lake.
For more : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2022.04.004
Need for harmonized long-term multi-lake monitoring of African Great Lakes.
Authors ; Pierre-Denis Plisnier, Robert Kayanda c , Hussein Abegaz, Alfred Achieng, Balagizi Akonkwa, Christian Albrechtl, Charles Balagizi, James Barasa, Rafiki Abel Bashonga, Alexis Bashonga, Béni L. Hyangya, Ken Irvine, Mwapu Isumbisho, Carlos Jonasse, Cyprian Katongo, Sergei Katsev, James Keyombe, Ismael Kimirei, Kisekelwa Tchalondawa Kisse, Muvundja Fabrice Amisi et al.
To ensure the long-term sustainable use of African Great Lakes (AGL), and to better understand the functioning of these ecosystems, authorities, managers and scientists need regularly collected scientific data and information of key environmental indicators over multi-years to make informed decisions. Monitoring is regularly conducted at some sites across AGL; while at others sites, it is rare or conducted irregularly in response to sporadic funding or short-term projects/studies. Managers and scientists working on the AGL thus often lack critical long-term data to evaluate and gauge ongoing changes.
For more : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2022.04.004
2021
Association between Labeobarbus spp. (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) and environmental variables in the Luhoho basin (Eastern Congo River basin; DRC).
Authors : Kisekelwa Tchalondwa, Jos Snoeks, Armel Ibala Zamba, Gaston Sefu Amzati, Mwapu Isumbisho, Pascal Mulungula Masilya, Pieter Lemmens, Emmanuel Vreven.
The African cyprinid genus Labeobarbus is characterized by a high polymorphism in mouth morphology. The association between four species of this genus (two chiselmouths, one rubberlip with a well-developed fleshy mental lobe on the lower jaw, i.e., a fleshy appendage on the chin, and one usually with a poorly developed one) and 26 environmental variables was investigated in four affluents of the Luhoho River in the Albertine Highlands of the Upper Congo basin.
For more : https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14719
2020
Food and feeding habits of Raïamas moorei Boulenger 1900, Enteromius pellegrini (Poll, 1939), and Enteromius kerstenii (Peters, 1868), three cyprinid species of Lake Kivu (East Africa).
Authors : P. Masilya & F. A. Muvundja & M. Isumbisho & L. Hyangya & T. Kisekelwa & M. B. Kaningini
The feeding ecology of Raiamas moorei, Enteromius kerstenii, and Enteromius pellegrini was studied as a contribution to the comprehension of the ecological functioning of Lake Kivu, especially its littoral zone. Fish specimens were collected during 68 fishing campaigns from 2007 to 2017 among which are 25 campaigns 24-h full daily cycles and 43 overnights campaigns.
For more : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-020-00965-w
An annotated checklist of the fish fauna of the river systems draining the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Upper Congo: Eastern DR Congo).
Authors : T. Kisekelwa, Jos Snoeks, Emmanuel Vreven
The Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP), situated mainly in the Eastern Highlands Ecoregion of the Upper Congo basin, is drained by the Lowa and Ulindi rivers, and some western affluents of Lake Kivu. In this study, the first list of the fish diversity of these systems is provided based on museum collections and complemented, for the Lowa River system and the western Lake Kivu affluents, with recently collected specimens (2013–2017). A total of 118 species are reported from the Lowa basin, 22 from the Ulindi basin and seven from these Lake Kivu affluents. Within the Lowa and Ulindi, respectively, five and one species, all cichlids, have been introduced.
For more : https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14264
Hidden species diversity in Marcusenius moorii (Teleostei: Mormyridae) from the Congo Basin.
Authors : Taylor Mambo Baba, Tchalondawa Kisekelwa, Célestin Danadu Mizani, Eva Decru, Emmanuel Vreven.
New collections from the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve (YBR) and Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR) revealed the presence of two groups of specimens similar to, but dif[1]ferent from Marcusenius moorii. To study both these groups, an integrated morpho[1]logical and genetic (mtDNA, cytb) approach was used. This study revealed that one of the two groups is conspecific with Marcusenius lambouri, a junior synonym of M. moorii, which is herein revalidated, with M. moorii longulus as its junior synonym. Marcusenius lambouri differs from M. moorii by a higher number of lateral line scales (44–46 vs. 40–43), a shorter pectoral-fin length (14.6–19.9 vs. 20.3–25.2% standard length; LS) and a more elongated body due to a usually shallower middle body depth (19.8–26.5 vs. 26.3–35.9% LS).
For more : https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14226
2016
Marcusenius kaninginii, a new species of elephantfish from the Lowa River basin, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Osteoglossiformes: Mormyridae).
Authors : Tchalondawa Kisekelwa, Gert Boden, Jos Snoeks and Emmanuel Vreven.
Marcusenius kaninginii, a new Marcusenius species with eight large circumpeduncular scales, is described from the Lowa River, a right bank tributary of the Lualaba (Upper Congo basin). It is distinguished from all other Marcusenius species with eight circumpeduncular scales by the following unique combination of characters: 43-47 lateral line scales; 18-23 dorsal-fin rays; 27-30 anal-fin rays; 42-44 vertebrae; a relatively shallow body at the anterior base of the anal fin (depth 25.0-28.6 % SL); a deep caudal peduncle (39-57 % of caudal peduncle length); and a short pectoral fin (15.5-19.1 % SL).
For more : https://typeset.io/papers/marcusenius-kaninginii-a-new-species-of-elephantfish-from-zmeu55xns6