Escape of farmed tilapiines into the wild and entry of wild forms in fishponds, and the possible interactions between wild and farmed tilapiines from a sample of smallholder farms in Central Uganda
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Date
2009
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Journal of Ecology
Abstract
Seven smallholder fishponds in central Uganda were studied
between 2000 and 2001 to investigate the interaction of
farmed tilapiines with their wild conspecifics. Emphasis was
on the features that facilitate escape of fish and ⁄ or entry of
fish into the farms and interactions between the farmed and
the wild. These included number of species, source of seed,
connection between pond and natural watercourses, purpose
of the farm, destination of cultured fish and interaction
between farmed and wild fish. Fishponds had no screens
against entry of wild fish into the farm or escape of farmed
fish into the wild and occurred within wetlands close to
natural watercourses. Ponds stocked with one fish species
were found to have multispecies with some individuals that
were apparently intermediate morphs between the species.
Fry produced within the growout fishponds was shared with
other farmers within and outside the watersheds. This study
showed that smallholder farms with little or no control of
escape or entry of fish out and into the fishponds, and little or
no management present circumstances that facilitate continued
movement of tilapiines within and across watersheds
in Ugandan waters. The study also indicated possible genetic
interaction between farmed and their wild conspecifics
through interactions within fishponds.
Description
Keywords
Ecological interactions, Farmed tilapiines, Wild fish
Citation
Mwanja, M. T., & Mwanja, W. W. (2009). Escape of farmed tilapiines into the wild and entry of wild forms in fishponds, and the possible interactions between wild and farmed tilapiines from a sample of smallholder farms in central Uganda. African Journal of Ecology, 47(4), 469-475.