Research alert! A new study shows how climate change affected the diversity of Congo River fish during glacial periods—crucial knowledge for understanding modern threats to fish in this species-rich region.
Over the last about 2.6 million years, polar ice caps have continuously expanded and retracted during glacial and interglacial cycles. This is thought to be a significant driver of biodiversity on land, but less is known about its effect on freshwater systems, especially in the Congo River.
Using molecular tools, scientists focused on four species of fish endemic to the lower Congo River, known as lamprologine cichlids. Their findings, published in the journal Integrative and Comparative Biology, suggest speciation of Congo fish likely occurred when the river’s water level decreased, isolating populations of fish into smaller pockets of water, leading to the rise of new species over time.
Learn more about how climate change impacts river fish.
Image: © Melanie Stiassny, Lamprologus lethops pictured
