Final Project Report (to be submitted by 30th September 2016) Instructions: • Document length: maximum 10 pages, excluding this cover page and the last page on project tags. • Start with an abstract (max 1 page). • Final report text: Do not forget to mention your methodology; the people involved (who, how many, what organization they are from – if applicable); and the expected added value for biodiversity, society and the company. Finally, state whether the results of your project can be implemented at a later stage, and please mention the ideal timing and estimated costs of implementation. • Annexes are allowed but will not be taken into account by the jury and must be sent separately. • Word/PDF Final Report files must be less than 10 MB. • If you choose to submit your final report in your local language, you are required to also upload your final report in English if you wish to take part in the international competition. • To be validated, your file must be uploaded to the Quarry Life Award website0 before 3 th September 2016 (midnight, Central European Time). To do so, please log in, click on ‘My account’/ ‘My Final report’. • In case of questions, please liaise with your national coordinator. 1. Contestant profile ° Contestant name: Kimbembi ma Ibaka Alexis ° Contestant occupation: Researcher Teacher ° University / Organisation Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Mbanza-Ngungu ° E-mail: ° Phone (incl. country code): ° Number of people in your Five (5) team: 2. Project overview Title: Ichtyological Biodiversity and condition factor of fish species of Lukala quarry in Kongo Central in R.D.Congo Contest: 3 rd Edition (2016) Quarry name: Lukala quarry (Cilu) Prize category: ☒ Education and Raising Awareness (select all appropriate) ☒ Habitat and Species Research ☒ Biodiversity Management ☐ Student Project ☐ Beyond Quarry Borders 1/3 Abstract (max 1 page) Text in arial 10 Ichtyological Biodiversity and factor condition of fish species of the Lukala quarry in the Kongo Central province ( D.R.Congo) The ichtyofauna of Lukala quarry has never been the object of any research. An ichtyological inventory and a study of their factor condition have been started since October 2015 to July 2016. 217 specimens of fishes have been grouped into 4 families, 9 genus and 12 species. Micralestes holargyreus was the most representative specie. Overall, the individual values of condition (K) improve the rainy season and fall in the dry season. The average factor condition of Oreochromis niloticus collected in two quarries: - [ (C-45) Operational Quarry and; - (Lusivika pond)] Exhausted Quarry], has been superior to those of other fish species captured in the Lukala river. The average factor condition compared according to the seasons among Thoracochromis bakongo revealed a significant difference (tcal. 2,89 ; ttab. 2,30). Among Barbus sp. (tcal. 1,20 ; ttab. 2,10) and Barbus miolepis (tcal. 0,85 ; ttab. 2), the difference was not significant. The average factor condition calculated according to the stations for Micralestes holargyreus does not show any significant difference (tcal. 0,004 ; ttab. 2). The specificity of in quarry is the presence of Barbus sp. which has never been signaled in the rivers Kongo Central and of the D.R.Congo. 2 Final report (max 9 pages) Introduction There are considerable researches on the systematics and ecology of the ichtyofauna in Africa in general and the Democratic Republic of Congo in particular. Poll (1957) studied the species of fish of water in Africa. Poll and Gosse (1963) contributed to a systematics of ichtyofauna in the Kongo Central province, and quite recently Wamuini (2010) study reported data on the fish in the river Inkisi. But there is a scarcity of research carried out on the biodiversity of quarries in general and on the ichtyofauna biodiversity. If in Africa the condition factor of Alestes baremoze of Bas Chari and lake Chad has been investigated by Durand and Loubens (1970), in the D.R.Congo these types of studies are scarce. Nevertheless, Kimbembi (2007) embarked on the study of condition of Caecobarbus geertsii (blind fish or eyeless fish) in the caves of Mbanza-Ngungu. With the opportunity of Quarry Life Award competition, 3 rd edition (2016) on the biodiversity preservation in the exploitation or exhausted quarries, we embarked on a study of ichtyofauna biodiversity and the factor condition of the species of fish in the aquatic ecosystem of the cement factory of Lukala. 01. Objective The purpose of this study is twofold. First, it is an inventory of the species in the river Lukala and in both the exploited or exhausted quarries turned into ponds. Second, this research aims to study of the factor condition of the most representative species of this complex ecosystem. Our hypothesis is that exhausted quarries are likely to affer a favourable biotope to the development of aquatic biodiversity where the dynamics of their populations can be followed up. 1. Historical review and other useful information (site description, prior actions of the project) The Lukala quarry is in the D.R.Congo, Kongo Central province at 350 m altitude, 14° 29’35’’ East longitude and 5°31’27’’ South latitude. There is an intense activity of limestone and clay exploitation for the cement industry. 25 ha out of the 62 ha available are under exploitation. With a rhythm of exploitation of about 1 000 000 t/year, the limestone reserves (quarry C- 45) can be exploited in the coming six decades. Although this important socio-economic activity has an impact on the degradation of the biodiversity, it however created ecosystems, ideal habitats, which constitute an opportunity to follow the evolution biodiversity. And about what concerns us, we limited our research in the immediate vicinity of the industrial ecosystem, that within a radius of 3 km. 1.1. Description and choice of stations of captures The Lukala quarry is characterized by 2 types of aquatic ecosystems (Annex 1): - the river Lukala and, - the quarries in exploitation and exhausted, transformed into ponds. 3 The climate is humid and tropical with 2 seasons: the rainy season which goes from October to April, interrupted by a brief dry season (December-February) and the dry season (from May to September). The Lukala river, has a South-North orientation. Its natural aquatic ecosystem is subdivided in 3 stations. The subdivision criterion was the ecological man-made barriers made in this river way. - Upstream of the river bed built with concrete (station 1). This part is located in the South of the C-45 quarry; - The part along the plant and limited by a small dam where water is retained for use in cooling machines upper (station 2). At this level, the river receives polluted water from the plant via a canal which is connected to an already drained quarry now, transformed into a pond; - The downstream of this dam is station 3. The bottom of the river is constituted of limestone and many vegetal remaining. Its depth varies according to season (from 8 to 200 cm) ; pH : 8,69 ; temperature : 26° C ; salinity : 0,96 ppm; conductivity : 84,60 µcm. The characteristic vegetation is constituted by Cyperaceae. The ecosystem created by man following the exploitation of limestone can be subdivided into 2 stations: - Station 4, which is the exhausted quarry (Lusivika pond), (altitude 359 m ; 14°31’52,9’’ East longitude and 5°30’19,6’’ South latitude). Due to its depth, its exploitation requires appropriate equipment in order to successfully highlight its specificities in ichtyofauna. - Station 5 has also been compartmentalized into 2 sub stations: o The sub-station 5.1, exhausted quarry, has a pumping system supplies not only the cement plant and the residential area with water, but also pours water in the normal bed of the river Lukala. o Station 5.2, quarry in exploitation, is often flooded by waters from the river Lukala. This last ecosystem colonized by Oreochromis niloticus requires further investigation. 2. Material and methods The biological material consists of 217 specimens of fish caught from October 2015 until July 2016. The samples of specimens studied were collected using nets with small mesh (from 10 to 20 mm node to node). Samplings were done the same day or the day after. Fresh fishes harvested and summarily identified, were weighed [weight (P or W) g close] using Pesola’s Light line 10020; max 20 g mark Switzerland or digital scales Kern EMB brand, 1200-1, max 1200 g; and measured [total length (T.L.) to the mm] with the caliper brand Mitutoyo 505-681. After weighing and measurements the specimens were kept in formalin (10%) containing plastic bags for their identification I.S.P's biology lab. / Mbanza-Ngungu DR Congo. Identification of genus and species of fish has been possible thanks to the works of: Poll (1957), Thys (1964) Teugels (1986) and Melanie et al. (2007). The GPS map 74,914,222 60 CSX Garmin, can 210 has allowed us to take some geographic locations of stations. The individual values of condition factor (K) were calculated according to the formula K = W/L 3.10 5 (Lecren, 1951), Where - K: condition factor; - W: weight in g - L: Total length in mm. 4 The examination of the factor (K) is used to: - Compare monospecific populations in apparently similar or different conditions (density, climate and food); - Determine the timing and duration of gonadal maturation in populations; - Follow the deterioration of environmental conditions (Micha, 1976). The Student t test allowed us to test the results of condition factor of fish species studied according the seasons and stations 3. Results 3.1 Overview of the ichtyofauna of the Lukala Quarry From October 2015 to July 2016, 217 specimens were fished in the Cilu Quarry. There were grouped in 4 families, 9 genus and 12 species (table 1).