If a murky lake is stocked with a number of species of cichlid fish from Lake Victoria, what is most likely to happen?
What will happen if a murky lake is stocked with cichlid fish from Lake Victoria?
What are the characteristics of cichlid fish that may impact the ecosystem of the lake?
Answer:
Cichlid fish will start killing all other species in the lake
Cichlid fish are known to be very aggressive and territorial fish, especially the species found in Lake Victoria. If these cichlid fish are introduced into a murky lake, they are likely to dominate the ecosystem and pose a threat to other species present.
The aggressive nature of cichlid fish can lead to them preying on smaller tropical fish and other water species in the lake. This predatory behavior can disrupt the ecological balance of the lake, potentially causing harm to the overall biodiversity.
As a result, the introduction of cichlid fish from Lake Victoria to a murky lake may lead to a scenario where they indiscriminately kill off other species, ultimately impacting the entire ecosystem and potentially turning the lake into a less diverse and more hostile environment.