Lake Bermin

Lake Bermin
Coordinates 5°09′30″N 9°38′0″E / 5.15833°N 9.63333°E / 5.15833; 9.63333Coordinates: 5°09′30″N 9°38′0″E / 5.15833°N 9.63333°E / 5.15833; 9.63333
Type Crater lake
Primary inflows None
Primary outflows Cross River system
Basin countries Cameroon
Surface area 144 acres (0.58 km2)[1]

Lake Bermin (sometimes spelled Bemin) is a small lake in the volcanic chain in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. It is a volcanic lake with a crater rim that rises to a height of about 150 feet (46 m).[1] This highly isolated lake is roughly circular in shape, lacks an inflow, but has an outflow into the Cross River system.[2]

Despite its very small size, it supports nine endemic species of tilapiine cichlid fishes (C. bakossiorum, C. bemini, C. bythobates, C. flava, C. gutturosa, C. imbriferna, C. snyderae, C. spongotroktis, and C. thysi).[1] This number of endemic fishes per area is the highest recorded anywhere.[3] Genetic evidence suggests that these probably were the result of sympatric speciation.[2] All are critically endangered by pollution and sedimentation from human activities, and potentially also by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos).[4][5][6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Dickinson, C. (2005). The Tilapia of Lake Bernin, Cameroon. Modern Aquarium -Greater City A.S. (NY): 15-16
  2. 1 2 Schliewen, U.K., Tautz, D., and Pääbo, S. (1994). Sympatric speciation suggested by monophyly of crater lake cichlids. Nature 368(6472): 629-632.
  3. ↑ Freshwater Ecoregions of the World (2008). Western Equatorial Crater Lakes.
  4. ↑ Moelants, T. (2009). "Tilapia bakossiorum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  5. ↑ Moelants, T. (2009). "Tilapia gutturosa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  6. ↑ Moelants, T. (2009). "Tilapia thysi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
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