The Nabugabu Research Site is perched on the edge of Lake Nabugabo, part of the Lake Victoria drainage basin. There are large tracts of intact swamp, streams, and small lakes nearby, all hosting a great diversity of freshwater fishes. Though not as rich in diversity as Lake Victoria itself, Nabugabo and surrounding waters offer a tractable system for evaluating the adaptive responses of fishes to environmental extremes. Dr. Lauren Chapman (McGill University) has been studying this system for several decades, with a focus on respiration physiology and conservation (see our Publications page!). Of particular interest are the haplochromine cichlids, with extensive work exploring the adaptations of the Victorian mouthbrooder Psuedocrenilabrus multicolor to chronic hypoxia, and more recent work on temperature and turbidity tolerance. Other work on introduced Nile Perch (Lates niloticus), catfishes (Clarias spp.), and weakly electric fishes (mormyrids) has also been published. In addition, research on the social-ecological impacts of fisheries on Lake Nabugabo and surrounding communities has been done. The rich literature that has accumulated on fish from this region of Uganda offers unique insights and endless questions to investigate.
Nabugabo Research Site 