ichlid are, evidence of this fish's ability to evolve is testified in other parts of the world, as well. Most cichlids of Lake Victoria have managed to stay more with the "torpedo-style" of body. It is not uncommon for cichlids in South America to have evolved into a more plate-like form, allowing them to live and feed in the isolated rivers and lakes of the rainforest (Musselwhite). In 14,000 years, 400 species of cichlids had evolved from five ancestors.Now the cichlids, as well as all the life that benefits from a healthy Lake Victoria, are faced with an astrnomical problem. The 400 species that once were have dwindled down to 200. This is due to a couple factors. First, the introduction of the Nile perch. This massive fish that can grow to be six-foot and 200-pounds and survives by feeding on smaller fish. The Nile perch has contributed to the decrease in numbers. Ever since Speke's "discovery" in 1858, men have been responsible for the explotation of the resources the lake has to offer. Right from the get-go, colonialists began tearing down the forests surrounding the lake, draining swamps, and planting crops that farmers were able to finacially benefit from. Over the course of a few years, these farms grew to plantations. Plantations attracted workers. Workers attracted businesses other forms of business. One of these types of businesses was, as one might expect, fishing. By 1950, many fish populations had depleted so much that they had become commercially extint (Chege, 1995). The most recent, and most threatening, menace to the lake comes in the form of water hyacinth. This plant, a type of free-floating seaweed, has emerged in areas of the lake in all three countries. It forms a thick layer on top of the lake, which does not allow sunlight to reach organism beneath it. It also uses a lot of oxygen, which is already a rare resource the ecosystem. International travel between the three countries via the lake is al...
