Biodiversity of Ethiopian aquatic ecosystems

For 40 years, Russian scientists have investigated the biodiversity of the aquatic ecosystems of the Ethiopian Highlands (Ethiopia), a unique hydrological and hydrobiological region. The expeditions took place in all six main river basins of Ethiopia, which made it possible to describe the species composition and distribution of fish and other aquatic organisms. The discovery of the so-called “species flock” of cyprinid fish, consisting of 4–6 morphotypes, was outstanding. For representatives of these flocks (including the previously discovered flock of lakeTana). Information on the ecology of reproduction, development, age, growth, morphology, nutrition and genetics was obtained for the first time. Methods of artificial reproduction of a number of commercial fishes of Ethiopia have been developed. In addition, knowledge about aquatic crustaceans has been significantly expanded.