What was the reason behind the extinction of 200 species of cichlid fishes in Lake Victoria?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Introduction of Nile perch
This is a case of alien species invasion, one of the main causes of loss of biodiversity. An alien species is one brought into a new area from outside. Some alien species become invasive and wipe out the native species. The Nile perch, a large predatory fish, was introduced into Lake Victoria in East Africa. It led to the extinction of more than 200 species of cichlid fish that lived only in that lake.
NCERT Extract:
Loss of Biodiversity – “… (iii) Alien species invasions: When alien species are introduced unintentionally or deliberately for whatever purpose, some of them turn invasive, and cause decline or extinction of indigenous species. The Nile perch introduced into Lake Victoria in east Africa led eventually to the extinction of an ecologically unique assemblage of more than 200 species of cichlid fish in the lake.”