Lake Barombi Koto, also known as Lake Barombi Kotto or Lake Barombi-ba-Kotto, is a small lake in the volcanic chain in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. It is a volcanic lake with a diameter of about 1.2 km (0.75 mi).[1] There is a small island in the middle, which is densely inhabited by the Barombi, a tribe of fishers.[1] The Tung Nsuia and Tung Nsuria streams, each about 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) wide and 0.3 m (1 ft 0 in) deep near their mouth, are the only inflows into the lake,[1] and they dry out in dry season.[2]
Biology
Lake Barombi Koto often appears green-brown because it is rich in phytoplankton.[1] Invertebrates, turtles and the aquatic frog Xenopus tropicalis are common in the lake,[1][2] which is also an important sanctuary for birds.[3] Seven fish species are known from the lake, including Enteromius callipterus and a Clarias catfish, while the remaining all are cichlids: Coptodon kottae, Chromidotilapia guentheri, Hemichromis fasciatus, Pelmatolapia mariae and Sarotherodon galilaeus.[1] Of these, C. guentheri is represented by the endemic subspecies loennbergi, while C. kottae is entirely endemic to this lake and the smaller Lake Mboandong. A review in 2008 was unable to confirm the distinction of the subspecies loennbergi compared to C. guentheri elsewhere, but the H. fasciatus in Barombi Koto and Lake Mboandong are unusually small and might be an endemic undescribed species.[4] The endemics are threatened by pollution and sedimentation from human activities, and "turning" of the lake's water because of deforestation of the surroundings (this may allow more wind, and the lake is stratified with oxygen-poor lower levels).[5][6] They are potentially also threatened by large emissions of carbon dioxide from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos),[5][6] although Barombi Koto is too shallow to contain very high amounts of this gas.[7]
About 1 km (0.6 mi) south of Lake Barombi Koto is the even smaller Lake Mboandong, another shallow crater lake with a diameter of about 0.4 km (0.25 mi).[1] There is no inflow and the only outflow is a small stream during the wet season.[1]
Lake Mboandong is less rich in phytoplankton and has less fish species, but all are species shared with Lake Barombi Koto and its inflowing streams: Aphyosemion bivittatum, Fundulopanchax oeseri, Coptodon kottae, Hemichromis fasciatus and Sarotherodon galilaeus.[1] Members of the Barombi tribe that live at Lake Barombi Koto sometimes visit Lake Mboandong to fish.[1]
^Hughes, R.H., and J.S. Hughes (1992). A Directory of African Wetlands. Pp. 474–475. ISBN2-88032-949-3
^Stiassny, M.L.J.; A. Lamboj; D. De Weirdt; G.G. Teugels (2008). "Cichlidae". In M.L.J. Stiassny; G.G Teugels; C.D. Hopkins (eds.). The fresh and brackish water fishes of Lower Guinea, West-Central Africa / Poissons d'Eaux Douces et Saumâtres de Basee Guinée, Ouest de l'Afrique Centrale. Vol. 2. Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale. pp. 269–403.
