Labeobarbus spatial figshare.xlsx

Freshwater fish biodiversity faces immense pressures globally, especially in tropical developing regions where it represents a critical protein and income source. Effective conservation strategies require knowledge of the component species at scales matching their distribution and life history. Lake Tana and its inflowing rivers contain the most diverse flock of cyprinid (Labeobarbus) fishes globally, most of which are endemic to this ecosystem and of heightened extinction concern. We collated Labeobarbus abundance datasets from across this aquatic biodiversity hotspot between 1992 and 2020, to examine the distribution of assemblages and allow the spatial prioritization of future conservation actions.