The Fishes of Lake Ol Bolossat ecosystem

Lake Olbolossat is a high-altitude alkaline lake in central Kenya. The lake is an important wetland in Central Kenya supporting the livelihood of over 2 million people and is a home to a variety of species, including endangered species. It is also an important source of water for the landscapes in Laikipia and Isiolo counties. However, despite its importance, the ecosystem is currently threatened by anthropogenic activities complicated by adverse effects of climate change. In order to restore and conserve the lake ecosystem and its associated biodiversity, there is an urgent need to unlock its biodiversity. A field survey that was conducted in November 2023 was aimed at documenting various taxa and socio-economic dynamics associated with the lake towards enlisting it as the 7th Ramsar site in Kenya. Despite the importance of fish in ecosystem functioning, they are threatened by many anthropogenic impacts such as climate change, loss and transformation of their natural habitats, introduction of invasive species, pollution, and excessive nutrient loading rates, among others. The deterioration of these processes is often rapid and difficult to reverse in lakes. Therefore, the assessment of aquatic fish distribution in Lake Olbolossat is paramount for informed conservation and management measures towards the listing of Lake Olbolossat as a potential Ramsar Site. This dataset contains results of a desktop review and field survey undertaken to: (1) establish the species composition, abundance and distribution of fishes of Lake Olbolossat. (II) assess the fish conservation threats and offer recommendations for informed conservation and management measures. The dataset contains 28 records of fish of Lake Olbolossat. The data were formatted according to the Darwin Core Standards by the Ichthyology Section, National Museums of Kenya, before publishing through the IPT at the National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi.