Cambridge Expedition to the East African Lakes

Abstract

THE expedition, which is being financed by scientific societies and the University, left England in October and is at work on the rift valley lakes of Kenya. The object of the expedition is twofold: First, to continue studies on the ecology of the East African lakes which were started by the Government fishing surveys of Lakes Victoria, Albert, and Kioga in 1927–28, and at the same time to make thorough collections of the faunas of Lakes Rudolf, Baringo, and Edward, which have previously received only a cursory scientific examination; secondly, by studying the old lake beaches and deposits, to continue farther north the investigations made around Lakes Nakuru, Elmenteita, and Naivasha by Mr. L. S. B. Leakey and the biologists of the East African Archaeological Expedition. It is hoped to link up evidence from lake beaches, the distribution of the present lake faunas, and the chemical constitution of the waters into a unified whole, and so to work out, so far as possible, the previous distribution of land and water during the pluvial periods.