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Composition, Abundance and Feeding Guilds of Macroinvertebrates in Lake Kenyatta, Kenya

Received: 30 August 2014    Accepted: 15 September 2014    Published: 30 September 2014
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Abstract

In an attempt to describe the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage of Lake Kenyatta and recommend possible interventions for sustainable management, sampling was done at different stations using an Eckman grab and a scoop net. At each station, six samples were taken (three grabs and three scoops). The samples were washed using a 300µm sieve, sorted live and identified to genus level and where possible to species level using appropriate keys. The specimens were further categorized into functional feeding guilds. The data were then analysed for diversity, evenness, abundance and dominance. Forty two species in 25 families and 13 orders were recorded. The organisms were further grouped into 4 functional feeding groups. The order Pulmonata dominated the macroinvertebrates sampled with 34.3% relative abundance while the lowest were Rhynchobdellida and Lepidoptera with 0.3% each. The high abundance of mollusks in the lake is probably an indication of absence of a predator. It is thus recommended that a fish species be introduced to convert these mollusks into fish biomass. This will enhance the economic gains and reduce the risk of bilhazia infestation since the host snail exists within the lake.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 2, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijema.20140205.12
Page(s) 239-243
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Diversity, Tolerance, Feeding Guilds

References
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[2] Aura, C. M., Raburu, P. O. and Herrmann, J. (2010). A Preliminary Macroinvertebrate IBI for bioassessment of the Kipkaren and Sosiani Rivers, Nzoia River Basin, Kenya. Lakes and Reservoirs 15 (2): pp 119-128.
[3] Brittain, J. E. (1982). The biology of mayflies. Annual Review of Entomology 27, 119 - 147.
[4] Gerber, A. and Gabriel, M. J. M. (2002). Aquatic Invertebrates of South African Rivers - Field Guide. Institute of water quality studies, department of water affairs and forestry. First edition.http://extension.usu.edu/water quality (downloaded in July, 2014)
[5] Karr, J. R. and Chu, E. W. (1997). Biological Monitoring and Assessment: Using Multimetric Indices Effectively. EPA 235- R97-001. University of Washington, Seattle, WA. 21pp.
[6] Masese, F. O., Muchiri, M. and Raburu, P. O. (2009). Macroinvertebrate assemblages as biological indicators of water quality in the Moiben River, Kenya. African Journal of Aquatic Science 34: 15-26.
[7] Mason, C. F. (2002). Biology of freshwater pollution. 4th Ed. Pearson Education Ltd. Essex. London. 38pp.
[8] Merritt, R. W., and Cummins, K. W. (1996). An introduction to the aquatic insects of North America. Kendall Hunt Publishing Co.1996. 862 pp.
[9] Muli, J. R., Omondi, R., Owili, M., Guya, F., Gichuki, J., Ikmat, P. and Ouma, H. (2007). Spatial variations in water quality, plankton and macroinvertebrates p -48. In Muli, J. R., Getabu, A., Gichuki, J., Wakwabi, E., Abila, R. Lake Baringo Research Expedition (LABRE): Fisheries and Environmental Impact. KMFRI/LABRE Tech. Report 2 p. 109.
[10] Omondi, R., Yasindi, A. W. and Magana, A. M. (2013). Food and feeding habits of three main fish species in Lake Baringo, Kenya. Journal of Ecology and the Natural Environment 5(9): 224-230.
[11] Raburu, P. O. (2003). Water quality and the status of aquatic macroinvertebrates and ichthyofauna in River Nyando, Kenya. D.Phil. thesis. Moi University, Kenya.
[12] Resh, V. H. (1995). Freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates and rapid assessment procedures for water quality monitoring in developing and newly industrialized countries. In Biological assessment and criteria: tools for water resource planning and decision making (Davies, W.S., and Simon, T.P. eds.), pp 167-177. CRC Press, Boca Raton.
[13] Samways, M. J., (2008). Dragonflies and Damselflies of South Africa. Pensoft- Sofia Moscow.
[14] Woodward, G. and Hildrew, A. G. 2002. Body-size determinants of niche overlap and intra-guild predation within a complex food web. Journal of Animal Ecology 71: 1063–1074.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Patrick Oduor Orwa, Reuben Omondi, Eric Okuku, William Ojwang, Stephen Mwangi Njuguna. (2014). Composition, Abundance and Feeding Guilds of Macroinvertebrates in Lake Kenyatta, Kenya. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 2(5), 239-243. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20140205.12

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    ACS Style

    Patrick Oduor Orwa; Reuben Omondi; Eric Okuku; William Ojwang; Stephen Mwangi Njuguna. Composition, Abundance and Feeding Guilds of Macroinvertebrates in Lake Kenyatta, Kenya. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2014, 2(5), 239-243. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20140205.12

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    AMA Style

    Patrick Oduor Orwa, Reuben Omondi, Eric Okuku, William Ojwang, Stephen Mwangi Njuguna. Composition, Abundance and Feeding Guilds of Macroinvertebrates in Lake Kenyatta, Kenya. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2014;2(5):239-243. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20140205.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijema.20140205.12,
      author = {Patrick Oduor Orwa and Reuben Omondi and Eric Okuku and William Ojwang and Stephen Mwangi Njuguna},
      title = {Composition, Abundance and Feeding Guilds of Macroinvertebrates in Lake Kenyatta, Kenya},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
      volume = {2},
      number = {5},
      pages = {239-243},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20140205.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20140205.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20140205.12},
      abstract = {In an attempt to describe the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage of Lake Kenyatta and recommend possible interventions for sustainable management, sampling was done at different stations using an Eckman grab and a scoop net. At each station, six samples were taken (three grabs and three scoops). The samples were washed using a 300µm sieve, sorted live and identified to genus level and where possible to species level using appropriate keys. The specimens were further categorized into functional feeding guilds. The data were then analysed for diversity, evenness, abundance and dominance. Forty two species in 25 families and 13 orders were recorded. The organisms were further grouped into 4 functional feeding groups. The order Pulmonata dominated the macroinvertebrates sampled with 34.3% relative abundance while the lowest were Rhynchobdellida and Lepidoptera with 0.3% each. The high abundance of mollusks in the lake is probably an indication of absence of a predator. It is thus recommended that a fish species be introduced to convert these mollusks into fish biomass. This will enhance the economic gains and reduce the risk of bilhazia infestation since the host snail exists within the lake.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Composition, Abundance and Feeding Guilds of Macroinvertebrates in Lake Kenyatta, Kenya
    AU  - Patrick Oduor Orwa
    AU  - Reuben Omondi
    AU  - Eric Okuku
    AU  - William Ojwang
    AU  - Stephen Mwangi Njuguna
    Y1  - 2014/09/30
    PY  - 2014
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20140205.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20140205.12
    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    SP  - 239
    EP  - 243
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7667
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20140205.12
    AB  - In an attempt to describe the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage of Lake Kenyatta and recommend possible interventions for sustainable management, sampling was done at different stations using an Eckman grab and a scoop net. At each station, six samples were taken (three grabs and three scoops). The samples were washed using a 300µm sieve, sorted live and identified to genus level and where possible to species level using appropriate keys. The specimens were further categorized into functional feeding guilds. The data were then analysed for diversity, evenness, abundance and dominance. Forty two species in 25 families and 13 orders were recorded. The organisms were further grouped into 4 functional feeding groups. The order Pulmonata dominated the macroinvertebrates sampled with 34.3% relative abundance while the lowest were Rhynchobdellida and Lepidoptera with 0.3% each. The high abundance of mollusks in the lake is probably an indication of absence of a predator. It is thus recommended that a fish species be introduced to convert these mollusks into fish biomass. This will enhance the economic gains and reduce the risk of bilhazia infestation since the host snail exists within the lake.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Kisumu

  • Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Kisumu

  • Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa

  • Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Kisumu

  • Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa

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