The Lake Victoria environment: Its fisheries and wetlands — a review

Recent ecological changes in the Lake Victoria ecosystem have been attributed to the effects of species stockings and, in particular, from predation pressure by the Nile perch. Evidence for the decline of haplochromines due to predation by the Nile perch, while overwhelming, does not necessarily account for these gross ecological changes. Ecological theory predicts that natural fluctuation would occur in a fisheries where predator and prey species could alternate in abundance. The absence of a substantial recovery of the endemic species within cyclical abundance patterns in Lake Victoria (even though they could be delayed), particularly in the pelagic and profundal zones, points to other causal factors.Ecological changes have occurred in Lake Victoria since the turn of the century when modern fishing methods and techniques were introduced. As the human population increased and the catchment became more exposed to diverse socio-economic activities, further pressure on the ecological functioning of the lake was compounded by exotic species stockings. Thus, declining fisheries, wetland degradation and eutrophication are part of gross environmental changes that are likely to become more manifest with the increasing impact of the water hyacinth. It therefore seems appropriate to consider the ecological changes at both temporal and spatial scales and to re-examine some of the paradigms for ecological change.Although cataclysmic impacts may have occurred between the 1960's and the early 1980's, the basic cause of ecological changes, at least in the inshore zone, appears to result from human activities partly associated with a degradation of the riparian wetlands that exposes the aquatic ecosystem to catchment activities. Overexploitation and a reduction in habitat quality and quantity in this zone could be major factors in the ecological transformations. However, the importance of the littoral zone and the ecological impact of the Nile tilapia, another stocked species, are hardly known. An additional hypothesis is therefore put forward to determine whether or not wetland vegetation types in Lake Victoria are important fish habitats. This hypothesis allows for testing several interrelated sub-hypotheses about the relationships between wetland vegetation and the ecology of Nile tilapia. The water hyacinth, a recent feature of the shoreline and an additional strain to the already endangered buffer zone, may have to be regarded as a dynamic, but permanent, part of most of the littoral zone.Corresponding Editor: Prof. P. Denny     

青海湖湿地生态系统服务价值评估

青海湖是我国最大的内陆高原咸水湖,为社会提供了多项生态系统服务．开展青海湖湿地生态系统服务价值评估能用直观的经济数据揭示青海湖湿地生态系统对受益者的直接贡献,使青海湖湿地生态保护被纳入经济效益权衡的决策分析中.本文根据青海湖湿地生态系统特征及其所在区域社会经济特征,确定了青海湖湿地生态系统最终服务价值评估指标体系,并以2012年为基础年,综合运用市场价值法、替代成本法、区域旅行费用模型、条件价值法等方法定量评估了青海湖湿地生态系统提供给受益者的生态经济价值.结果表明： 2012年青海湖湿地生态系统最终服务总价值为6749.08亿元,其中,水源涵养和气候调节价值分别为4797.57亿元和1929.34亿元,分别占总价值的71.1% 和 28.6%.对所评估的8项最终服务按其价值大小排序为:水源涵养>气候调节>休闲娱乐>非使用价值>释氧>原材料生产>固碳>食物生产.评估结果用直观的数字揭示了青海湖湿地生态系统对受益者的巨大贡献,不仅能提高管理者和公众的湿地保护认知,也为生态补偿标准制定提供了数据基础.评估指标体系为区分湿地生态系统中间服务（功能）和最终服务、开展湿地生态系统最终服务动态评估和优化管理提供了重要方向.     

Relationships between wetland ecotones and inshore water quality in the Ugandan coast of Lake Victoria

Much of the lake shore in Lake Victoria is covered by extensive wetlands, often dominated by dense papyrus stands that extend out over the lake waters. These wetlands, their extension and management play a role in the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the inshore waters. Continuous transects along 180 km of shoreline together with spatial grids of sampling sites in eight bays were performed in the Ugandan inshore waters in order to analyze the relationships between the wetland characteristics and water quality. Measurements of extension of the wetland ecotones, water temperature (T), pH, Secchi disk depth (SD), dissolved oxygen (DO), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorous (TP), dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and chlorophyll-a (CHL) were made in each sampling area. Data of T, pH and DO collected during the transects showed that the water characteristics of the bays differ from the open shoreline. Moreover, the magnitude of these physical–chemical differences is strongly conditioned by the dimension of the bordering wetlands. Bays with extensive wetlands ecotones were characterized by cooler, more acidic and poorly oxygenated waters. TN : TP ratios and especially DIN : SRP ratios decreased with the wetland presence along the coastline, showing a higher probability of N limitation in the inshore waters where large wetlands are present. Results point to denitrification processes in the wetland ecotones as the cause of this trend. The distribution of CHL was found to be highest in the presence of two significant point loading sources: a river (in Katonga Bay) and a major population centre (Kampala, in Murchison Bay). The reduction of external P loading is shown as an important step in the management of the eutrophication process of Lake Victoria inshore waters.     

Nutrient status and retention in pristine and disturbed wetlands in Uganda: management implications

Wetlands in Uganda experience different forms of human pressure ranging from drainage for agriculture and industrial development to over harvesting of wetland products. In order to develop sustainable management tools for wetland ecosystems in Uganda and the Lake Victoria Region, water quality analyses were carried out in a rural undisturbed (pristine) wetland (Nabugabo wetland in Masaka) and two urban wetlands that are experiencing human and urban development pressure (the Nakivubo wetland in Kampala and Kirinya wetland in Jinja). The former wetland forms the main inflow into Lake Nabugabo while the other two border the northern shore of Lake Victoria, Uganda. Nabugabo wetland buffers Lake Nabugabo against surface runoff from the catchment, while Nakivubo and Kirinya wetlands provides a water treatment function for wastewater from Kampala City and Jinja town respectively, in addition to buffering Lake Victoria against surface runoff. Water quality was assessed in all the wetland sites, and in addition nutrient content and storage was investigated in the main plant species (papyrus, Phragmites, Miscanthidium and cocoyam) in Nakivubo and Kirinya wetlands. A pilot experiment was also carried out to assess the wastewater treatment potential of both the papyrus vegetation and an important agricultural crop Colocasia esculenta (cocoyam). Low electrical conductivity, ammonium–nitrogen and ortho-phosphate concentrations were recorded at the inflow into Nabugabo wetland (41.5 μS/cm; 0.91 mg/l and 0.42 mg/l respectively) compared to the Nakivubo and Kirinya wetlands (335 μS/cm; 31.68 mg/l and 2.83 mg/l and 502 μS/cm; 10 mg/l and 1.87 mg/l respectively). The papyrus vegetation had higher biomass in Nakivubo and Kirinya wetlands (6.7 kg DW m⁻²; 7.2 kg DW m⁻² respectively), followed by Phragmites (6.5, 6.7), cocoyams (6.4, 6.6) and Miscanthidium (4.0, 4.2). The papyrus vegetation also exhibited a higher wastewater treatment potential than the agricultural crop (cocoyam) during the pilot experiment (maximum removal degree of ammonium–nitrogen being 95% and 67% for papyrus and yams). It was concluded that urbanisation pressure reduces natural wetland functioning either through the discharge of wastewater effluent or the degradation of natural wetland vegetation. It is recommended that wetland vegetation be restored to enhance wetland ecosystem functioning and for wetlands that are not yet under agricultural pressure, efforts should be made to halt any future encroachment.     

基于植物多样性特征的武汉市城市湖泊湿地植被分类保护和恢复

湿地植被多样性特征及其影响因素的调查分析是湿地植被保护与恢复策略制定的基础。借鉴生物多样性热点分析原理,在武汉市城市湖泊湿地植物多样性调查的基础上,研究了湖泊湿地的植被多样性特征,探讨了城市湖泊湿地植被分类保护与恢复对策。结果表明,武汉市湿地维管束植物的物种丰富度、植物多样性、优势度和均匀度指数在各湖泊间的变化趋势较为一致,但在空间变化幅度上存在一定差异。按照物种丰富度、多样性、优势度、均匀度、湿地植被群丛数目,以及典型湿地植物的物种所占比例、丰富度和优势度的差异,可将调查涉及的26个典型湖泊湿地分为原生植被湖泊、次生植被湖泊、人工植被湖泊和退化植被湖泊4类。原生植被湖泊应建立相对严格的湿地保护区,优先保护原有湿地植被。次生植被湖泊最多,城市发展区内的次生植被湖泊应建立30-100m的植被缓冲带,促进植被自然恢复和发育;而农业区的次生植被湖泊应引导和规范湖泊周围的农业生产模式,以减少人类活动干扰。人工植被湖泊应通过建立城市湿地公园,人工促进植被的近自然恢复。而退化植被湖泊则应尽快采用生态工程法促进湿地植被生境改善,并积极开展近自然湿地植被重建与恢复。     

沉积硅藻揭示的历史时期水生植被信息以梁子湖为例

水生植被是浅水湖泊生态系统最重要的生态特征之一, 了解其群落历史演化特征, 对生态退化湖泊的修复有着重要指导意义。研究选择长江中下游地区代表性草型湖泊梁子湖, 基于梁子湖沉积岩芯210Pb/137Cs测年、沉积硅藻序列和梁子湖长期水生植被监测记录, 探讨利用沉积硅藻记录来重建该湖历史时期水生植被演替特征的可行性。研究结果表明: 梁子湖沉积硅藻记录对历史时期水生植被的演替有较好的反映; 基于此, 对梁子湖过去近200年的水生植被覆盖度进行了重建; 与湖泊流域历史环境信息的对比分析表明洪水是影响该湖水生植被发育的一个重要因素。研究结果证实了在浅水湖泊中, 沉积硅藻可揭示历史水生植被的信息, 并为该湖的水生植被保护提供科学依据, 同时对该区富营养湖泊的生态修复有重要的指导价值。       

Impacts of human‐induced environmental change in wetlands on aquatic animals

Many wetlands harbour highly diverse biological communities and provide extensive ecosystem services; however, these important ecological features are being altered, degraded and destroyed around the world. Despite a wealth of research on how animals respond to anthropogenic changes to natural wetlands and how they use created wetlands, we lack a broad synthesis of these data. While some altered wetlands may provide vital habitat, others could pose a considerable risk to wildlife. This risk will be heightened if such wetlands are ecological traps – preferred habitats that confer lower fitness than another available habitat. Wetlands functioning as ecological traps could decrease both local and regional population persistence, and ultimately lead to extinctions. Most studies have examined how animals respond to changes in environmental conditions by measuring responses at the community and population levels, but studying ecological traps requires information on fitness and habitat preferences. Our current lack of knowledge of individual‐level responses may therefore limit our capacity to manage wetland ecosystems effectively since ecological traps require different management practices to mitigate potential consequences. We conducted a global meta‐analysis to characterise how animals respond to four key drivers of wetland alteration: agriculture, mining, restoration and urbanisation. Our overarching goal was to evaluate the ecological impacts of human alterations to wetland ecosystems, as well as identify current knowledge gaps that limit both the current understanding of these responses and effective wetland management. We extracted 1799 taxon‐specific response ratios from 271 studies across 29 countries. Community‐ (e.g. richness) and population‐level (e.g. density) measures within altered wetlands were largely comparable to those within reference wetlands. By contrast, individual fitness measures (e.g. survival) were often lower, highlighting the potential limitations of using only community‐ and population‐level measures to assess habitat quality. Only four studies provided habitat‐preference data, preventing investigation of the potential for altered wetlands to function as ecological traps. This is concerning because attempts to identify ecological traps may detect previously unidentified conservation risks. Although there was considerable variability amongst taxa, amphibians were typically the most sensitive taxon, and thus, may be a valuable bio‐indicator of wetland quality. Despite suffering reduced survival and reproduction, measures such as time to and mass at metamorphosis were similar between altered and reference wetlands, suggesting that quantifying metamorphosis‐related measures in isolation may not provide accurate information on habitat quality. Our review provides the most detailed evaluation to date of the ecological impacts of human alterations to wetland ecosystems. We emphasise that the role of wetlands in human‐altered ecosystems can be complex, as they may represent important habitat but also pose potential risks to animals. Reduced availability of natural wetlands is increasing the importance of altered wetlands for aquatic animals. Consequently, we need to define what represents habitat quality from the perspective of animals, and gain a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms of habitat selection and how these factors could be manipulated. Furthermore, strategies to enhance the quality of these wetlands should be implemented to maximise their conservation potential.     

三峡工程运行后对洞庭湖湿地的影响

长江三峡工程建成运行后,其下游第一个大型通江湖泊——洞庭湖的水文、水质以及湿地环境等均发生了很大变化。三峡工程已经开始影响到洞庭湖的泥沙淤积、水位波动、水质以及植被演替等。以三峡水库调度运行方案、河湖交互作用和洞庭湖湿地植被分布格局为基础,从长江三峡工程对洞庭湖水文、水质以及湿地植被演替等方面综述了三峡工程对洞庭湖湿地的综合影响。三峡工程减缓了长江输入洞庭湖泥沙的淤积速率,对短期内增加洞庭湖区调蓄空间、延长洞庭湖寿命有利。总体上减少了洞庭湖上游的来水量,改变了洞庭湖原来的水位/量变化规律。给洞庭湖水环境质量造成了直接或间接的影响,对其水质改变尚存一定争议,但至少在局部地区加剧了污染。水位变化和泥沙淤积趋缓协同改变了洞庭湖湿地原有植被演替方式,改以慢速方式演替,即群落演替的主要模式为:水生植物—虉草或苔草—芦苇—木本植物。展望了今后的研究趋势与方向,为三峡工程与洞庭湖关系的进一步研究提供参考。     

Evaluation of geographic,geomorphic and human influences on Great Lakes wetland indicators: A multi-assemblage approach

Developing effective indicators of ecological condition requires calibration to determine the geographic range and ecosystem type appropriate for each indicator. Here, we demonstrate an approach for evaluating the relative influence of geography, geomorphology and human disturbance on patterns of variation in biotic indicators derived from multiple assemblages for ecosystems that span broad spatial scales. To accomplish this, we collected abundance information on six biotic assemblages (birds, fish, amphibians, aquatic macroinvertebrates, wetland vegetation, and diatoms) from over 450 locations along U.S. shorelines throughout each of the Great Lakes during 2002–2004. Sixty-six candidate taxon- and function-based indicators analyzed using hierarchical variance partitioning revealed that geographic (lake) rather than geomorphic factors (wetland type) had the greatest influence on the proportion of variance explained across all indicators, and that a significant portion of the variance was also related to response to human disturbance. Wetland vegetation, fish and bird indicators were the most, and macroinvertebrates the least, responsive to human disturbance. Proportion of rock bass, Carex lasiocarpa, and stephanodiscoid diatoms, as well as the presence of spring peepers and the number of insectivorous birds were among the indicators that responded most strongly to a human disturbance index, suggesting they have good potential as indicators of Great Lakes coastal wetland condition. Ecoprovince, wetland type, and indicator type (taxa vs function based) explained relatively little variance. Variance patterns for macroinvertebrates and birds were least concordant with those of other assemblages, while diatoms and amphibians, and fish and wetland vegetation were the most concordant assemblage pairs. Our results strongly suggest it will not be possible to develop effective indicators of Great Lakes coastal wetland condition without accounting for differences among lakes and their important interactions. This is one of the first attempts to show how ecological indicators of human disturbance vary over a broad spatial scale in wetlands.     

Perceived benefits of littoral wetlands in Uganda: a focus on the Nabugabo wetlands

Wetlands, commonly called swamps in Uganda, are estimated to cover about 13% of the total land surface area (about 30,000 km²) of the country and represent a considerable ecological, social and economic value. In 1989, the Ugandan government formerly recognised that wetlands need to be conserved and contribute considerably to the National economy and rural livelihood. The present analysis is focused on the Nabugabo wetland ecosystem. Located in Central Uganda, it is an important part of the extensive system of wetlands that surround Lake Victoria. The Nabugabo wetland is a source of important resources that are basic to the local economy, including fishing, water utilization, agriculture, livestock, wetland plants for construction and more recently, tourism. Investment in the area is low and a large percentage of the local community depends on the wetland resources for basic sustenance needs. After achieving Ramsar status, demarcation and conservation activities were initiated by the local and national leaders. However, these conservation efforts have provoked conflicts between the land owners and the policy makers, in particular to the demarcation of areas for conservation In the present analysis, we examine the benefits, perceived by local leaders and community members, of the wetland and its services, as well as views towards its conservation and management. The results show that differences between the community leaders and member exist regarding the perceived benefits of the wetlands. Tourism, while providing some opportunities for local persons is not always viewed positively. Conservation activities are viewed positively but some questions remain as to whether such efforts help or hinder the local population, in particular regarding access to basic resources.     

Papyrus wetlands creation, a solution to improve food security and save Lake Victoria

A demonstration project was set up to create two small papyrus wetlands in villages on the shores of Lake Victoria near Rubondo Island National Park, aimed at helping the community to replenish the fish stock in the lake and to improve socio-economics. The wetlands were constructed by using locally available means and they are owned and successfully managed by the villages to support community-based activities. We describe the approach, methodology and design of these plots. 2 years after the wetlands were created, the above-ground papyrus biomass was found to be comparable with that of pristine papyrus wetlands at Mlaga Bay in Rubondo Island National Park. Light trap data shows increased fish around the area. This correlated well with the results of questionnaire survey from the community around the created wetland. Our study shows that the degraded wetlands around Lake Victoria can be recreated by using locally available means, to restore most of the vital functions of those wetlands as they were before destruction, and improve the socio-economics of the local communities.     

Zooplankton Composition and Ecology in Western Boreal Shallow-water Wetlands

Zooplankton are a functionally important but poorly studied component of western boreal forest (WBF) wetland ecosystems. To characterize patterns in zooplankton abundance and composition an exploratory study of 24 shallow-water wetlands in northern Alberta, Canada was carried out over the summers of 2001 and 2002. Results suggest zooplankton communities in WBF wetlands tend to exist as: (1) small-cladoceran dominated communities, (2) larger sized cladoceran (e.g. Daphnia) dominated communities, or (3) communities composed primarily of rotifers and/or other crustacean zooplankton. The presence/absence of brook stickleback (Culea inconstans) was the factor most strongly linked to zooplankton structure with small cladocerans tending to dominate in wetlands with stickleback. In fishless wetlands, communities dominated by medium-large sized cladocerans tended to correspond with low-chlorophyll/high-submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) conditions. Conversely, communities composed of rotifers and other crustaceans were associated with high-chlorophyll/low-SAV states. Macro-invertebrate predator abundance was not strongly linked to patterns in zooplankton composition suggesting macro-invertebrate predation is not a significant factor influencing zooplankton structure in fishless wetlands. Results suggest activities that spread stickleback (e.g. ditching) or inhibit development of macrophyte-dominated/clear-water conditions (e.g. nutrient loading) may seriously alter the zooplankton community structure, and thereby the functional ecology, of these valuable wetland ecosystems.     

鄱阳湖水体淹没频率变化及其湿地植被的响应

湖水淹没频率是影响湿地植被生态系统的最重要的水文因素。基于地物波谱特征的MODIS混合像元分解模型,分析了2000—2015年退水期鄱阳湖水体淹没频率的时间变化和空间规律,并在此基础上探讨了湿地植被的空间响应。研究结果表明:(1)鄱阳湖退水期水体的淹没频率总体呈"南低北高",同时具有大小不一的"斑块式"空间分布特征;(2) 15年内湖水的淹没频率经历了先急剧缩减然后恢复到相对稳定的状态,并且不同空间段的变化差异明显:北部河道的淹没频率先急剧降低后回升,中部洲滩不如北部河道段剧烈但大面积的淹没频率下降,南部子湖泊的淹没频率则基本没变;(3)植被丰度对淹没频率具有密切的响应关系,两者呈中间高两边低的"n"形分布,当淹没频率为40%时高植被丰度的像元数最多。(4)淹没频率与植被丰度的关系指示着鄱阳湖湿生植被在空间上的积极演变。     

The use of stable carbon isotopes as tracers of ecosystem functioning in contrasting wetland ecosystems of Lake Victoria,Kenya

Aquatic macrophytes and sediments from two contrasting wetland ecosystems of Lake Victoria, Kenya (Lower Sondu Miriu and Kibos systems) were analyzed for their stable carbon isotopic composition in order to observe patterns in system functioning in these two ecosystems. The aquatic macrophytes had carbon isotope ratios ranging from –8.92 to –29.18 per mil (parts per thousand difference from the reference). For the dominant macrophytes, we observed most ¹³C enriched values for Cyperus papyrus and most ¹³C depleted values for Eichhornia crassipes. On transects from the river to the lake, Kibos sediments maintained lower carbon isotope signatures compared to the Lower Sondu Miriu sediments. The possible causes of the observed variation in the ¹³C signatures from sediments and aquatic macrophytes in the two-wetland ecosystems are outlined.     

Water circulation and fish larvae recruitment in papyrus wetlands,Rubondo Island,Lake Victoria

A field study was undertaken of the hydrodynamics, water quality and adult and larval fish abundance in papyrus wetlands and surrounding coastal waters at Rubondo Island, Lake Victoria. Because they were exposed to the prevailing wind, the two bays facing east had small (0.01 km²) wetlands and were well flushed, with minimal accumulation of organic detritus and little oxygen depletion. Because it faced west, the third bay, Mlaga Bay, was sheltered and poorly flushed; organic matter accumulated in a large (1.41 km²) papyrus wetland. The rises and falls of the lake level at decadal time scales, may, by drowning or drying out wetlands, contribute significantly to storing organic matter as detritus. Vegetation decay in the wetlands, as well as primary production, resulted in large diurnal fluctuations of pH and dissolved oxygen concentration. Shading in daytime and cooling at night, cooled the wetlands water sufficiently to generate a baroclinic circulation whereby cold, wetland water sank and moved offshore in the lake while warm, lake water intruded in the wetlands near the surface. This flushing prevented the occurrence of anoxic conditions in the wetlands which were used by adult and larval fish, mainly tilapia, and freshwater shrimps (Caridina nilotica). No fish larvae were found at more than 150 m from the shore in the three bays. Both larval fish and Caridina nilotica appeared to move in and out of the wetlands at night, possibly as a result of low dissolved oxygen as well as sheltering from predation. Their abundance varied with the lunar phase, with maximum near new moon and first quarter. Being the only protected wetlands in Lake Victoria, Rubondo Island may increasingly become an important source of replenishment for fisheries in the lake which elsewhere appears overfished.     

鄱阳湖湿地灰化苔草种群生产力特征及其水文响应

淡水湖泊湿地中,水文条件是影响湿地植物分布和生长发育的关键因素,研究特定湿地植物种群与水文变化之间关系,对于认识湿地植被格局形成及进行湿地生态调控与恢复具有重要意义。选取鄱阳湖湿地洲滩优势植物——灰化苔草(Carex cinerascens)种群作为研究对象,基于野外实地观测数据,研究不同高程带灰化苔草春草种群生产力特征及其对水文变化的响应。结果表明:春草生长季内各高程带灰化苔草种群变化规律基本一致,但其生长发育过程对水文条件产生差异性反应,长期连续水淹和半水淹条件抑制灰化苔草的生长,而间歇性半水淹和未水淹条件则促进灰化苔草伸长生长和生物量积累;生长初期灰化苔草通过储水策略应对水分缺乏形成的干旱胁迫,而生长末期则通过增加干物质含量来应对淹水胁迫;灰化苔草定植与生长发育需要一定的水文条件,淹没期平均水深3.70—2.78 m、淹没频率42.08%—43.17%、平均距湖水面高度-0.23—0.77 m的水文环境更有利于灰化苔草的生长发育。研究结果可为未来鄱阳湖湿地植被保护和湖泊水位调控提供重要参考依据。     

Wetlands as barriers: effects of vegetated waterways on downstream dispersal of zebra mussels

1. Stream flow is a major vector for zebra mussel spread among inland lakes. Veligers have been found tens to hundreds of km from upstream source lakes in unvegetated stream and river systems. It has been suggested, however, that the downstream transport of zebra mussels is restricted by wetland ecosystems. We hypothesized that vegetated waterways, (i.e. wetland streams) would hinder the downstream dispersal of zebra mussels in connected inland lake systems. 2. Veliger abundance, recruitment and adult mussels were surveyed in four lake‐wetland systems in southeastern Michigan, U.S.A. from May to August 2006. Sampling was conducted downstream of the lakes invaded by zebra mussels, beginning at the upstream edge of aquatic vegetation and continuing downstream through the wetland streams. 3. Veliger abundance decreased rapidly in vegetated waterways compared to previously reported rates of decrease in non‐vegetated streams. Veligers were rarely found more than 1 km downstream from where vegetation began. Newly recruited individuals and adults were extremely rare beyond open water in the wetland systems. 4. Densely vegetated aquatic ecosystems limit the dispersal of zebra mussels downstream from invaded sources. Natural, remediated and constructed wetlands may therefore serve as a protective barrier to help prevent the spread of zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species to other lakes and ecosystems.     

Diet and feeding habits of the small catfish,Clarias liocephalus in wetlands of Western Uganda

Clarias liocephalus is an air‐breathing catfish inhabiting wetland and river systems in East Africa. This catfish is in high demand for sale as live bait in the Nile perch fishery of Lake Victoria and equally important in the diet of local communities in the lake basin. Wetland loss and increasing fishing pressure potentially threaten the persistence of C. liocephalus; however, little information exists on the ecology of this species to permit evaluation of current threats. This study quantified dietary characteristics of C. liocephalus from heavy and lightly fished wetlands in Western Uganda using numeric, gravimetric and volumetric indices on 492 stomach samples collected over one year. Clarias liocephalus was significantly smaller in three heavily fished sites, relative to the one in‐park site, likely a reflection of a size‐selective fishery. Across sites, C. liocephalus was a generalist feeder whose diet was dominated by aquatic dipteran larvae and plant material. The broad niche gives C. liocephalus an ecological advantage to forage effectively on a wide selection of prey. The significant presence of plant material shows that the species may utilize plant protein, an important consideration of diet requirements should the species be selected for aquaculture.     

鄱阳湖湖岸带景观变化

湖岸带是水陆生态系统过渡带,是人类活动最集中的区域之一,也是生态系统较为脆弱的区域。湖岸带具有重要的生态功能,湖岸带研究对于湖泊湿地生态系统保护具有重要意义。利用1995年,2000年,2005年和2010年4个时期的同水位条件下鄱阳湖湿地湖岸带遥感影像,对鄱阳湖湖岸带的景观进行了研究,结果表明,鄱阳湖湖岸带各种景观类型的面积变化显著,2010时期的水体面积较1995年、2000年和2005年时期减少近100km~2,绿地面积2010年较1995年减少近500km~2,建设用地和裸地面积2010年较1995年增加700km~2以上。景观指数变化明显,景观斑块数量逐年上升,最大斑块面积逐年减小,周长面积分形指数逐年加大,辛普森和香浓景观多样性指数逐年增大,表明湖岸带景观破碎化程度逐年加强。通过遥感影像解译结果综合分析,鄱阳湖湖岸带建设用地和裸地增加主要表现在沙化土地面积、交通建设用地面积和居民建筑建设用地的增加有关。     

鄱阳湖南矶湿地优势植物群落及土壤有机质和营养元素分布特征

湿地植物和土壤是承担湿地诸多生态功能的主要基质和载体,相互之间有着强烈的影响。湿地土壤影响植物的种类、数量、生长发育、形态和分布,湿地植物又影响土壤中元素的分布与变化。鄱阳湖湿地的植物和土壤的特征及由他们带来的候鸟栖息地价值都受到他们之间的相互作用以及湖泊水位不同频率和幅度波动的影响。研究鄱阳湖湿地植物和土壤的特征及其形成原因和相互关系。为此,从2010年10月到2011年10月,对鄱阳湖湿地不同水位梯度下分布的芦苇、南荻、苔草、虉草和刚毛荸荠5个优势植物群落中57个定点样方展开了月度植被调查并且对5个不同植物群落下的135个土壤样品进行了实验室分析,研究了鄱阳湖优势植物群落及湿地土壤中有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾含量的分布特征及其相互关系。研究结果表明,鄱阳湖湿地优势植物群落分布特征受湿地土壤元素分布特征、湖面水位波动及植物生长特性和土壤沉积及土壤养分的综合影响,呈现了沿水位和海拔梯度明显的条带状或弧状分布、从湖岸到湖心依次分布为:狗牙根群落、芦苇群落、南荻群落、苔草群落、虉草群落、刚毛荸荠群落,最后是水生植物。同时植物群落的组成和分布特征也随季节性水位涨落的变化而变化;土壤有机质及其他各元素含量特征受植物群落分布、水位波动规律及湿地土壤特性等各种因素的影响,呈现出相对一致的分布规律,在0—20cm土壤层含量较高,20cm层后随土壤深度的增加含量逐渐减小,减小的速度先快后慢直至40cm层后趋于稳定;不同植物群落对土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾的含量及变化具有很大的影响,不同植物群落下同种元素含量差异显著,并且各自随土壤深度和植物群落的变化呈现出层状、带状或弧状富集特征。不同植物群落对土壤养分元素含量影响程度不同,苔草群落对各元素吸收和滞留能力最强、影响最大,刚毛荸荠群落对土壤营养元素影响最弱。湿地植物群落和土壤之间彼此有着强烈的影响,其中植株的重量和土壤的SOC、TN及TP含量有非常显著的负相关关系,与土壤TK含量则有较强的正相关关系,同时,植株的重量和高度与土壤地下水埋深也有微弱的负相关关系。