FISH AND FISHERIES OF WETLANDS

SUMMARY

The three major wetland types have characteristic fish communities. River-associated wetlands harbour a rich diversity of fishes which can either survive habitat desiccation during the dry-down, or migrate to and fro with the flood. Endorheic wetlands have a lower diversity of species which are typically ‘r’-selected relative to mainstream riverine or lacustrine forms. Marine wetlands have a variety of peripheral or marine forms, but are not discussed in this account. The dynamics of wetland fish communities are determined by periodically changing abiotic factors, especially water temperature and water level, and biotic factors, especially food availability. Water level fluctuations have several important functions and result in pulses of nutrient input and fish abundance. Wetland fish stocks can usually be sustained as long as the pristine flood regime is retained, but disruption of the flooding pattern interferes with fish breeding and nutrient flow. Fishing yields may be directly correlated with the flood history during the previous two years. Wetland fishes play an important role by converting the resource at the base of the food chain, i.e. living plants, detritus or epiphytes, into food for higher trophic levels. The need to identify and conserve key food supplies is emphasized. Wetland fisheries are relatively poorly developed in southern Africa with notable exceptions, e.g. Pongolo floodplain, Okavango swamp, Lake Liambezi, Elephant Marsh on the Shire River, but even in these systems the resource is probably underutilized.

The need to consider the socio-economic implications of upgrading a subsistence fishery are emphasized, and further study on the effect of water level fluctuations on major trophic pathways and on multispecies fisheries is encouraged. Because of the urgent need to manage wetland fisheries, various short-cut methods to obtain first-order estimates of fish production, yields and growth rates should be used until more data are available. The need to manage a floodplain holistically for both the aquatic and terrestrial phases is stressed. In addition, inocula (re-colonizing life history stages) should be conserved to accelerate the recovery of endorheic wetland fish stocks after a drought. As wetlands are of fundamental importance to lake or river metabolism and provide vital breeding and feeding areas for fishes, they should be given the highest conservation priority. Cost-benefit analyses should therefore be performed before any large scale manipulations of wetlands are performed.     

ON THE DISSOLVED SOLIDS OF THE PONGOLO FLOOD PLAIN PANS

SUMMARY

The water retained in the Pongolo flood plain pans differs from that of the Pongolo River not only in having a higher TDS, but also in the composition of the solutes, which approximate to seawater in their equivalent ionic proportions at high concentrations. These solutes are shown to originate from very highly mineralised seepage water characteristic of soils overlying Cretaceous sediments of marine origin found elsewhere in South Africa. This feature of the soils of the flood plain precludes the use of irrigation seepage water to maintain the water levels in the pans, and stresses the need for the release of simulated floods from the Pongolo-poort Dam to flush the system if the present biological characteristics of the pans are to be maintained.     

Fish Collections Taken from a Small Agricultural Water Withdrawal Site on the Groot River,Gamtoos River System,South Africa

Summary

Periodic water releases from Beervlei Dam on the Groot River of the Gamtoos River System were planned to flush the riverine pools of brack water and replace the pools with better quality water which was used to flood irrigate lucerne lands. Fish collections were made in a small irrigation canal situated on the banks of the Groot River. Three fish species were collected. Results indicated that up to a total of 131 smallscale redfin minnows, Pseudobarbus asper, are removed from the system every five minutes at this one small water withdrawal site. Larger minnow specimens and carp, Cyprinus carpio, were entrained during high river flows. When the river flow was reduced there were higher catches of young of the year fish. The fish are carried with the pumped water, which is flood irrigated onto lucerne fields, resulting in stranding and eventual mortality. It is recommended that the use of suitable screens, such as wedge-wire screens, could reduce the number of fish removed from the system during these irrigation periods.     

HUMAN ACTIVITIES AND FACTORS AFFECTING THE DISTRIBUTION OF MACROBENTHIC FAUNA IN SALDANHA BAY

Summary

The most recent trends in the economic development of Saldanha Bay are towards the tourist and mariculture industries, both of which are dependent on a high quality of water. Yet this water quality is now under threat. In this study, the extent of human induced changes to the characteristics of the water body are assessed in terms of their effects on the macrobenthic communities of the bay. Such effects are evaluated on the basis of changes in biomass, community structure and species composition using data from recent surveys as well as a limited quantity of historical data.

Whilst gross effects are essentially confined to an area adjacent to the major fish factory outfall, the data do suggest a broader impact. There are substantial differences between the communities of ‘Big Bay’ and ‘Small Bay’, with an apparent increase in deposit feeding species and decline in suspension feeders in the latter. These changes are attributed to the organic loading from the fish factories and mariculture industries together with restrictions imposed on water circulation by harbour constructions. This combination of anthropogenic factors may be leading to significant enrichment of certain areas of the bay.     

THE USE OF SMALL FARM DAMS IN THE TRANSKEI AND CISKEI FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TABLE-FISH USING AISCHGRUND CARP

SUMMARY

Small stockwatering dams are usually ignored in the Transkei and Ciskei in fishfarming ventures. This paper reports on experimental results in fish production studies, using Aischgrund carp, which were obtained in the Ciskei and which indicate that economically worthwhile fish production can be achieved in such dams.     

WATER TEMPERATURE AND THE 1987 FISH KILL AT LAKE ST LUCIA ON THE SOUTH EASTERN COAST OF AFRICA

Summary

An unusually cold spell during the winter of 1987 caused a drop in water temperature at Lake St Lucia. This coupled with typical estuarine salinities in the lake resulted in a fish kill. The kill was one of the largest recorded in a South African estuarine environment and involved an estimated 250,000 fish comprising at least 21 species. Most fish that died belonged to small species. Densities of dead fish recorded along the lake's shoreline ranged from 0.1 to 16.6 fish per metre. It is concluded that the combination of low water temperature and near marine salinities was the major cause of the 1987 fish kill at Lake St Lucia.     

MASS MORTALITIES OF FISH IN SOUTH AFRICAN ESTUARIES

Summary

Changes to the physico-chemical environment have been identified as the cause of fish mass mortalities in South African estuaries. Most published accounts have linked these mortalities to a single dominant factor such as low salinity, low or high temperature, low concentration of dissolved oxygen, and high sediment loads. A review of the evidence suggests that, although single factor induced mortalities do occur, the role of supplementary factors in triggering fish kills may be more important than previously acknowledged. The most frequently interacting factors in a southern African context appear to be salinity and water temperature, dissolved oxygen and water temperature, and suspensoids and dissolved oxygen. In some cases all the above factors may be operational in creating an environment which is unsuitable for the survival of certain estuarine-associated fish species.     

Measuring rice farmers’ risk perceptions and attitude: Evidence from Pakistan

Abstract

The agriculture sector is confronting numerous types of risk. Like other crops’ farmers, rice growers are also facing multifarious challenges, including production and environmental risk. On the one hand, they are suffering from water shortage. On the other hand, if a flood occurs, there is no proper water reservation management, especially in developing countries. Global warming is another erotic topic for agriculture sustainability. To address the growers’ perceptions and their attitudes toward such types of risks, a farm base survey was carried out, and rice farmers were investigated in Pakistan. Methods of equally likely certainty equivalent and risk matrix were applied to investigate the farmers’ risk perceptions and attitude. A probit model was also used to estimate the factors that influence farmers’ perceptions and attitudes toward risks. The outcomes of the study show that flood, input high prices, increasing temperature, and crop diseases are the perceiving risks among rice farmers. Different types of socio-economic factors are influencing farmers’ risk perceptions and their attitudes, such as age, education level, a distance of farms from rivers, and non-farm income. This study provides valuable information to the policymakers and concerning authorities to apprehend agricultural risks among rice farmers and farming sustainability, especially in developing countries.     

Comparing the fish assemblages and food‐web structures of large floodplain rivers

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Environmental correlates of lake occupancy and chick survival of Black-throated Divers Gavia arctica in Scotland

Capsule Lake occupancy was related to the abundance of fish prey for adults (salmonids) and chick survival was related to type of diet, prey abundance and weather.

Aims To identify the factors determining lake occupancy and chick survival of Black-throated Divers breeding in Scotland.

Methods Measures of water chemistry, fish, invertebrates and physical characteristics were made for 90 lakes where occupancy had been monitored in at least five years between 1984 and 1995. Data on chick survival were available over this period for a smaller sample of lakes.

Results High occupancy rates were associated with a high abundance of small salmonids (the birds' principal prey) and complex shorelines. The mean number of chicks fledged per nest that hatched was 0.95 at lakes where Three-spined Sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus and/or Minnows Phoxinus phoxinus were present; the mean number of chicks fledged was 0.64 where they were absent (and chicks are fed invertebrates). Chick survival on lakes with sticklebacks/Minnows was positively and significantly related to June temperature, and the abundance of these fish. At lakes lacking these small fish, chick survival was inversely related to sunshine duration in June. It is suggested that sunny weather in June can accelerate the emergence of aquatic insect larvae (especially Ephemeroptera) and lead to food shortage for small diver chicks.

Conclusions It is likely that there are sufficient suitable lakes to accommodate a moderate expansion of the Scottish Black-throated Diver population. An abundance of suitable fish prey, especially small-sized (<230 mm) salmonids, is of fundamental importance for diver conservation.     

THE INFLUENCE OF P-RETENTION BY SOILS AND SEDIMENTS ON THE WATER QUALITY OF THE LIONS RIVER

SUMMARY

The soils of Midmar dam catchment and the sediments of the Lions river are shown to have high P-retention properties. Present conditions result in little leaching of PO₄ ^?4 from the soils and favour a net transport of P from overlying water to the sediments. P levels in the water are likely to remain low even if the loading rate of P were increased substantially. It is postulated however that other factors may induce a release of P from the sediments and adversely affect the load carried by the water.     

MASS MORTALITY OF MARINE AND ESTUARINE FISH IN THE SWARTVLEI AND WILDERNESS LAKE SYSTEMS,SOUTHERN CAPE.

Summary

Two incidences of mass mortality of fish were recorded in two saline waterbodies (Swartvlei estuary and Rondevlei) in the Wilderness National Park. Species affected were the Knysna seahorse (Hippocampus capensis) and longsnout pipefish (Syngnathus acus) in the Swartvlei estuary, and Cape stumpnose (Rhabdosargus holubi) and white steenbras (Lithognathus lithognathus) in Rondevlei. Comparison of water quality parameters during fish mortalities to past ranges and reported species tolerances indicated that the probable causes for the mortalities were high water temperature in the Swartvlei estuary, and low dissolved oxygen concentration in Rondevlei.     

COMMENTS ON THE WATER QUALITY OF THE MHLATHUZE ESTUARY IN RELATION TO DETERMINING THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY CLASS

Summary

Water quality forms an integral component of the determination of the Ecological Reserve of a water resource. This paper presents the available historical and current information on the water quality of the Mhlathuze estuary, The data were assessed in order to determine the forcing factors that characterise the water quality of Mhlathuze estuary. These factors were used in conjunction with a previously-developed water quality indexing system to assign a water quality integrity class to the Mhlathuze estuary. Three reaches of the estuary were classified as being largely natural with few modifications. Major issues relating to water quality data gaps were identified. By addressing these issues an integrity class could in future be assigned with greater confidence.     

Plankton metacommunities in floodplain wetlands under contrasting hydrological conditions

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Fish migration through a fish passage associated with water velocities at the Changzhou fishway (Pearl River,China)

Hydraulics play an essential role in successful fish passage through fishways, yet little is known about the response of fish species to specific hydraulic characteristics. This study aims to determine the response of fish presence to water velocity that results from the flow regulation in the Changzhou Fishway (CFW). Water velocity meters and fish traps were used in the study to monitor water velocities and the presence of fish species at flood control levels as well as at normal pool levels. Water velocities in the CFW have a varied significantly as result of flow regulation, whereby water velocities at flood control levels are significantly higher than at normal pool levels (P = 0.014). A total of 3558 fish representing 28 species collected in the CFW were divided into two groups by cluster analysis. This type of divergence in species is strongly associated with the two controlled water levels in the fishway, wherein pelagic species predominate at normal pool levels, and demersal species predominate at flood control levels. This study suggests that the variations in water velocities trigger the shifts in species compositions that in the use of CFW.     

A COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT METHODS OF AGE DETERMINATION IN THE SHARPTOOTH CATFISH CLARIAS GARIEPINUS

SUMMARY

Growth of the sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus from four southern African impoundments was estimated by back-calculating age from vertebrae and spines. Length frequency analysis supported the growth estimates derived from vertebrae but not those from spines.- Spines under-estimated the age of fish from all four dams; this discrepancy increased with age. Ring formation occurred in the winter months (April to July) and not at the time of spawning (November to February) or low water levels (August to December).

A critical review of ageing studies shows a lack of consistency in the choice of formula used for back-calculation. The correct choice of formula for age and growth estimates derived from back-calculation must be based upon detailed analysis of fish size versus body part size. Unquestioning acceptance of the Lee equation with its “correction factor” should he avoided.     

长江安庆段仔稚鱼群落特征调查研究

安庆江段是长江下游重要渔业资源水域之一, 为了解该江段仔稚鱼群落特征及与环境因子的关系, 于2016年4月17日至8月15日对安庆江段仔稚鱼进行了逐日调查。结果显示: 研究共采集仔稚鱼个体92160尾, 鉴定90457尾, 隶属于7目11科49种, 其中鲤科(Cyprinidae)种类数居第一, 32种, 尾数占比为90.16%; 鰕虎鱼科(Gobiidae)居第二, 3种, 尾数占比为5.71%。在生态类型及产卵方式上, 淡水定居性鱼类和产漂流性卵鱼类数量占比最大, 分别为87.57%和88.30%。贝氏?(Hemiculter bleekeri)是该江段第一优势种, 数量占比44.53%, 其余优势种为?(Hemiculter leucisculus, 占比14.21%)、银鲴(Xenocypris argentea, 占比8.11%)、子陵吻鰕虎(Rhinogobius giurinus, 占比5.60%)、飘鱼(Pseudolaubuca sinensis, 占比4.75%)、似鳊(Pseudobrama simoni, 占比4.13%)、寡鳞飘鱼(Pseudolaubuca engraulis, 占比4.50%)、鳊(Parabramis pekinensis, 占比2.63%)、刀鲚(Coilia nasus, 占比1.89%)、鲢(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, 占比1.57%)。仔稚鱼丰度出现4次明显的高峰时期, 第一次在5月1日, 后面三次集中出现在6月中下旬, 分别为1127.00、1608.44、1568.35 和1202.94 ind./100 m3。通过冗余分析(RDA)表明, 影响安庆江段仔稚鱼丰度的主要环境因子为水流量、水位、透明度(P<0.05), 大多数仔稚鱼丰度与水流量、水位呈现负相关, 与透明度呈现正相关, 可能与该年份过高的水流量、水位有关。研究表明, 安庆江段的仔稚鱼种类较丰富, 但主要以小型鱼类为主, 且经济性仔稚鱼类占比小。研究初步探明了安庆江段的仔稚鱼资源状况, 其结果为安庆鱼类早期资源进一步研究提供基础资料, 同时也为渔业资源保护策略制定提供科学依据。     

THE USE OF TOXICITY TESTING IN EFFLUENT REGULATION AND CONTROL: A NEW DIMENSION TO ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF WATER QUALITY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Summary

Efficient management tools are continually required to cope with increasing demands placed on the quality and quantity of aquatic resources. Recent developments in environmental monitoring indicate the importance of incorporating biological indicators in assessment programmes. Aquatic toxicology has consequently become an important monitoring and regulatory science. Applications of aquatic toxicity testing include: deriving water quality criteria; toxicological evaluations of whole effluents and receiving waters; and the estimation of ecological risk. Toxicity testing can potentially play a significant role in improving water quality in years to come, especially through its application in effluent regulation. Currently however, few environmental laboratories in South Africa have the required expertise and facilities to carry out a representative range of toxicity tests. Training and funding are required to build the capacity for the necessary developmental research, before toxicity testing can routinely be implemented.

The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them. Albert Einstein.     

Bioaccumulation and health risk assessment of trace metal contamination in the musculature of the trahira fish (Hoplias malabaricus) from two neotropical rivers in southeastern Brazil

BackgroundFish are an important source of nutrition for humans. Artisanal fishing plays a fundamental role in Brazil fish production. In Brazil, the unrestrained increase, diffusion, and little importance for environmental causes of other economic activities, such as the agricultural industry, has caused irreparable damage, leading to the contamination of water bodies. Among the countless pollutants that reach water bodies, trace metals are extremely problematic. Here, we evaluated the bioaccumulation and health risk of trace metal contamination in the musculature of the trahira fish (Hoplias malabaricus), collected from two rivers in southeastern Brazil.MethodsDuring the period from May 2017 to November 2019, 90 fish were collected, 45 from each river. River water samples were also taken during the same collection periods. From fish, muscle tissue samples were taken, and together with river water samples, analyzed for the recovery of trace metals (Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, As, Cd, and Pb) through the technique of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).ResultsIn general, fish as well as the waters of the Jacaré-Guaçú River had higher concentrations of metals. The elements Al, Cr and Cd stood out from the others analyzed metals for having a hazard index (HQ) above 1 (Al), for being up to 10 times above the concentrations allowed by Brazilian legislation (Cr) and for having a high bioconcentration factor (Cd), indicating a biomagnification process through the food chain.ConclusionIn general, trace metal concentrations in the waters and fish of the Jacaré‐Guaçú were higher than in the Jacaré-Pepira, which shows that the Jacaré‐Guaçú is the one that suffers more anthropogenic action between the two rivers. In addition, some elements such as Al, Cr and Cd, due to its high concentrations, should receive some attention as they can pose risks to the health of fish, which can jeopardize the survival of their populations, and especially to humans who use these animals as a food source.     

THE INFLUENCE OF PREDATION ON THE COMPOSITION OF FRESH-WATER ANIMAL COMMUNITIES

1. The introduction of Salmo trutta into an artificial pond was followed by great reduction in the numbers of tadpoles, certain beetles and Notonecta, all species to be seen in the open water. Of the species that sheltered more securely in the plant cover, the effect on some was a curtailment of their range; on others there was little reduction of range or numbers, particularly the numbers at the end of a generation. This was attributed to self-regulation of numbers and the creation of a reserve from which losses due to predation by fish on larger specimens could be replenished. 2. Changes in the number of fish in stretches of a stony stream exerted little effect on the Ephemeroptera, but records indicate that Gammarus and fish are rarely numerous in the same stretch. 3. The most abundant invertebrate carnivores in the fishpond wait for prey to come to them; of two others, a leech swims well but has poor seizing organs, a caddis-larva the reverse. The amount consumed by such predators falls rapidly as the prey becomes scarce. Moreover the main source of prey for the common predators is from the small Crustacea which are abundant only in summer and reproduce quickly. This prey thus has properties that prevent much reduction of numbers by predation. 4. On the stony substrata of Lake District lakes, Asellus and Planaria are numerous where conditions are productive, Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera elsewhere. The absence of these insects from productive places is attributed to predation. 5. Planaria cannot move fast and have no efficient seizing organs, but compensate to some extent by laying trails of slime in which prey becomes entangled. As Asellus grows, its chances of being overpowered by Planaria decrease. Planaria, therefore, feed regularly only when prey is abundant. When it is scarce they rest, and they are able to withstand starvation for a long period. 6. Planaria are preyed upon extensively by Odonata, newts and Plecoptera, and the first two keep them out of weedy ponds. The last may keep their numbers low in streams and perhaps also on stony shores of unproductive lakes, though here scarcity of food is important too. In productive lakes predation on flatworms is slight. 7. Protozoa exhibit three relationships between predator and prey, two of which have been seen in larger organisms. Prey avoid predation in cover. Predators cease activity when prey becomes scarce. Prey occurs in isolated colonies which when found are destroyed by the predator, but generally not before some individuals have dispersed and founded new colonies. 8. Only small invertebrates can survive predation by fish in the open water. Many also reproduce rapidly as long as conditions are favourable and enter a resting stage when they are not. Intense predation may eliminate large species. In some ponds in the Colorado mountains salamanders eliminate a large carnivorous copepod, which enables small Cladocera to survive. Absence of the copepod and presence of Cladocera of suitable size for it to feed on enable a Chaoborus larva to co-exist with the salamander. 9. Small planktivorous fish occur in the open water of some African lakes. The great size of these lakes probably makes possible the co-existence of small fish and their predators, but also makes investigation of the relations between the two difficult. 10. When species not previously present have gained access to lakes, the numbers of the native species of fish have often been greatly reduced. The exact nature of the relationship between newcomer and native has, however, not been established because other factors have been varying, observations have been scanty, or records have not been made for long enough. 11. In temporary and very small bodies of water predation is mainly by invading individuals that were reared somewhere else. Characteristic organisms are phyllopods in impermanent pools and mosquito larvae in both types of water, two groups that feed in the open and away from cover, an activity possible only where predation is slight.