Editorial: Advances in Biomonitoring for the Sustainability of Vulnerable African Riverine Ecosystems

Masese, Frank O.; Arimoro, Francis O.; O’Brien, Gordon

doi:10.3389/frwa.2021.772682

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…The practice of using aquatic biota as indicators of ecological integrity in streams and rivers is a well‐developed system that gives resource managers a scientific basis for effecting water management guidelines and practices (Karr, 1981; Karr et al, 1986; Ruaro et al, 2020). In Africa, while some countries have made significant steps in developing biomonitoring protocols for surface waters, especially streams and rivers (Dallas, 2021), there is still a need to develop and validate biomonitoring indices to assess and monitor the effects of human activities on water resources in many countries and regions (Masese et al, 2021). However, the use of fish in many low‐order streams in the Afrotropics faces a major challenge of low species diversity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low diversity of fishes in high elevation Afrotromontane streams renders them unsuitable for biomonitoring

2022

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Most of the rivers in the Afrotropics emerge from forested uplands that are prime for human activities, including crop farming, grazing and settlement. However, streams draining these areas have a low diversity of fishes, which limits their use as indicators of water quality and ecological status. Here, we developed macroinvertebrate-and fish-based indices of biotic integrity and evaluated their responses to human activities in the Sondu-Miriu River, Kenya. Overall, water quality declined downstream because of the cumulative effects of human activities. The upper reaches had poor fish diversity with at most three species, but macroinvertebrate communities were diverse on the entire gradient of the river. Metrics that have been used to develop indices of biotic integrity in the Lake Victoria basin were selected and evaluated for responsiveness to various forms of human disturbance along the river. The poor diversity of fishes in the upper reaches limited the number of metrics that could be developed and evaluated. The fish index was only successfully applied in the middle and lower reaches where fish diversity was high. However, macroinvertebrates were diverse and sensitive to human activities on the entire gradient of the river. This study shows that for biomonitoring, macroinvertebrate communities offer a better alternative to fishes in high elevation Afromontane streams that harbour poor fish assemblages.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low diversity of fishes in high elevation Afrotromontane streams renders them unsuitable for biomonitoring

2022

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“…While efforts have been made to develop ecological indices and other models to assess and monitor the status of inland waters in Africa (Dallas, 2021;Masese et al, 2021;Plisnier et al, 2022), most studies have focused on land use change (e.g., agriculture and urbanisation), industrial discharges, and organic pollution (Masese et al, 2021) Exotic species also threaten African freshwater environments. Many African lakes, rivers, and wetlands have introduced fish.…”

Section: Addressing Challenges Facing Freshwater Ecosystems In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to rapid population growth, land use change, urbanisation, energy consumption, and water harvesting are threatening freshwater ecosystems (UNEP-WCMC, 2016;Fouchy et al, 2019;Birk et al, 2020). Studies have expressed serious concerns about the continent's freshwater fauna and ecological processes (Darwall et al, 2005;Thieme et al, 2005;Sayer et al, 2018;Masese et al, 2021). Freshwater impacts are reducing the continent's ecological services and human welfare (IPBES, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%