Impacts of Benthic Coarse Particulate Organic Matter variations on Macroinvertebrate Density and Diversity in the Njoro River, A Kenyan Highland Stream

Using the Biological Condition Gradient Model as a Bioassessment Framework to Support Rehabilitation and Restoration of the Upper Tana River Watershed in Kenya

“…As expected, the aquatic taxonomic groups of macroinvertebrates, diatoms, and fish grouped sampled sites into various tiers consistently and similarly to those of terrestrial taxa. The response of macroinvertebrates to water quality was consistent with other studies carried in Kenya (Cumberlidge, 1981;Mathooko and Mavuti, 1992;Mathooko, 2002;Dobson et al, 2002;Mwaura et al, 2002;Smart et al, 2002;Ndaruga et al, 2004;Muli, 2005;Kibichi et al, 2007;Kundu e t al, 2017;Ochieng et al, 2019;Raburu et al, 2009;Masese et al, 2009;Masese et al, 2012;Nyakeya et al, 2009;Aura et al, 2010Aura et al, , 2017Ojunga et al, 2010;Raburu and Masese, 2012;Minaya et al, 2013;Ngodhe et al, 2013;Kilonzo et al, 2014;Mbaka et al, 2014a;Mbaka et al, 2014b;M'Erimba et al, 2014b;Odhiambo and Mwangi 2014;Gichana et al, 2015, Orwa et al, 2015Minoo et al, 2016;Kundu et al, 2017). The availability of this huge body of literature offers opportunities to strengthen the use of BCG, especially overcoming problems of determining undisturbed ecological conditions as well as the knowledge needed during pre-and post-status of ecosystems during rehabilitation programs.…”

Effect of Sieve Mesh Size on the Estimation of Benthic Invertebrate Abundance and Composition in the Honi River, Kenya

“…Fine sediment is an important habitat for oligochaetes and chironomids (Gregg & Rose, 1985;Diaz & Erséus, 1994), and the two taxa are more tolerant to silting and water pollution than other benthic invertebrate groups, such as Perlidae and some Hydropsychidae, which indicate better water quality (Van Dijk et al and found high abundances in fine grained sediments. Moreover, fine sedimentary organic materials serve as a source of food for invertebrates and have an influence on their abundance and diversity (Rodriguez et al, 2001;Mbaka et al, 2014). Anthropogenic activities, such as clearance of riparian vegetation, increase the input of fine sediment into streams from riparian lands.…”

The Transience of Channel‐Spanning Logjams in Mountain Streams

“…These jams had a vertical step of 0.5–1.5 m and a plunge pool immediately downstream from the jam (Figure 6 in Supporting Information ). Bedload movement in the study area is episodic: although some of the cobble‐ to boulder‐size clasts forming the bed surface move each year, the entire bed surface is typically not mobilized (Mbaka et al., 2015). Similarly, the volume of finer bedload (sand to pebble size) moving during a typical year is not sufficient to completely fill the backwater created by a large channel‐spanning logjam.…”

“…Marginal deposits along the channel banks or close to portions of the jam still present can remain in storage, however. Organic matter and fine sediment that is present for even a few hours, let alone a year or more, can provide nutrients and habitat for microbial communities (Battin et al., 2008) and aquatic macroinvertebrates (Mbaka et al., 2015) and thus help to sustain stream biota. The diverse habitat provided by secondary channels associated with a logjam also benefits stream biota (Bellmore & Baxter, 2014; Venarsky et al., 2018).…”