Palaeolimnological reconstruction of recent environmental change in Lake Malombe (S. Malawi) using multiple proxies

Abstract

Shallow inland water bodies in Malawi continue to be threatened by various environmental challenges despite their importance to the fisheries industry. Due to the complex interaction between natural and anthropogenic disturbances, disentangling the effect of the two may be a complicated process. The littoral zone of most water bodies is important in environmental reconstructions including pollution and lake level monitoring. This study used a littoral zone, transectbased approach employing multi-proxy palaeolimnological techniques to reconstruct recent environmental change (ca. 100 yrs.) in Lake Malombe in the Malawi Rift, East Africa. The results of the study could inform fisheries management in Lake Malombe, which experienced a catastrophic decline in fish stocks. Results support documentary evidence for the complete desiccation of the lake less than 100 years ago. Subsequently, there is evidence for accelerated eutrophication in the recent past. In light of these results, it is concluded that transect sampling approaches rather than relying on single core measurements, and the need for careful consideration of the types of proxy, are significant considerations in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions.

Spatial distribution of zooplankton in response to ecological dynamics in tropical shallow lake: insight from Lake Malombe, Malawi

“…The lake inlet recorded the highest pH during the CDWS due to the increased inflowing carbonate-rich water from Lake Malawi. Because of the hydrological connection between these two lakes, Lake Malombe behavior, including pH, is strongly influenced by Lake Malawi (Dulanya et al 2014).…”

“…Lake Malombe has been extensively studied since the 1960s by biologists, hydrologists, and ecologists (Jambo and Hecht 2001;Hara 2006;Anseeuw et al 2011;Jamu et al 2011;Hara and Njaya 2016;Makwinja et al 2021). However, a few studies about the temporal and spatial distribution of plankton in this lake are published (Dulanya et al 2014). Information about the spatial distribution of zooplankton in response to ecological dynamics in this lake is still lacking.…”

Valuation of Ecosystem Services: Insight From Lake Malombe, Malawi

“…It lies in a broken depression running northwest from Lake Chilwa to Lake Malawi, parallel to the Shire River between latitude 14°21′to 14°45′ south and longitudes 35°10′ to 35°20′ east in the southern part of Mangochi District (Fisheries Department , 2019). The lake forms part of the complex African Great Rift Valley system and is ranked as the third-largest in Malawi (30km in length and 15km in width, with a total area of 450km2, mean depth of 2.5, and a maximum depth of 7m) (Dulanya et al 2014). It shares unique characteristics of Lake Malawi's aquatic biological diversity, including a high level of fish fauna, genetic pools, and endemism.…”

Modeling of Lake Malombe Annual Fish Landings and Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE)

“…From Mangochi, the Upper Shire River Basin drains into Lake Malombe (coordinates 14 • 40 0" S 35 • 15 0" E) 8 km south of Mangochi and continues to flow through swampy banks flanked by hills and escarpment. Lake Malombe is documented as the third-largest in Malawi with an estimated total area of 162 square miles (420 km 2 ), length of 30 km, a width of 17 km, and water depth not exceeding 6 m [18]. The communities around the lake catchment are predominately fishers [19].…”