Shesher and Welala Floodplain Wetlands (Lake Tana, Ethiopia): Are They Important Breeding Habitats for<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>and the Migratory<i>Labeobarbus</i>Fish Species?

Anteneh, Wassie; Dejen, Eshete; Getahun, Abebe

doi:10.1100/2012/298742

Cited by 22 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The high percentage occurrence of fish in the wet season diet of the African clawless otter may be explained by the spawning migration behaviour for reproduction in their breeding sites to the rivers and shores. Anteneh et al (2012) reported that the spawning migration of fish from Lake Tana through rivers and wetlands has a wet season peak (July to October) while their spawning was also slowed by low water temperatures. This behavior might rendered the fish more vulnerable to predation in the wet season.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet analysis of the African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) in and around Lake Tana

Andarge¹,

Wube²,

Balakrishnan³

2017

J. Ecol. Nat. Environ.

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The diet composition of the African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) was studied by analyzing of 440 spraint samples collected during January, 2014 and December, 2015 in both dry and wet seasons from eight sites in and around Lake Tana, North West Ethiopia. Percentage frequency of occurrence and relative percentage frequency of diet items in the spraint samples were calculated.The statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square and one-way ANOVA tests.The number of diet categories per spraint ranged from 1 to 4 with a mean of 1.42 ± 0.591. Fish was the dominant prey item in all sites with an overall frequency of occurrence of 84.77% and a relative percentage frequency of 59.68%. Labeobarbus spp. was the most frequent fish prey (35.45%). Crabs were the second most frequent prey items with percentage frequency of 33.41% and a relative percentage frequency of 23.52%, while small mammals and birds were the least frequent dietary items with percentage frequency of 0.45 and 0.23%, respectively. Other identified diet items and the respective percentage frequency were plant matter (6.17%), insects (5.68%), amphibians (5%), mollusks (2.5%) and unidentified items (3.86%). Variation on fish and crab prey items were observed between seasons and sites, while no variation was observed for other prey items. The results suggested a dietary flexibility and shift in the African clawless otter from crabs to fish that can be explained by availability and accessibility.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet analysis of the African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) in and around Lake Tana

Andarge¹,

Wube²,

Balakrishnan³

2017

J. Ecol. Nat. Environ.

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“…The surface area of Welala is estimated about 110 ha, which is impounded by open water for along period of a year with maximum depth of 3m during rainy season. According to [4], its surface area was 159 hectares shirked by 47 % from what it was 298 ha in 1987. Welala wetland was imposed by one kebele only, Nabega Giorgis that has bylaw, to be assigned only for communal grazing land in contrast to Shesher wetland.…”

Section: Welala Natural Reservoirmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This reservoir is estimated with an area of 500 hectares filled with water and free from vegetation cover due to its high relative depth that estimated of maximum depth 3m during the pick rainy season ( Figure 2). According to [4], the surface area of Shesher shirked by 91 % to 136 hectares from what it was 1557 hectares in 1987. The whole boundary of this reservoir was cultivated by the inhabitants with rice production at all water logged areas during the rainy seasons.…”

Section: Shesher Natural Reservoirmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Furrow Irrigation on Shesher and Welala Natural Reservoirs of Lake Tana Sub Basin, Ethiopia

Tewabe¹

2014

J Biodivers Biopros Dev

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The survey was conducted from March 2012 to March 2013 based on field observations and samples. Shesher is natural reservoir of Lake Tana found at coordinates of 0350300 and 1322162 UTM and at altitudes 1805 a.s.l. Welala natural reservoir is found at UTM coordinates of 0348348 and 1326081 with altitude of 1804 a.s.l. The area of Shesher and Welala was estimated about 500 ha and 110 ha respectively, which are impounded by open water for extended period of a year and both with maximum depth of 3 m during rainy season. Both reservoirs filled their capacity during the rainy season through the inflow river of Ribb and the surrounding flood plain. But during pick dry season of March, 2012 and March 2013 the survey showed unexpected, amazing and sudden death of a home for many biodiversity that both Shesher and Welala natural reservoirs dried up totally. Birds fetch their food from remnants small shrink wet mud spot and it is not uncommon to see remnant dead fishes eaten by birds. This is due to several and unlimited human encroachments mainly for crop cultivation, with out any rules and regulations. Major crops cultivated by drained two reservoirs using gravitational force were Eragrastis teff, Cheak pea, Grass pea, Lentils and Safflower. During dry season no one could be able found drinking water even for their animals and humans, inhabitants started digging well to fetch water from the middle of Shesher and Welala reservoirs. The drainage system was carried out at every 50 m intervals by making large furrows in both sides of two reservoirs until their water totally vanished. These reservoirs should be properly and sustainably exploited by designing appropriate interventions with out land use change, for instance it could be serve for fisheries, ecotourism and livestock sectors. Objective To evaluate the current status of Shesher and Welala natural reservoirs with respect to anthropogenic activities and able to propose possible solutions Materials and Methods Study area The study was conducted in the north eastern part of Lake Tana (source of the Blue Nile). The lake is the largest one (3150 km 2) in Ethiopia, comprising 50 % of the total freshwater resources of the country. It is a shallow lake with a mean depth of 8 m and maximum depth of 14 m, situated 1800 m above sea level. Seven large, permanent rivers and about 40 small seasonal rivers feed the lake. The trophic status of Lake Tana is oligotrophic to mesotrophic [2,3]. Shesher and Welala natural reservoirs are found just at the boundary of the lake in fogera floodplains of Fogera woreda of South Gondar zone (Figure 1). These are breeding sites mainly for Clarias gariepinus fish species but not endemic Labeobarbus species of Lake Tana [4]. Fishing activities during the breeding seasons (rainy seasons) and post rainy seasons are immense than ever, fishermen used spears and seining as fishing gear during these seasons respectively.

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“…Shesher and Welala natural reservoirs are found just at the boundary of the lake in fogera floodplains of Fogera woreda of South Gondar zone (Figure 1). These are breeding sites mainly for Clarias gariepinus fish species but not endemic Labeobarbus species of Lake Tana [4]. Fishing activities during the breeding seasons (rainy seasons) and post rainy seasons are immense than ever, fishermen used spears and seining as fishing gear during these seasons respectively.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Furrow Irrigation on Shesher and Welala Natural Reservoirs of Lake Tana Sub Basin, Ethiopia

Tewabe¹

2014

Int J Aquac Fish Sci

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The survey was conducted from March 2012 to March 2013 based on field observations and samples. Shesher is natural reservoir of Lake Tana found at coordinates of 0350300 and 1322162 UTM and at altitudes 1805 a.s.l. Welala natural reservoir is found at UTM coordinates of 0348348 and 1326081 with altitude of 1804 a.s.l. The area of Shesher and Welala was estimated about 500 ha and 110 ha respectively, which are impounded by open water for extended period of a year and both with maximum depth of 3 m during rainy season. Both reservoirs filled their capacity during the rainy season through the inflow river of Ribb and the surrounding flood plain. But during pick dry season of March, 2012 and March 2013 the survey showed unexpected, amazing and sudden death of a home for many biodiversity that both Shesher and Welala natural reservoirs dried up totally. Birds fetch their food from remnants small shrink wet mud spot and it is not uncommon to see remnant dead fishes eaten by birds. This is due to several and unlimited human encroachments mainly for crop cultivation, with out any rules and regulations. Major crops cultivated by drained two reservoirs using gravitational force were Eragrastis teff, Cheak pea, Grass pea, Lentils and Safflower. During dry season no one could be able found drinking water even for their animals and humans, inhabitants started digging well to fetch water from the middle of Shesher and Welala reservoirs. The drainage system was carried out at every 50 m intervals by making large furrows in both sides of two reservoirs until their water totally vanished. These reservoirs should be properly and sustainably exploited by designing appropriate interventions with out land use change, for instance it could be serve for fisheries, ecotourism and livestock sectors. ObjectiveTo evaluate the current status of Shesher and Welala natural reservoirs with respect to anthropogenic activities and able to propose possible solutions Materials and Methods Study areaThe study was conducted in the north eastern part of Lake Tana (source of the Blue Nile). The lake is the largest one (3150 km 2 ) in Ethiopia, comprising 50 % of the total freshwater resources of the country. It is a shallow lake with a mean depth of 8 m and maximum depth of 14 m, situated 1800 m above sea level. Seven large, permanent rivers and about 40 small seasonal rivers feed the lake. The trophic status of Lake Tana is oligotrophic to mesotrophic [2,3]. Shesher and Welala natural reservoirs are found just at the boundary of the lake in fogera floodplains of Fogera woreda of South Gondar zone (Figure 1). These are breeding sites mainly for Clarias gariepinus fish species but not endemic Labeobarbus species of Lake Tana [4]. Fishing activities during the breeding seasons (rainy seasons) and post rainy seasons are immense than ever, fishermen used spears and seining as fishing gear during these seasons respectively.Two natural reservoirs were assessed from March 2012 to March 2013 based on field observations and samples. Interviews with the

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Shesher and Welala Floodplain Wetlands (Lake Tana, Ethiopia): Are They Important Breeding Habitats forClarias gariepinusand the MigratoryLabeobarbusFish Species?

Cited by 22 publications

References 20 publications

Diet analysis of the African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) in and around Lake Tana

Diet analysis of the African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) in and around Lake Tana

Impacts of Furrow Irrigation on Shesher and Welala Natural Reservoirs of Lake Tana Sub Basin, Ethiopia

Impacts of Furrow Irrigation on Shesher and Welala Natural Reservoirs of Lake Tana Sub Basin, Ethiopia

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