Temporal Changes in the Lesser Flamingos Population (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Phoenicopterus minor&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;) in Relation to Phytoplankton Abundance in Lake Manyara, Tanzania

Kihwele, Emilian; Lugomela, Charles; Howell, Kim M.

doi:10.4236/oje.2014.43016

Cited by 25 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…As noted earlier, available literature asserts the occurrence of toxic strains of cyanobacteria and their impacts in some parts of the United Republic of Tanzania. To date, the only documented reports/incidences in Tanzania is the mass fatality of Lesser Flamingos in saline lakes in Arusha and Manyara Region (Fyumagwa et al., 2013; Kihwele et al., 2014; Kotut et al., 2006; Lugomela et al., 2006; Nonga et al., 2011).…”

Section: Main Textmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies (e.g. Lugomela et al., 2006; Nonga et al., 2011; Mdegela et al., 2011; Fyumagwa et al., 2013; and Kihwele et al., 2014) in the United Republic of Tanzania have demonstrated the occurrence of toxin producing-cyanobacteria in specific regions. However, these studies are not sufficient to conclusively judge CyanoHABs dynamics and their link with climatic and hydrological variation, because most of them are event-driven, for example, post-mortem of Flamingo mortality in Lake Manyara.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The occurrence of cyanobacteria blooms in freshwater ecosystems and their link with hydro-meteorological and environmental variations in Tanzania

Kimambo

Gumbo

Chikoore

2019

Heliyon

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Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are photosynthetic bacteria that under favorable environmental conditions produce secondary metabolites (cyanotoxins) which are harmful to the environment, including humans. The mass proliferation of harmful cyanobacteria is termed CyanoHABs. CyanoHABs can adapt to different climatic fluctuations, therefore, understanding their dynamics in freshwater systems is crucial. Variation in climatic and hydrological processes, changing land use and economic growth all influence the occurrence and distribution of CyanoHABs. There have been inadequate CyanoHAB studies at local scales, therefore their occurrence and dynamics cannot be generalized. This study reviews and synthesizes cases of CysnoHAB occurrence, magnitude, and timing and how these are linked with climatic and hydrological variations in the United Republic of Tanzania. In this study, a scoping review approach was adopted. Research articles, reports, and databases were consulted. The most common species of toxin-producing cyanobacteria were identified in different water bodies in Tanzania, as well as the record of mass fatality of birds (Lesser Flamingo) in Lake Manyara, which in almost all cases occurred during dry years. While previous studies on CyanoHAB dynamics and their links to climate, hydrological, and environmental changes have not been undertaken in Tanzania, there are studies in Lake Victoria and Tanganyika. Therefore, there should be an immediate response from water users, managers, researchers, and water authorities to address and actively engage in monitoring and managing the risks associated with CyanoHABs in Tanzania.

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Section: Main Textmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The occurrence of cyanobacteria blooms in freshwater ecosystems and their link with hydro-meteorological and environmental variations in Tanzania

Kimambo

Gumbo

Chikoore

2019

Heliyon

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“…Phytoplankton levels lessened from 606 Units/mL in 2010 to 187 Units/mL in 2012. However, there was an increment in the phytoplankton levels to 321 Units/mL in 2013 which could have been caused by alterations in phytoplankton species composition and diversity that in turn affected their abundance due to alterations in the chemical and physical properties of the water (Kihwele et al 2014).…”

Section: Phytoplankton Levelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the impacts of climate variability and climate change on biodiversity in Lake Nakuru, Kenya

et al. 2018

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Wambui MB, Opere A, Githaiga MJ, Karanja FK. 2017. Assessing the impacts of climate variability and climate change on biodiversity in Lake Nakuru, Kenya. Bonorowo Wetlands 1: 13-24. This study evaluates the impacts of the raised water levels and the flooding of Lake Nakuru and its surrounding areas on biodiversity, specifically, the phytoplankton and lesser flamingo communities, due to climate change and climate variability. The study was to review and analyze noticed climatic records from 2000 to 2014. Several methods were used to ascertain the past and current trends of climatic parameters (temperature, rainfall and evaporation), and also the physicochemical characteristics of Lake Nakuru (conductivity, phytoplankton, lesser flamingos and the lake depth). These included time series analysis, and trend analysis, so the Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to show a relationship between the alterations in lake conductivity to alterations in population estimates of the lesser flamingos and the phytoplankton. Data set extracted from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) (IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) Atlas subset) models were subjected to time series analysis method where the future climate scenarios of near surface temperature, rainfall and evaporation were plotted for the period 2017 to 2100 (projection) for RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 relative to the baseline period 1971 to 2000 in Lake Nakuru were analysed. The results were used to evaluate the impact of climate change on the lesser flamingos and phytoplankton abundance. It was noticed that there was a raise in the mean annual rainfall during the study period (2009 to 2014) which brought the increment in the lake’s surface area from a low area of 31.8 km² in January 2010 to a high of 54.7 km² in Sept 2013, indicating an increment of 22.9 km² (71.92% surface area increment). Mean conductivity of the lake also lessened leading to the loss of phytoplankton on which flamingos feed making them to migrate. A strong positive correlation between conductivity and the lesser flamingo population was noticed signifying that low conductivity affects the growth of phytoplankton and since the lesser flamingos depend on the phytoplankton for their feed, this subsequently revealed that the phytoplankton density could be a notable predictor of the lesser flamingo occurrence in Lake Nakuru. There was also a strong positive correlation noticed between phytoplankton and the lesser flamingo population which confirms that feed availability is a key determining factor of the lesser flamingo distribution in the lake. It is projected that there would be an increment in temperatures, rainfall and evaporation for the period 2017 to 2100 under RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 relative to the baseline period 1971 to 2000 obtained from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) multi-model ensemble. As a result, it is expected that the lake will further increment in surface area and depth by the year 2100 due to increased rainfall thereby affecting the populations of the lesser flamingos and phytoplankton, as the physicochemical factors of the lake will alter as well during the projected period.

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“…The in situ preferred food organisms consist of filamentous cyanobacteria, mainly Spirulina platensis , as well as benthic diatoms [ 1 , 2 ]. Many studies showed that temporal fluctuations in lesser flamingo populations are related to the changes in the abundance and diversity of phytoplankton species [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. The occurrence of Spirulina spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…was associated with the increase in the abundance of lesser flamingos. It was observed that changes in the lesser flamingo numbers were influenced by the changes in the abundance and availability of their preferred food [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. All flamingo species (Phoenicopteridae) feed their nestlings using crop secretions, called crop milk, originating from esophageal glands, for up to six months [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hand-Rearing of Three Lesser Flamingo Chicks (Phoeniconaias minor)

Fiorucci

Grande

Macrelli

et al. 2020

Animals

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There are few published studies regarding lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) reproduction, crop milk composition, and hand-rearing under human care. Between the end of June and the beginning of August of 2017, three eggs were laid in a group of 29 lesser flamingos kept under human care. Two eggs and one chick were abandoned by the parents, and three chicks were hand-reared. This report describes diet composition, dietary intake, feeding protocols, and growth index, from the first day to 60 days after hatching, for three lesser flamingo chicks.

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Temporal Changes in the Lesser Flamingos Population (<i>Phoenicopterus minor</i>) in Relation to Phytoplankton Abundance in Lake Manyara, Tanzania

Cited by 25 publications

References 25 publications

The occurrence of cyanobacteria blooms in freshwater ecosystems and their link with hydro-meteorological and environmental variations in Tanzania

The occurrence of cyanobacteria blooms in freshwater ecosystems and their link with hydro-meteorological and environmental variations in Tanzania

Assessing the impacts of climate variability and climate change on biodiversity in Lake Nakuru, Kenya

Hand-Rearing of Three Lesser Flamingo Chicks (Phoeniconaias minor)

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