Spatial Patterns of Zooplankton Distribution and Abundance in Relation to Phytoplankton, Fish Catch and Some Water Quality Parameters at Shirati Bay, Lake Victoria-Tanzania
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Date
2016-03
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Abstract
Spatial patterns and abundance of zooplankton in aquatic habitats are important determinants for
production of fish species, invertebrates and availability of phytoplankton. Weekly monitoring for
zooplankton abundance was conducted in Shirati Bay, Lake Victoria, to explore their spatial
patterns in relation to phytoplankton, fish catch and some water quality parameters. The vertical
distribution of zooplankton was generally higher close to the bottom as compared to surface
waters of the lake. Zooplankton vertical distribution positively correlated with water transparency
(r = 0.680, p = 0.011). The horizontal abundance of zooplankton was not significantly different
amongst the three stations (p = 0.5143). While Copepoda was the dominant group in terms of
composition, Rotifera had the highest diversity indices of all the zooplankton groups obtained. The
abundance of nauplius larvae was significantly higher than that of the copepodites (p = 0.022).
Nile perch, Lates niloticus dominated the total catches (47%) followed by Nile tilapia,
Oreochromis niloticus (29%) and haplochromines (21%). The abundance of haplochromines and
juvenile fishes correlated significantly with the abundance of zooplankton (r = 0.856, p = 0.002
and r = 0.58, p = 0.038, respectively). The current study revealed that zooplankton vertical
distribution at Shirati Bay is mainly controlled by water transparency and predation by juvenile
Nile perch, Nile tilapia and haplochromines.
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Keywords
Chlorophyll-a, Calanoid, Cyclopoid, Nauplius larvae, Juvenile fish
Citation
Waya, R.K., Limbu, S.M., Ngupula, G.W., Mwita, C.J. and Mgaya, Y.D., SPATIAL PATTERNS OF ZOOPLANKTON DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE IN RELATION TO PHYTOPLANKTON, FISH CATCH AND SOME WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AT SHIRATI BAY, LAKE VICTORIA-TANZANIA.