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Assessment of macro-invertebrates’ colonization in the context of impacts of exotic and native broadleaf litter species in Ethiopia

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Abstract

The distribution of macro-invertebrates in freshwater habitats is influenced by invasive and native plant litter. The objective of this investigation was to determine whether stream water quality and macro-invertebrates’ communities were affected by the leaf litter from alien and native broadleaf plants. The litter input was collected and manipulated in the Gulufa River's upper, middle, and lower tributaries. In the stream corridors, two exotic litter species (Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus globulas) and two native broadleaf litter species (Croton macrostachyus and Ficus sure) were chosen. The sampling methods were classified as upper, middle, and lower approaches. A total of 84 independent litter bag samples were used in the experiments. Of these, 42 of the litter bags were filled with the exotic litter species, and the other 42 litter bags were filled with native broadleaf litter species, respectively. The quality of the water was analyzed in the laboratory and in the field. The macro-invertebrate colonization was assessed using the exotic and native broadleaf litter species. The leaf litter types used in the laboratory and field tests were as follows: Croton macrostachyus, Eucalyptus grandis, Ficus sure, and Eucalyptus globulas. A total of 2297 macro-invertebrates from 48 families were quantified. The percentage composition of Diptera was high with colonization of the leaf pouches with exotic litter species (Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus globulas) with a relative frequency of 29 and 42%. The percentage composition of all the orders associated with the leaf litter species that contained certain species of Ficus sure was found to be higher in frequency (Coleoptera: 74%, Odonata: 64%, Hemiptera: 59%, Ephemeroptera: 54%, and Trichoptera: 44%, respectively), with the exception of Diptera (11%). These findings suggest that the monocultures of the exotic plant species have an impact on aquatic communities. Furthermore, macro-invertebrate assemblages were higher in the substrates composed of native broadleaf litter species than in the substrates composed of exotic leaf litter species. However, the impact can be mitigated if the original vegetation of the native riparian corridors is preserved as soon as possible.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Wollega University Shambu Campus and Kotebe University of Education for providing various logistics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Resource Management, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia

    Birhanu Chalchisa Werku

  2. Department of Environmental Management, Kotebe University of Education, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Tadesse Weyuma Bulto

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The author consented to publish the article in the journal of sustainable water resource management, and the authors contributed useful suggestions and approved the final form of the manuscript. TWB contributed to the research's conceptualization and article revision. All authors have read and agreed to publish the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Birhanu Chalchisa Werku.

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Annex 1: Overview the identified taxa as well as their frequency of occurrence in all leaf bags containing leaf litter species

Annex 1: Overview the identified taxa as well as their frequency of occurrence in all leaf bags containing leaf litter species

Family

Frequency of occurrence (%)

Abundance

Aeshinidae

85

13

Coenagrionidae

50

62

Corduliidae

80

14

Lestidae

70

32

Libellulidae

75

17

Gomphidae

80

7

Caenidae

65

135

Ephermerllidae

50

47

Heptageniidae

85

24

Baetidae

65

84

Lepidostomatidae

55

95

Physidae

80

17

Hydropsychidae

70

20

Brachycentraidae

70

73

Glossosomatidae

75

18

Limnephilidae

90

4

Sciomyzidae

90

2

Simuliidae

90

2

Sphaeriidae

95

6

Tipulidae

90

9

veliidae

85

14

Ceratopogonidae

35

917

Chaoboridae

75

9

Chironomidae

50

216

Culicidae

60

76

Dixidae

85

12

Empididae

85

11

Hydrophilidae

70

33

Helodidae

100

6

Naucoridae

95

1

Nepidae

80

23

Notonectidae

85

3

Perlodidae

70

34

Hydrometridae

85

10

Corixidae

70

7

Gyrinidae

60

48

Belostomatidae

50

32

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Werku, B.C., Bulto, T.W. Assessment of macro-invertebrates’ colonization in the context of impacts of exotic and native broadleaf litter species in Ethiopia. Sustain. Water Resour. Manag. 9, 154 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-023-00904-4

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