Abstract
Comparative studies on the limnology, species diversity and standing stock biomass of phytoplankton and zooplankton in five freshwater lakes, Naivasha and Oloidien, Ruiru, Masinga and Nairobi reservoirs, were undertaken. Phytoplankton chlorophyll a, dissolved oxygen and temperature were also measured. Thermocyclops oblongatus (Copepoda) was dominant in all the lakes. Ceriodaphnia cornuta and Diaphanosoma excisum (Cladocera) dominated in lakes Naivasha and Oloiden, whereas in Ruiru, Masinga and Nairobi reservoirs, Brachionus angularis and Hexarthra mira (Rotifera) were the dominant zooplankters. Phytoplankton biomass as chlorophyll a was lowest in Ruiru dam 5.64 ± 4.0 µg l-1 and highest in the eutrophic Nairobi dam 71.5 ± 12.02 µg l-1. The endorheic lakes Naivasha and Oloidien showed medium values of 24.5 ± 4.0 µg l-1.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boney, A. D., 1975. Phytoplankton. Edward Arnold, Lond., 116 pp.
Davis, C. C., 1975. The marine and freshwater plankton. Michigan State University Press, 562 pp.
Edmonson, W. T. & G. G. Winberg, 1971. A manual on methods for the assessment of secondary productivity in Freshwaters. I.B.P. Handbook No. 17, 358 pp.
Gaudet, J. J., 1976. Salvinia infestation on Lake Naivasha, Kenya. In: Aquatic weeds in S. W. Asia. Varshney & Rzoska. Dr W. Junk Publishers, The Hague: 193–209.
Gaudet, J. J., 1978. Effects of a tropical swamp on water quality. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 20: 2202–2206.
Gaudet, J. J. & J. M. Melack, 1981. Major ion chemistry in a tropical African Lake Basin, Freshwat. Biol.: 309–331.
Harper, D. M., K. M. Mavuti & S. M. Muchiri, 1990. Ecology and management of Lake Naivasha, Kenya in relation to climatic change, alien species introductions and agricultural development. Envir. Conserv. 17.
Lind, E. M., 1968. The phytoplankton of some Kenyan waters. J. E. A. nat. Hist. Soc. 25: 91–96.
Lind, D. T., 1974. Handbook of common methods in Limnology. C. V. Mosby & Co., 154 pp.
Litterick, M. R. & K. M. Mavuti, 1985. The Mavuti sampler. A new and inexpensive volume sampler for plankton and water. Freshwat. Biol. 15: 465–467.
Mavuti, K. M., 1983. Studies on community structures, population dynamics and production of limonitic zooplankton in a tropical lake, Lake Naivasha, Kenya. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Nairobi, Kenya, 210 pp.
Mavuti, K. M., 1990. Ecology and role of zooplankton in the fishery of Lake Naivasha. Hydrobiologia 208: 131–140.
Njuguna, S. G., 1982. Nutrient productivity relationships in three tropical lakes, Naivasha basin, Kenya. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Nairobi, Kenya, 300 pp.
Odingo, R. S. (ed.), 1975. Kamburu-Gitaru Ecological Survey. A Preliminary Report on a transdisciplinary Ecological study of the Kamburu-Gitaru Hydroelectric Dam Area on the Tana River Basin in Eastern Kenya.
Pennak, R. W., 1978. Freshwater invertebrates of the United States, Wiley, N. Y., 803 pp.
Richardson, J. L. & A. E. Richardson, 1972. History of an African Rift lake and its climatic implications. Ecol. Monogr. 42: 499–534.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Uku, J.N., Mavuti, K.M. Comparative limnology, species diversity and biomass relationship of zooplankton and phytoplankton in five freshwater lakes in Kenya. Hydrobiologia 272, 251–258 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006525
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006525