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Effects of harvesting Cyperus papyrus in undisturbed wetland, Lake Naivasha, Kenya

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Abstract

In many parts of the world and especially in Africa, wetland plants are harvested to support livelihoods. As such, removal of biomass may have an impact on the standing biomass which could affect primary productivity, a fundamental biological process supporting trophic levels. In this study, the effects of harvesting on aerial biomass and shoot regeneration of Cyperus papyrus L. was investigated following 6 and 12 monthly harvesting regimes compared with un-harvested controls over a period of 3 years in an undisturbed site of Lake Naivasha. Our study revealed that the 6 monthly harvesting regime significantly affected aerial biomass production, culm (stem) density, culm diameter, culm height and clonal young shoot regeneration compared to the 12 monthly regime and the controls. This study recommends a harvesting regime that allows an adequate period for a full cycle of C. papyrus stems from young to senescence stage.

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Acknowledgments

This study formed part of first author PhD thesis for the Vrije Universiteit Brussel funded by the Flemish Inter-University Council (VLIR)-University Development Cooperation (UOS). We thank VLIR-UOS for funding the field research, laboratory analysis and scholarship for Terer T. We acknowledge the logistical support from National Museums of Kenya. We are grateful to Nigel Carnelly for his support and for allowing us to use the lake shore of his private land for this research. We thank Sarah Higgins (Lake Naivasha Riparian Association) for suggesting undisturbed study sites in Lake Naivasha, giving constructive suggestions and proofreading this study. The field assistance given by Ann Mbogo, Joseph Rotich and the late Walter Ngetich is also greatly appreciated. We are indebted to Prof. Jenesio Kinyamario (University of Nairobi, Kenya), Dr. Francis W. Kariuki (Kenyatta University, Kenya) and Prof. Rosalind R. Boar (University of East Anglia, UK) for their positive comments on the initial Terer T’s PhD proposal, including this study. We would also like to thank Prof. Bart Muys (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven), Prof. Nico Koedam, Prof. Farid Dahdouh-Guebas and Prof. Roland C. Hauspie (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) who made valuable comments which improved this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wetland and Marine Section, Centre for Biodiversity Department, National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 40658-00100, Nairobi, Kenya

    Taita Terer

  2. Laboratory of Plant Sciences and Nature Management, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium

    Taita Terer & Ludwig Triest

  3. Department of Botany, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa

    A. Muthama Muasya

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  1. Taita Terer
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  2. Ludwig Triest
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Correspondence to Taita Terer.

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Terer, T., Triest, L. & Muthama Muasya, A. Effects of harvesting Cyperus papyrus in undisturbed wetland, Lake Naivasha, Kenya. Hydrobiologia 680, 135–148 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-011-0910-2

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