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Water quality in forest and village ponds in Burkina Faso (western Africa)

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Abstract

Forest ecosystems help conserve the quality of water resources in aquatic habitats. The conservation of biological diversity in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems remains a communal concern. Aquatic ecosystems and resources are vulnerable but can be preserved and protected by forests. In sub-Saharan regions of Africa, water from ecosystems such as ponds still play important role in the livelihood of local populations. Water from temporary ponds is used by local populations for multiple needs; however, in this part of the world, the population is increasing, thus increasing human needs and activities and land use in the region. Land-use changes lead to deforestation, land degradation and the decline in freshwater, affecting human health and well-being. Forest degradation leads to the decline in ecosystem goods and services, particularly those related to watersheds. This study conducted in eastern Burkina Faso aimed to assess water quality of temporary ponds in protected forest areas (reserves) and surrounding villages. It was conducted in 61 temporary ponds where physical, chemical and biological variables were measured, such as water surface area, depth, transparency, macrophyte cover, pH, dissolved O2, conductivity, nutrient concentrations and algae biomass. The results showed that at p < 5%, water surface area (p = 0.02), depth (p = 0.00), nutrient content (p = 0.00), and algae biomass (p = 0.04) were significantly higher outside reserves than inside reserves. In contrast, macrophyte cover (mean cover percentages 53 vs. 44.5%) and water transparency (p = 0.02) were higher inside reserves. The variations in conductivity and pH were not significant. All trends showed the influences of human activities on water characteristics and the role forests and land cover had in preventing negative human impacts and disturbance of temporary ponds. Forests and land cover are important to water quality conservation and algae biomass regulation in temporary ponds. Protecting and managing forests is therefore an essential part of future strategies for limiting algal blooms and their negative consequences, maintaining water quality and providing clean water to citizens.

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Acknowledgements

The authors particularly thanks Mark-Oliver Rödel and Adjima Thiombiano for their great support during the study. They are very thankful to Meike Mohneke, Thiombiano Ahandi and Kaboré Jérémy for help with fieldwork, to Cyrille Sinaré for help with macrophyte identification and Issaka Ouédraogo for corrections of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biologie et Ecologie Végétales, Université de Ouagadougou, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

    Bilassé Zongo, Frédéric Zongo & Joseph I. Boussim

  2. Unité de Recherche Aquaculture et Biodiversité Aquatique; Laboratoire d’Etude et de Recherche sur les Ressources Naturelles et les Sciences Environnementales, Université Polytechnique de Bobo-Dioulasso, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

    Bilassé Zongo & Aboubacar Toguyeni

Authors
  1. Bilassé Zongo
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  2. Frédéric Zongo
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  3. Aboubacar Toguyeni
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  4. Joseph I. Boussim
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bilassé Zongo.

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Project Funding: BIOLOG Program of the German Ministry of Education and Science (BMB + F BIOTA III).

The online version is available at http://www.springerlink.com

Corresponding Editor: Zhu Hong

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Zongo, B., Zongo, F., Toguyeni, A. et al. Water quality in forest and village ponds in Burkina Faso (western Africa). J. For. Res. 28, 1039–1048 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-017-0369-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-017-0369-8

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