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The decline of Salvinia molesta on Lake Kariba

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Abstract

The floating fern,Salvinia molesta Mitch., underwent explosive growth following the creation of Lake Kariba in 1958. By 1962 this aquatic weed covered 22% of the Lake's surface but later declined to an apparently stable level of 10–15%. Coverage declined again in 1973 to 5% and by 1980 only about 1% of the lake was covered bySalvinia. This paper discusses the ecological context in which this decline took place and the role of the introduced neotropical grasshopper,Paulinia acuminata De Geer. This insect appears to have made a major contribution towards the decline ofSalvinia, but it is suggested that its effect was greatly enhanced by nutrient stress onSalvinia because of competition for nutrients between the floating weed and other ecosystem components. Nutrient supply to Lake Kariba is limited and the increasing requirements of submerged macrophyte, mussel and fish populations, which are all expanding probably reduced nutrient availability toSalvinia. Mussels and fish, with standing crops of 167 000t and 30 000t, respectively, are seen as particularly important nutrient reservoirs. It is concluded that the decline ofSalvinia in Kariba was part of the lake's maturation process and could possibly have occurred without the introduction ofPaulinia, but at a much slower rate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of National Parks & Wild Life Management, Division of Aquatic Ecology, Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute, P.O. Box 75, Kariba, Zimbabwe

    B. E. Marshall & F. J. R. Junor

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  1. B. E. Marshall
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  2. F. J. R. Junor
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Marshall, B.E., Junor, F.J.R. The decline of Salvinia molesta on Lake Kariba. Hydrobiologia 83, 477–484 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02187043

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