Dynamics in organic matter processing, ecosystem metabolism and trophic sources for consumers in the Mara River, Kenya
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Material Information

Title:
Dynamics in organic matter processing, ecosystem metabolism and trophic sources for consumers in the Mara River, Kenya
Creator:
Masese, Frank Onderi
Publisher:
CRC Press/Balkema
Publication Date:
Language:
English
Physical Description:
Thesis/dissertation

Notes

Abstract:
This study was conducted in the Mara River, which is an important transboundary river with its headwaters in the Mau Forest Complex in Kenya and draining to Lake Victoria through Tanzania. In its headwaters, the basin is drained by two main tributaries, the Amala and Nyangores Rivers which merge in the middle reaches to form the Mara River mainstem. The overall objective of this dissertation was to better understand the functioning of the Mara River by assessing the spatio-temporal dynamics of organic matter sources and supply under different land-use and flow conditions and the influence of these dynamics on energy flow for consumers in the river. I collected benthic macroinvertebrates from open- and closed-canopy streams and classified them into functional feeding groups (FFGs) using gut content analysis. In total I identified 43 predators, 26 collectors, 19 scrapers and 19 shredders. Species richness was higher in closed-canopy forested streams where shredders were also the dominant group in terms of biomass. Seven shredder taxa occurred only in closed-canopy forested streams highlighting the importance of maintaining water and habitat quality, including the input of leaf litter of the right quality, in the studied streams. The findings suggest that Kenyan highland streams harbor a diverse shredder assemblage contrary to earlier findings that had identified a limited number of shredder taxa.

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
Holding Location:
Florida International University
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Aggregations:
Mara River Basin