Temporal Changes in the Lesser Flamingos Population (<i>Phoenicopterus minor</i>) in Relation to Phytoplankton Abundance in Lake Manyara, Tanzania — Oak Academic Publishing
Research ArticleOpen AccessGoogle Scholar indexed
Temporal Changes in the Lesser Flamingos Population (<i>Phoenicopterus minor</i>) in Relation to Phytoplankton Abundance in Lake Manyara, Tanzania
Tanzania National Park, Arusha, Tanzania
,
University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
,
University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
1 Tanzania National Park, Arusha, Tanzania
2 University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
3 University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
A study on seasonal variations in the abundance of Lesser Flamingo ( Phoenicopterus minor ) in relation to phytoplankton abundance in lake Manyara was conducted for a period of fourteen consecutive months (July 2007 to August 2008). The aim was to relate the temporal variability in the phytoplankton species abundance and diversity of the lake to the population size of the Lesser Fla mingo. Lesser Flamingo population numbers were obtained from monthly ground surveys whereby the lake was subdivided into defined counting vantage points. Water samples for phytoplankton species composition and biomass analyses were taken to the University of Dar es Salaam for laboratory analysis. The flamingo population estimates ranged from 9319 in August 2007 to 640,850 in August 2008. The Lesser Flamingo populations showed that temporal fluctuations were related to the changes in the abundance and diversity of phytoplankton species. The occurrence of Arthrospira associated with the increase in the abundance of Lesser Flamingo. It was observed that changes in the Lesser Flamingo numbers were influenced by the changes in the abundance and availability of their preferred food. The results indicated that microalgae assemblage positively correlated with ammonium and nitrate which were also related to the abundance of lesser flamingo. The phytoplankton community was dominated by cyanobacteria particularly Arthrosipira fusiformis likely due to the high lake salinity and pH that limited the growth of other microalgae. Correlation analysis showed strong correlation between the Lesser Flamingo abundance with the concentration of nitrate and ammonium and be tween the number of Lesser Flamingo and the cyanobacterium Arthrospira.
Brown, L.H., Urban, E.K. and Newman, K. (1982) The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press Inc., London.
Del Hoyo, J., Elliot, A. and Sargatal, J. (1992) Flamingos. Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 1. Lynx Editions, Barcelona, Ostrich to Ducks, 696.
Mundkur, T. (1997) The Lesser Flamingo. A Summary of Its Current Distribution and Conservation in Asia. In: Howard, G. Ed., Conservation of Lesser Flamingo in East Africa and Beyond. Proceedings of a Workshop at Lake Bogoria, Kenya, 26-29 August, 1997. IUCN Eastern Africa Regional Programme.
Brown, L.H. and Root, A. (1971) The Breeding Behavior of the Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor. International Journal of Avian Science, 113, 147-172.
Ndetei, R. and Muhandiki, V.S. (2005) Mortalities of Lesser Flamingos in Kenyan Rift Valley Saline Lakes and the Implications for Sustainable Management of the Lakes. Lakes and Reservoirs, Research and Management, 10, 51-58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1770.2005.00255.x
Vareschi, E. (1978) The Ecology of Lake Nakuru (Kenya). I. Abundance and Feedingof the Lesser Flamingo. Oecologia, 32, 11-35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00344687
Tuite, C.H. (1978) The Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor): Aspects of Its Ecology and Behaviour in the East African Rift Valley of Kenya and Northern Tanzania. Unpublished Ph. D. Thesis, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Krienitz, L., Ballot, A., Kotut, K., Wiegand, C., Putz, S., Metcalf, J.S., Coddm G.A. and Pflugmacher, S. (2003) Contribution of Hot Spring Cyanobacteria to the Mysterious Deaths of Lesser Flamingos at Lake Bogoria, Kenya. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 43, 141-148. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6941.2003.tb01053.x
Krienitz, L. and Kotut, K. (2010) Fluctuating Algal Food Populations and the Occurrence of Lesser Flamingos (Phoeniconaias Minor) in Three Kenyan Rift Valley Lakes. Journal of Phycology, 46, 1088-1096. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8817.2010.00915.x
Melack, J.M. and Kilham, P. (1974) Photosynthetic Rates of Phytoplankton in East African Alkaline, Saline Lakes. Limnology and Oceanography, 19, 743-755.
Owino, A.O., Bennun, L.A., Nasirwa, O. and Oyugi, J.O. (2002) Trends in Water Bird Numbers in the Southern Rift Valley of Kenya, 1991-2000. Waterbird Society, 25, 191-201.
Mlingwa, C. and N. Baker. (2006) Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor Counts in Tanzanian Soda Lakes: Implications for Conservation. In: Boere, G.C., Galbraith, C.A. and Stroud, D.A. Eds., Waterbirds around the World. The Stationery Office, Edinburgh, 230-233.
Kihwele, E.S. and Moronda, B.M. (2004) Assessment of Water Resources, Catchment Forests, River Management and Conservation in Manyara Basin. A report Submitted to TANAPA.
Nonga, H.E., Mdegela, R.H., Lie, E., Sandvik, M. and Skaare, J.U. (2011) Assessment of Farming Practices and Uses of Agrochemicals in Lake Manyara basin, Tanzania. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 6, 2216-2230.
Tebbs, E., Remedios, J., Avery, S. and Harper, D. (2011) Development of Remote Sensing Algorithms for Monitoring Biomass of Primary Producers in Alkaline-Saline Lakes from Planktonic and Benthic Sources. Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Not Only for Scientific Cooperation. Lena Halounová, Editor EARSeL.
Acharya, G. (2000) Approaches to Valueing the Hidden Hydrological Services of Wetlands Ecosystems. Ecological Economics, 35, 63-74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0921-8009(00)00168-3
TANAPA (2005) Ecological and Health Studies of Lesser Flamingos in Soda Lakes of Northern Tanzania. A Research Agenda to Establish the Current Deaths of Flamingos.
IUCN (2004) Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org
Wetlands International (2006) Waterbird Population Estimates. Fourth Edition, Wetlands International, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Bartholomew, G.A. and Pennycuick, C.J. (1973) The Flamingo and Pelican Populations of the Rift Valley Lakes in 1968-69. East African Wildlife Journal, 11, 189-198.
Brown, L.H. (1973) The Mystery of the Flamingo. East African Publishing House, Nairobi.
Nasirwa, O. (1994) Kenya Wetlands Working Group. Kenya Birds, 3, 53-54.
Nasirwa, O. (1997) Status of Lesser Flamingo in Kenya. In: Howard, G. Ed., Conservation of Lesser Flamingo in East Africa and Beyond, IUCN Lake Bogoria, Nairobi, 22-24.
Howard, G. (1997) Biology of the Lesser Flamingo. In: Howard, G. Ed., Conservation of Lesser Flamingo in East Africa and Beyond, Nairobi, 50-61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1002977019700
Simmons, R.E. (2000) Declines and Movements of Lesser Flamingo in Africa. Special Publication 1: Conservation Biology of Flamingo. Waterbirds Society, 23, 40-46.
Wetlands International (2002) Waterbird Population Estimates. Third Edition, Wetlands International Global Series No. 12, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Birdlife International (2004) Threatened Birds of the World. CD-ROM. Birdlife International, Cambridge.
Nonga, H.E., Mdegela, R.H., Lie, E., Sandvik, M. and Skaare, J.U. (2010) Socio-Economic Values of Wetland Resources around Lake Manyara, Tanzania: Assessment of Environmental Threats and Local Community Awareness on Environmental Degradation and Their Effects. Journal of Wetlands Ecology, 4, 83-101.
IUCN-SSC (2008) International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of Lesser Flamingo: Techniacl Series No. 18 (CMS) and 34 (AEWA).
Harper, D.M., Childress, R.B., Harper, M.M., Boar, R.R., Hickley, P., Mills, S.C., Otieno, N., Drane, T., Vareschi, E., Nasirwa, O., Mwatha, W.E., Darlington, J.P.E.C. and Escute-Gasulla, X. (2003) Aquatic Biodiversity and Saline Lakes: Lake Bogoria National Reserve, Kenya. Hydrobiologia, 500, 259-276. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1024722821407
Vick, K. (2000). Kenya’s Pink death, Washington Post Foreign Service. http://www.epa.gov/earlink1/earthlink/00janfeb.htm#kenya
Brown, L. (1959) The Mystery of the Flamingos. Country Life Ltd., London. United Kingdom.
Grzimek, M. and Grzimek, B. (1960) Flamingos Censused in East Africa by Aerial Photography. Journal of Wildlife Management, 24, 215-217. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3796749
Melack, J.M. (1978) Morphometric, Physics and Chemical Features of the Volcanic Crater Lakes of Western Uganda. Archaelogy Hydrolobiology, 84, 430-453.
Tuite, C.H. (2000) The Distribution and Density of Lesser Flamingos in East Africa in Relation to Food Availability and Productivity. Water Birds, 23, 52-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1522147
Tuite, C.H. (1979) Population Size, Distribution and Biomass Density of the Lesser Flamingos in the Eastern Rift Valley. Journal of Applied Ecology, 16, 765-775.
Yanda, P.Z. and Madulu, N.F. (2005) Water Resource Management and Biodiversity Conservation in the Eastern Rift Valley Lakes. Northern Tanzania, Elsevier Ltd, Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 30, 717-725.
UNEP (2005) One Planet Many People. Images of Africa’s Changing Lakes. Division of Early Warning and Assessment, United Nations Environmental Programme, Island Press, Washingto DC.
TANAPA (2002) General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Assessment. Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania.
APHA (2005) Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste Water. 21st Edition, American Public Health Association, Washington DC.
Desikachary, T.V. (1959) Cyanophyta. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.
Prescot, G.W. (1978) How to Know Freshwater Algae. 3rd Edition, Wm. C. Brown Company Publishers, Dubuque.
Anagnostidis, K. and Komárek, J. (1985) Modern Approach to the Classification System of Cyanophytes.1—Introduction. Algological Studies. 38, 291-302.
Anagnostidis, K. and Komárek, J. (1988) Modern Approach to the Classification System of Cyanophytes. 2—Oscillatoriales. Algological Studies, 50-53, 327-472.
Komárek, J. and Anagnostidis, K. (1986) Modern Approach to the Classification System of Cyanophytes. 2—Chroococcales. Algological Studies, 43, 157-226.
Hasle, G.R. and Syverstsen, E.E. (1997) Marine Diatoms. In: Tomas, C.R., Ed., Identifying Marine Phytoplankton, Academic Press, Waltham, 5-386. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-012693018-4/50004-5
Andersen, P. and Throndsen, J. (2003) Estimating Cell Numbers. In: Hallegraeff, G.M., Anderson, D.M. and Cembella, A.D., Eds., Manual on Harmful Microalgae, UNESCO Publishing, Paris, 99-129.
Nasirwa, O. (2000) Conservation Status of Flamingos in Kenya. Water Birds (Special Publication 1), 23, 47-51.
Childress, B., Nagy, S., Hughes, B. and Abebe, Y.B. (2008) International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of Lesser Flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor). Convention of Migratory Species, Technical Series No. 18 AEWA Technical Series No. 34. Bonn. 61.
Kaggwa, M.N., Gruber, M., Oduor, S.O. and Schagerl, M. (2013) A Detailed Time Series Assessment of the Diet of Lesser Flamingos: Further Explanation for Their Itinerant Behaviour. Hydrobiologia, 710, 83-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1105-1
Vareschi, E. (1982) The Ecology of Lake Nakuru (Kenya) III; Abiotic Factors and Primary Production. Oecologia (Berl), 55, 81-101. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00386722
Ballot, A., Krienitz, L., Kotut, K., Wiegand, C. and Pflugmacher, S. (2005) Cyanobacteria and Cyanobacterial Toxins in the Alkaline Crater Lakes Sonachi and Simbi, Kenya. Harmful Algae, 4, 139-150. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2004.01.001
Krienitz, L., Dadheech, P.K. and Kotut, K. (2013) Mass Developments of the Cyanobacteria Anabaenopsis and Cyanospira (Nostocales) in the Soda Lakes of Kenya: Ecological and Systematic Implications. Hydrobiologia, 703, 79-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1346-z
Romano, M., Barberis, I.M., Derlindati, E.J., Pagano, F., Marconi, P. and Arengo, F. (2009) Variation in the Abundance of Andean and Chilean Flamingos Wintering in Lowland Wetlands of Central Argentina in Two Contrasting Years. Flamingo Bulletin of the IUCN-SSC/Wetlands International, FLAMINGO SPECIALIST GROUP, 11-16.
Tokusoglu, O. and üUnal M.K. (2003) Biomass Nutrient Profiles of Microalgae: Spirulinaplatensis, Chlorella Vulgaris and Isochrisis galbana. Food Chemistry and Toxicology, 68, 1144-1148.
Mühling, M., Belay, A. and Whitton, B.A. (2005) Variation in Fatty Acid Composition of Arthrospira (Spirulina) Strains. Journal of Applied Phycology, 17, 137-146. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10811-005-7213-9
Zielinska, A. and Chojnacka, K. (2009) The Comparison of Biosorption of Nutritionally Significant Minerals in Singleand Multi-Mineral Systems by the Edible Microalga Spirulina sp. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 89, 2292-2301.
Sileo, L., Grootenhuis, J.G., Tuite, C.H. and Hopcraft, J.B.D. (1979) Mycobacteriosis in the Lesser Flamingos of Lake Nakuru, Kenya. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 15, 387-389. http://dx.doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-15.3.387
Graham, A.D. and Bell, R.H.V. (1969) Factors Affecting the Countability of Animals. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal, Special Issue: 1996, 38-42.
Raini, J. and Ngowe, N. (2009) Aerial Census of Lesser Flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor) on the Rift Valley Lakes of Northern Tanzania, January 2002. Flamingo Bulletin of the IUCN-SSC/Wetlands International, FLAMINGO SPECIALIST GROUP, 30-34.
Madaka, T. (2007) Community Vulnerability and Adaptation to the Impacts of Climate Variability and Extremes on Wetlands: The Case of Simiyu Wetlands, Lake Victoria Basin' Tanzania. Unpublished MSc. Dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam.
Hudson, D.A. and Jones, R.G. (2002) Regional Climate Model Simulations of Present Day and Future Climates of Southern Africa. Technical Note No. 39: 41, United Kingdom Meteology Office, London.
Lovejoy, E.T. and Hannah, L. (2005) Climate Change and Biodiversity. Yale University Press, New Haven.
Rich, F. (1932) Phytoplankton from the Rift Valley Lakes in Kenya. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 10, 233-262.
Jenkins, P.M. (1957) The Filter Feeding and Food of the Flamingos. Philosophical Transactions of Royal Society London (B), 240, 401-493. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.1957.0004
Lugomela, C., Pratap, H.B. and Mgaya, Y.D. (2006) Cyanobacteria Blooms: A Possible Cause of Mass Mortality of Lesser Flamingos in Lake Manyara and Lake Big Momela, Tanzania. Harmful Algae, 5, 534-541. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2005.10.001
Ballot, A., Krienitz, L., Kotut, K., Wiegand, C., Metcalf, J.S., Codd, G.A. and Pflugmacher, S. (2004) Cyanobacteria and Cyanobacterial Toxins in Three Alkaline Rift Valley Lakes of Kenya-Lakes Bogoria, Nakuru and Elmentaita. Journal of Plankton Research, 26, 925-935. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbh084
Tuite, C.H. (1981). Standing Crop Densities and Distribution of Spirulina and Benthic Diatoms in East African Alkaline Saline Lakes. Freshwater Biology, 11, 345-360.