COMPARISON OF ZOOPLANKTON ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY IN FISH POND AND KIHINGO DAM AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS
WANYONYI AGNES
S14/155557/16
A Research Proposal Submitted To The Faculty Of Science, Department of Biological Sciences as a Requirement for the Partial Fulfillment of the Award Of Bachelor of Science Degree In Applied Aquatic Science, Egerton University, Njoro.
EGERTON UNIVERSITY
2019
DECLARATION AND RECOMMENDATION
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this is my original work under the guidance of my supervisor and has not been presented in any institution whatsoever for academic evaluation
Signature_______________________ Date_____________________
Wanyonyi Agnes
RECOMMENDATION
This research proposal has been submitted to for examination with my approval as the University Supervisor.
Signature_______________________ Date______________________
Prof. Andrew .W Yasindi
Department of Biological Sciences
Egerton University
ABSTRACT
The study will be conducted between January and March 2020 in an earthen pond at Egerton University fishpond and Kihingo dam, Nakuru, Kenya. Zooplankton sampling will be done using a zooplankton net and preserved in 5% formalin and taken to the laboratory for analysis. Water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and Secchi disk readings will be measured in –situ. Zooplankton community analyses may reveal valuable information about their abundance and diversity in the system. The zooplankton variation in abundance and diversity of the fish pond and kihingo dam will be studied about Physico-chemical parameters and biological factors such as high phytoplankton density that serves as food for zooplankton. Zooplankton is essential ecologically; they act as primary consumers in the aquatic food web especially for fish, contribute significantly to the gross productivity of a lentic ecosystem, and also play a role in recycling organic matter in the water. The study will also examine the impact of land use on zooplankton communities
DECLARATION AND RECOMMENDATION
3.1.5 Data Analysis and Interpretation
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Zooplankton is a diverse group of heterotrophic organisms found within the water column of aquatic systems. They are represented by a wide array of taxonomic groups including copepods, cladocerans and rotifers. They are cosmopolitan inhabiting all freshwater habitats of the world including ponds, lakes, rivers and dams. Zooplankton is an essential link in the transformation of energy in the aquatic food web because of their drifting nature, high density, high species diversity, and tolerance to extreme environmental conditions. They mainly feed on phytoplankton and they, in turn, are eaten by planktivorous fish. Therefore, they play an essential role in the aquatic food chain (Alam et al.,1987).
Ecologically, this group of organisms are of importance since they are food for planktivorous fish and other aquatic plants. Therefore, their diversity and density are of great importance in the management of successful aquaculture operations since it reduces the amount of supplementary feeds needed. Studies have shown that the presence of healthy zooplankton populations determines the level of success in commercial fisheries. They are used as bio-indicators (Jose and Kumar,2012) and can show polluted water since they have less tolerance for contaminated water
Zooplankton abundance and diversity vary from site to site depending on abiotic, and biotic factors. Biotic elements include predation by fish and other aquatic organisms. A water body inhabited by a high number of planktivorous fish will lead to a low number of zooplankton since they feed on the zooplankton. It also includes changes in phytoplankton communities, whereby factors like mortality of zooplankton will lead to increased abundance and diversity. Abiotic factors are the physicochemical parameters that determine the water quality condition (Das and Bhuyan,1974). Diversity and abundance are correlated with physic-chemical parameters, including temperature, dissolved oxygen. , nutrients, turbidity and salinity.
This study aims to determine species abundance and diversity in fish pond and dam and their relation to water parameters.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The growing number of human populations has brought about overfishing in natural water bodies such as lakes and rivers where there is no control of fishing. This has necessitated the venture into aquaculture and mariculture where fish is reared in culture systems such as ponds and dams. In aquaculture, increased cost of production is brought about by the supplementary feeds and increases cost by 50%. Zooplankton serves as natural feeds for fish, and when they occur in abundance in these culture units, the value of production decreases. The relationship between environmental variables and physicochemical parameters affecting diversity and abundance of zooplanktons should be clearly understood. The study will provide valuable information for researchers, farmers and agencies interested in the practice and management of aquaculture.
1.3 Objectives
1.3.1 General Objective
(i) The overall objective of the study is to compare the abundance and diversity of zooplankton and their relation to environmental parameters in Egerton University fish pond and Kihingo dam.
1.3.2 Specific Objectives
(i)To determine zooplankton abundance in the fish pond and kihingo dam.
(ii)To discover zooplankton diversity in the fish pond and kihingo dam
(iii)To relate zooplankton abundance and diversity in kihingo dam and fish pond to the environmental parameters in the two systems.
1.4 Hypotheses
(i)There will be no significant differences in the abundance of zooplankton in the fish pond and kihingo dam.
(ii)There will be no significant differences in diversity of zooplankton in the fish pond and kihingo dam.
(iii) There will be no significant difference between abundance, diversity and environmental parameters in the two systems.
1.3 Justification
This study is worth doing and should be done because there’s limited knowledge of zooplankton abundance and diversity in the fish pond and Kihingo dam. Because of their ecological importance in the aquatic ecosystem such as being bio-indicators of pollution, food for fish, recycling of nutrients and as consumers of phytoplankton, physicochemical factors affecting the community abundance and distribution should be well understood to ensure their sustainability in the ecosystem. The information obtained after the study will be used in the restoration of productive fisheries by the women groups in kihingo dam that had been initially started. This information is vital towards curbing food insecurity and realization of one of the four agenda of the Government of Kenya eventually to achieve Kenya’s vision 2030
CHAPTER TWO
2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW
Zooplankton usually inhabits different freshwater habitats such as peats, dams, rivers, lakes and pools. Freshwater species are cladocerans, copepods (calanoids, cyclopoids), and Rotifers. Studies show that rotifers are the most dominant group of freshwater zooplankton (Barrabin,2000). Documented literature indicates that there is seasonal variation in their abundance and diversity of zooplankton communities in freshwater ponds due to various factors and most important is the water quality (Madhuri et al.,2011). Their diversity is less in the flowing freshwater such as rivers compared to stagnant waters such as reservoirs. Biotic interactions are observable in the aquatic ecosystem, and it includes predation, a competition which is all critical in regulating zooplankton structure (Hobaek et al.,2002). Presence of copepods in an ecosystem is indicative of predator-prey relationship among zooplankton according to (Liu,1996). Rotifers have widely been used as biological indicators in studies due to their sensitivity to different levels of water quality parameters (Radix et al., 2002).
Fish predation has been shown on how it structures zooplankton communities (Brooks and Dodson,1965). They proposed the ‘size efficiency hypothesis’ to explain the mechanism behind observed changes in zooplankton communities under different predation regimes. The hypothesis says that “when free of predation pressure larger herbivorous zooplankton dominate due to the competitive advantage of being able to exploit delicate particulate matter more efficiently “. Conversely, in intense predation by planktivorous fish, larger-bodied zooplankton is selected against allowing smaller species to dominate. Zooplankton community is correlated with physic-chemical parameters and responds quickly to changes in water condition such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and nutrients. For instance, when the water temperature is optimum, phytoplankton density increases which serve as food and enhance the density of zooplankton and species diversity. They are important in nutrient cycling. They are primary consumers which convert energy from phytoplankton to a form that can be used by larger animals. Zooplankton is essential food base for secondary consumers, including fish, bio-indicators (Webber,2005). These organisms are susceptible to pollution and can show the condition of water bodies.
Studies have revealed that both quality and quantity abundance of zooplankton communities in fishponds and dams vary from location to location, pond to pond, dam to dam within the same place even under similar ecological conditions (Chowdhury and Mamun, 1970). Kihingo dam and the Egerton fish pond are both in the same environmental zone, but it is thought that the zooplankton communities will differ. Factors that affect zooplankton distribution and abundance include season, physical and chemical parameters, water movement, soil, and biological factors (Davies et al., 2009). Physical considerations include temperature, the salinity of the water, nutrients, whereas chemical factors are dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and biological factors such as predation as discussed above. Therefore, this study will evaluate different species in the two systems in relationship with environmental parameters.
Ramachandra et al. (2006) in Bangalore Lakes, India, found that different zooplankton species respond differently to different physicochemical parameters outside their tolerant limits. The shorter life span, short generation time and species sensitivity to varying levels of physicochemical parameters have made zooplankton an ideal biological indicator (Ferdous and Muktadir,2009) in India. The relationship between the zooplankton and physicochemical parameters is responsible for the differences in species composition, abundance and diversity (Anago et al., 2013). Basu et al. (2013) and Sharma (2011) in India reported positive correlations between zooplankton abundance and water transparency. Since different zooplankton species respond differently to different physicochemical parameters and within their tolerant limits, the populations of zooplankton species tend to be shaped in part by these water quality parameters. This is so because zooplankton species tend to perform better within their optimum ranges of water quality parameters. For example, Cladocera tends to be highly sensitive against even to deficient concentrations of pollutants while copepods are the most tolerant towards pollution (Ramachandra et al., 2006). Such relative tolerances towards these stressors, e.g. excess nutrient input in aquatic ecosystem lead to variations of zooplankton species, abundances and diversities.
Some researchers have demonstrated that specific water quality parameters have effects on certain zooplankton species (Koenigs et al., 1990). These authors showed that turbidity could be directly responsible for reduced survival in Daphnia. Anthropogenic activities are responsible for many acute changes in the water quality parameters of many water bodies, including eutrophication due to nutrients drained from agricultural and or municipalities. Kihingo dam is subjected to more human interference than the fish pond. The dam is not fenced livestock free-range around. The community around also utilize the water for agricultural and domestic purposes. Inorganic fertilizer is added to the fish pond before stocking. Excess inorganic nutrients have been responsible for many drastic changes that have been observed in zooplankton structures in affected water bodies. Arimoro and Oganah (2010) and Gammanpila (2010) reported that anthropogenic activities strongly influenced the abundance of zooplankton. In environments without external influences, zooplanktons are distributed according to changes in climatic condition as reported by Uzma et al. (2012). There is a positive correlation in zooplanktons populations with water temperatures. Such a positive correlation means that zooplankton species abundances would increase in density during high water temperatures.
Zooplanktons of the man-made dam have not been widely studied like those of dams constructed along rivers. Kihingo dam has with time naturally established itself and therefore has natural functions and can be equated to a natural dam. Due to the age and historical processes, natural systems have more zooplankton species than artificial lakes explained by the stabilization of the community in general and presence of many types of habitats such as banks, sediment and at times macrophytes around can form a habitat. Studies show that in small and shallow natural environments, there are usually more aquatic macrophytes, which provide more niches and refuges for zooplankton, as explained by (Padovesi-Fonseca & Rezende, 2017). In artificial dams’ recent disturbances affects the ecosystem in such a way that populations of zooplanktons have efficiently occupied all niches that the environment offers leading to lowest richness. Cladocerans are usually abundant in ponds, according to Dodson (1991). On average, 4.5 Cladocera species are found in ponds with an area of less than 6 ha.
Gatesoupe (1982) and revealed that zooplankton is a valuable source of protein, amino acids, lipids, fatty acids and essential minerals and enzymes needed by aquatic organisms for sufficient healthy growth and survival. Several studies have also indicated the improved performance of fish larvae when fed with natural indigenous zooplankton (Lubzen, 1987 Ovie et al., 1993; Adeyemo et al., 1994). Fertilization of ponds to enhance algal growth and produce zooplankton suitable for fish is a common practice in aquaculture farms. Nutrient increase as a result of pond fertilization has a direct impact on the zooplankton community and ultimately, the fish biomass. Besides increasing fish biomass, it also reduces the cost of production by nearly 50%. The move towards aquaculture development necessitates much effort on such natural feeds.
CHAPTER THREE
3.1 MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1.2 Study Design
The experimental study design will be used, and this is a blueprint of the procedure that enables researchers to maintain control over all factors that may affect the results of an experiment. It will start with fieldwork then laboratory analysis
3.1.3 Research Location
The fish pond investigated in this study belongs to Taton Agricultural Park pond at Egerton University. It is located in Nakuru county, Njoro ward and approximately 30 kilometres from Nakuru town. It is a potential area for agriculture; the fish ponds measure 30 m x 10 m, rectangular in outline with an average depth of 1 meter. Species of fish cultured is the Nile Tilapia and the African catfish. Kihingo dam is also located in Nakuru county, kihingo ward. It is a freshwater dam that was excavated between 1973-1974 and was initially a quarry for construction materials. The landfilling was not done on the site. Therefore water filled up; the dam is not fenced thus livestock free-range, it also serves the local community with water for domestic and agricultural use. Nile Tilapia was introduced at some time by some women group, although it was not sustainable. The dam covers an area of 1 1_2 acre of land. Random sampling method will be used whereby zooplankton samples will be collected at random points in the dam and fish pond
3.1.4 Data Collection
Zooplankton samples will be collected every month between January and February 2020 in the fish pond, and dam by methods proposed by Perry (2003) using a cone-shaped 50 cm plankton net of 60um with a mouth of 15cm diameter. A graduated rope is tied at the mouth of the net, to help in lowering to the water and vertically hauling while noting the depth. Samples are washed into well-labelled sample bottles using distilled water and preserving them in 5% formalin. Physicochemical parameters such as turbidity, temperature, dissolved oxygen will be measured using the multi-meter and Secchi disc.
In the laboratory, zooplankton is placed on trays, examined and identified under a binocular dissecting microscope. Zooplankton identification will be analyzed at the lowest possible taxonomic level according to the standard taxonomic reference (Idris,1983)
3.1.5 Data Analysis and Interpretation
Correlation and regression analysis of various water quality parameters will be done using Microsoft Excel to show the relationship between water quality and zooplankton community.
T-test and mean (standard error and standard deviation) to show statistical differences
Abundance will be expressed as individuals per litre of water and will be obtained by the formula;
D =N/V, where
N = number of organisms in the sample
=(number in sub-sample X volume of sample )/ sub-sample volume
V =volume of lake water filtered = π r2 d where
r = radius of mouth of nets
d = depth of haul
Species diversity will be calculated using the Shannon Weaver Index (1949).
By the following formula;
H’= -∑ (Pi*In (Pi)) where Pi = ni/N
In = the natural log
Pi = Proportion of total sample belonging to the ith species
ni = total number of individuals in a speciesπ
N = total number of individuals
E = H’/Hmax where Hmax = In(S) measures the species evenness
(S) = the total number of distinct individual peaks within a profile (Species richness)
E = measures the species evenness
Hmax = measures the maximum evenness the community can have, the closer is this to
one, means the community is optimally even.
Eexp H = Effective Number of Species
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 WORK PLAN
| 2019 | 2020 | |||||||
| Timeline Activities | September
| October
| November
| December
| January
| February
| March
| April
|
| Concept writing | ||||||||
| Proposal writing | ||||||||
| Proposal Presentation | ||||||||
| Data collection and analysis | ||||||||
| Report writing and submission | ||||||||
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 BUDGET
| Item | Quantity | Unit cost | Total cost kshs |
| Laboratory chemicals | |||
| Formalin | 200ml | 1,000.00 | 1,000.00 |
| Ethanol | 200ml | 500 | 500.00 |
| Distilled water | 5 litres | 700 | 700.00 |
| Materials | |||
| Sieves | 1 set | 500.00 | 500.00 |
| Plastic bags | 15 pieces | 100.00 | 100.00 |
| Petri dishes | 4 petri dishes | 1,000.00 | 1,000.00 |
| Personal and local travel | |||
| Facilitation | 2,500.00 | 2500.00 | 2,500.00 |
| Stationary | 1,000.00 | 1000.00 | 1,000.00 |
| Photocopy | 500.00 | 500.00 | 500.00 |
| Typing | 1000.00 | 1,000.00 | 1,000.00 |
| Total | 8,800.00 |
Source of funds: self
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