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Akamagwuna FC, Edegbene AO, Ntloko P, Arimoro FO, Nnadozie CF, Choruma DJ, Odume ON. Functional groups of Afrotropical EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) as bioindicators of semi-urban pollution in the Tsitsa River Catchment, Eastern Cape, South Africa. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13970. [PMID: 36540799 PMCID: PMC9760020 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined the distribution patterns of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera functional feeding groups (EPT FFGs) in five streams that drain semi-urban landscapes in the Tsitsa River catchment, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. We undertook macroinvertebrate and physicochemical analysis over four seasons between 2016 and 2017 at eight sites in three land-use categories (Sites 1, 2 and 3), representing an increasing gradient of semi-urban pollution. Five EPT FFGs (shredders, grazers/scrapers, predators, collector-gatherers and collector-filterers) were fuzzy coded and analyzed using RLQ-R (environmental characteristics of samples), L (taxa distribution across samples) and Q (species traits) and fourth-corner analyses. Physicochemical variables, including phosphate-phosphorus, total inorganic nitrogen and temperature, were the most influential variables that significantly influenced the distribution patterns of EPT FFGs in the Tsitsa River. RLQ and the fourth-corner model revealed varying responses of FFGs to semi-urban pollution. Of the five FFGs, collectors were the most abundant EPT FFGs in the study area, exhibiting disparate responses to disturbances, with collector-gatherers associated with impacted sites and significantly associated with phosphate-phosphorus. On the other hand, collector-filterers decreased with increasing semi-urban disturbance and exhibited a significant negative association with phosphate-phosphorus, total inorganic nitrogen and temperature. Overall, this study provides further insights into the environmental factors that influence the distribution patterns of FFGs in Afrotropical streams and the potential use of FFGs as indicators of anthropogenic pollution in tropical streams and rivers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Augustine Ovie Edegbene
- Institute for Water Research, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa,Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria
| | - Phindiwe Ntloko
- Institute for Water Research, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa
| | - Francis Ofurum Arimoro
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria
| | - Chika Felicitas Nnadozie
- Institute for Water Research, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa
| | - Dennis Junior Choruma
- Institute for Water Research, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa
| | - Oghenekaro Nelson Odume
- Institute for Water Research, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa
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Libala N, Palmer CG, Odume ON. The evaluation of biological indices to assess the condition of hillslope seep wetlands in the Tsitsa River Catchment, South Africa. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251370. [PMID: 34003835 PMCID: PMC8130940 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The increase in the degradation of wetlands globally has highlighted the need to assess their ecological condition. Hillslope seep wetlands are among the least studied wetland types, yet they the most vulnerable because of their small size and steep slopes. Human pressure and the vulnerable nature of these wetlands requires wetland assessment tools to assess their condition. This study sought to evaluate the performance of the Floristic Quality Assessment Index for all species (FQAIall), the FQAI for dominant species (FQAIdom), and the Floristic Assessment Quotient for Wetlands (FAQWet) in response to the Anthropogenic Activity Index (AAI) and WET-Health in eleven hillslope seep wetlands and used these indices to assess the degree and intensity of disturbance. Vegetation samples were collected in summer 2016 and winter 2017. All assessment indices, FQAIall, FQAIdom, FAQWet and WET-Health, showed that hillslope seep wetlands were impacted by human activities. FQAIall showed the strongest response to AAI in winter, while FAQWet showed the strongest response to WET-Health. To the best of our knowledge, researchers in South Africa have used only WET-Health to assess wetland condition, and this is the first study to assess the condition of hillslope seep wetlands using a combination of indices (FQAIall, FQAIdom, FAQWet, and WET-Health). Overall, the findings of this study suggest that FQAIall and FAQWet are potentially better tools for assessing the biological condition of hillslope seep wetlands in South Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Notiswa Libala
- Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality, Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
| | - Carolyn G. Palmer
- Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality, Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
| | - Oghenekaro Nelson Odume
- Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality, Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
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Akamagwuna FC, Ntloko P, Edegbene AO, Odume ON. Are Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera traits reliable indicators of semi-urban pollution in the Tsitsa River, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa? ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2021; 193:309. [PMID: 33913034 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09093-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The taxonomy-based response pattern of macroinvertebrates to pollution gradient is well established, with tolerant taxa increasing in impacted conditions, while sensitive taxa increase with decreasing deterioration, typical of rural pollution. This study identified rural indicator and sensitive traits of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa by examining their trait distribution pattern in relation to rural pollution. Physicochemical parameters and EPT were sampled seasonally from August 2016 to April 2017. Eight sites were selected and categorised into three site groups. Site group 1 served as the least impacted site group and Site group 2 as the moderately influenced, whereas Site group 3 was the most impacted. Seven traits were selected and categorised into 27 trait modalities. The response of EPT traits to physicochemical parameters was analysed using the simultaneous analysis of the information contained in three tables: R (environmental characteristics of samples), L (taxa distribution across samples) and Q (species traits) (RLQ) and confirmed with fourth-corner analysis. Three trait attributes, large (10-20 mm), swimming, shredding, streamlined body shape and large body size (≥ 10-20), were considered tolerant signature traits of semi-urban pollution. These trait attributes were associated with the influenced Site group 3 and indicated a significant positive affinity with at least one physicochemical indicator of increasing semi-urban pollution (NH4-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, PO4-P, EC, turbidity, temperature and pH). Conversely, small body size (< 10 mm), operculate gills, spherical body shape and a preference for sediments were correlated with the least influenced Site group 1 and were considered sensitive traits of semi-urban disturbance. Overall, this study provided critical insights into EPT responses to disturbance, revealing that semi-urban activities influenced EPT traits differently in the Tsitsa River.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Chukwuzuoke Akamagwuna
- Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality, Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa.
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa.
| | - Phindiwe Ntloko
- Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality, Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
| | - Augustine Ovie Edegbene
- Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality, Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
| | - Oghenekaro Nelson Odume
- Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality, Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
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