Ecological Integrity of a Peri-Urban River System, Chiraura River in Zimbabwe

Beaven Utete; Rutendo Maria Kunhe

doi:doi:10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11

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Ecological Integrity of a Peri-Urban River System, Chiraura River in Zimbabwe

Beaven Utete, Rutendo Maria Kunhe

Published in Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science (Volume 2, Issue 5)

Received: 20 September 2013 Published: 20 October 2013

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Abstract

Ecological integrity of a peri-urban river system facing a plethora of anthropogenic pressures was assessed through multivariate analysis of physicochemical parameters correlated to the resident macroinvertebrate community. Monthly collection of macroinvertebrates and concurrent measurement of the physical and chemical parameters (dissolved oxygen concentration, percentage saturation of oxygen, pH, temperature, electrical conductivity and salinity) of water was done over a period of 5 months from November 2011- March 2012 in six sites across the Chiraura River. Macroinvertebrates were collected using the kick-net sampling technique, identified up to family level and enumerated at each site. Biodiversity indices were calculated for each site following the South African Scoring System version 5 (SASS5). A total of 1209 macroinvertebrates belonging to 49 families and11 orders were recorded in the Chiraura River. Most pollution sensitive taxa were found at sites 3 and 4 and the most pollution tolerant families were found at sites 1, 5 and 6. Sites4 and 5 of Chiraura River were the least polluted. Unsustainable anthropogenic activities, including industrial, domestic and urban agricultural activities affects water quality of Chiraura River. This is mainly through run-off and increased effluent to the river making routine water quality monitoring imperative.

Published in	Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science (Volume 2, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11
Page(s)	56-61
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Lotic System, Macroinvertebrates, River Health, SASS 5, Water Quality, Biomonitoring

References

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[3]	Magadza CHD.2003. Lake Chivero, A management case study. Lakes& Reservoirs: Research Management. 8: 69-81.
[4]	Phiri C. 2000. An assessment of the health of two rivers within Harare, Zimbabwe, on the basis of macroinvertebrate community structure and selected physicochemical variables. African Journal of Aquatic Science. 25: 134–141.
[5]	Dallas HF. 1997. A preliminary evaluation of aspects of SASS (South African Scoring System) for the rapid bioassessment of water quality in rivers, with particular reference to the incorporation of SASS in a national bio monitoring programme. Southern African Journal of Aquatic Science. 23 (1):79-94.
[6]	Moyo NAG and Phiri C. 2002. The degradation of an urban stream in Harare, Zimbabwe. African Journal of Ecology. 40: 401-404.
[7]	Nhapi I, Siebel MA and Gijzen HJ. 2009. A proposal for managing wastewater in Harare, Zimbabwe. Water and Environment Journal. 20(2): 101–108.
[8]	Chakona A, Phiri C and Day JA. 2009. Potential for Trichoptera communities as biological indicators of morphological degradation in riverine systems. Hydrobiologia. 621: 155 167.
[9]	Chakona A, Phiri C, Chinamaringa A and Muller N. 2009. Changes in biota along a dry land river in north-western Zimbabwe: declines and improvements in river health related to land use. Aquatic Ecology. 4: 1095–1106.
[10]	Dickens C and Graham M. 2001. South African Scoring System (SASS) Version 5, Rapid Assessment Method for Rivers. Umgeni Water, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
[11]	Thirion C, Mox E and WoestR.1995. Biological monitoring of streams using SSS4 – A User Manual. Department Of Water Affairs and Forestry Institute for Water Quality. Studies. South Africa. Report NOOOO/OO/REQ/1195.p 46.
[12]	Gerber A and Gabriel MJM. 2002. Aquatic invertebrates of South African rivers: Field guide. Resource Quality Services, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Pretoria, South Africa 150 pp.
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[15]	Chakona A. 2005. The Macroinvertebrate Communities of Two Upland Streams in Eastern Zimbabwe with Reference to the Impact of Forestry. Msc Thesis. University of Zimbabwe.
[16]	Machena C. 1997.The pollution and self-purification of Mukuvisi River. In: Lake Chivero, a Polluted Lake (Eds.N. A. G. Moyo). 75–91pp. University of Zimbabwe Publishers, Harare, Zimbabwe.
[17]	Cherry DS, Currie RJ, Soucek DJ, Latimer HA and Trent GC. 2001. An integrative assessment of a watershed impacted by abandoned mined land discharges. Environmental Pollution. 111: 377-388.
[18]	Kjeldsen TR, Lundorf A and Rosbjerg D. 1999.Barrier to unstainable water resources management, A case study Hydro science Journal. 44:529-539.

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APA Style

Beaven Utete, Rutendo Maria Kunhe. (2013). Ecological Integrity of a Peri-Urban River System, Chiraura River in Zimbabwe. Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science, 2(5), 56-61. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11

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ACS Style

Beaven Utete; Rutendo Maria Kunhe. Ecological Integrity of a Peri-Urban River System, Chiraura River in Zimbabwe. J. Water Resour. Ocean Sci. 2013, 2(5), 56-61. doi: 10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11

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AMA Style

Beaven Utete, Rutendo Maria Kunhe. Ecological Integrity of a Peri-Urban River System, Chiraura River in Zimbabwe. J Water Resour Ocean Sci. 2013;2(5):56-61. doi: 10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11

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@article{10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11,
  author = {Beaven Utete and Rutendo Maria Kunhe},
  title = {Ecological Integrity of a Peri-Urban River System, Chiraura River in Zimbabwe},
  journal = {Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science},
  volume = {2},
  number = {5},
  pages = {56-61},
  doi = {10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wros.20130205.11},
  abstract = {Ecological integrity of a peri-urban river system facing a plethora of anthropogenic pressures was assessed through multivariate analysis of physicochemical parameters correlated to the resident macroinvertebrate community. Monthly collection of macroinvertebrates and concurrent measurement of the physical and chemical parameters (dissolved oxygen concentration, percentage saturation of oxygen, pH, temperature, electrical conductivity and salinity) of water was done over a period of 5 months from November 2011- March 2012 in six sites across the Chiraura River. Macroinvertebrates were collected using the kick-net sampling technique, identified up to family level and enumerated at each site. Biodiversity indices were calculated for each site following the South African Scoring System version 5 (SASS5). A total of 1209 macroinvertebrates belonging to 49 families and11 orders were recorded in the Chiraura River. Most pollution sensitive taxa were found at sites 3 and 4 and the most pollution tolerant families were found at sites 1, 5 and 6. Sites4 and 5 of Chiraura River were the least polluted. Unsustainable anthropogenic activities, including industrial, domestic and urban agricultural activities affects water quality of Chiraura River. This is mainly through run-off and increased effluent to the river making routine water quality monitoring imperative.},
 year = {2013}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Ecological Integrity of a Peri-Urban River System, Chiraura River in Zimbabwe
AU  - Beaven Utete
AU  - Rutendo Maria Kunhe
Y1  - 2013/10/20
PY  - 2013
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11
T2  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
JF  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
JO  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
SP  - 56
EP  - 61
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7993
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11
AB  - Ecological integrity of a peri-urban river system facing a plethora of anthropogenic pressures was assessed through multivariate analysis of physicochemical parameters correlated to the resident macroinvertebrate community. Monthly collection of macroinvertebrates and concurrent measurement of the physical and chemical parameters (dissolved oxygen concentration, percentage saturation of oxygen, pH, temperature, electrical conductivity and salinity) of water was done over a period of 5 months from November 2011- March 2012 in six sites across the Chiraura River. Macroinvertebrates were collected using the kick-net sampling technique, identified up to family level and enumerated at each site. Biodiversity indices were calculated for each site following the South African Scoring System version 5 (SASS5). A total of 1209 macroinvertebrates belonging to 49 families and11 orders were recorded in the Chiraura River. Most pollution sensitive taxa were found at sites 3 and 4 and the most pollution tolerant families were found at sites 1, 5 and 6. Sites4 and 5 of Chiraura River were the least polluted. Unsustainable anthropogenic activities, including industrial, domestic and urban agricultural activities affects water quality of Chiraura River. This is mainly through run-off and increased effluent to the river making routine water quality monitoring imperative.
VL  - 2
IS  - 5
ER  -

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Author Information

Beaven Utete

Chinhoyi University of Technology Department of Wildlife and Safari Management P. Bag 7724, Chinhoyi
Rutendo Maria Kunhe

Chinhoyi University of Technology Department of Wildlife and Safari Management P. Bag 7724, Chinhoyi

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Beaven Utete, Rutendo Maria Kunhe. (2013). Ecological Integrity of a Peri-Urban River System, Chiraura River in Zimbabwe. Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science, 2(5), 56-61. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11

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ACS Style

Beaven Utete; Rutendo Maria Kunhe. Ecological Integrity of a Peri-Urban River System, Chiraura River in Zimbabwe. J. Water Resour. Ocean Sci. 2013, 2(5), 56-61. doi: 10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11

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AMA Style

Beaven Utete, Rutendo Maria Kunhe. Ecological Integrity of a Peri-Urban River System, Chiraura River in Zimbabwe. J Water Resour Ocean Sci. 2013;2(5):56-61. doi: 10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11,
  author = {Beaven Utete and Rutendo Maria Kunhe},
  title = {Ecological Integrity of a Peri-Urban River System, Chiraura River in Zimbabwe},
  journal = {Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science},
  volume = {2},
  number = {5},
  pages = {56-61},
  doi = {10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wros.20130205.11},
  abstract = {Ecological integrity of a peri-urban river system facing a plethora of anthropogenic pressures was assessed through multivariate analysis of physicochemical parameters correlated to the resident macroinvertebrate community. Monthly collection of macroinvertebrates and concurrent measurement of the physical and chemical parameters (dissolved oxygen concentration, percentage saturation of oxygen, pH, temperature, electrical conductivity and salinity) of water was done over a period of 5 months from November 2011- March 2012 in six sites across the Chiraura River. Macroinvertebrates were collected using the kick-net sampling technique, identified up to family level and enumerated at each site. Biodiversity indices were calculated for each site following the South African Scoring System version 5 (SASS5). A total of 1209 macroinvertebrates belonging to 49 families and11 orders were recorded in the Chiraura River. Most pollution sensitive taxa were found at sites 3 and 4 and the most pollution tolerant families were found at sites 1, 5 and 6. Sites4 and 5 of Chiraura River were the least polluted. Unsustainable anthropogenic activities, including industrial, domestic and urban agricultural activities affects water quality of Chiraura River. This is mainly through run-off and increased effluent to the river making routine water quality monitoring imperative.},
 year = {2013}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Ecological Integrity of a Peri-Urban River System, Chiraura River in Zimbabwe
AU  - Beaven Utete
AU  - Rutendo Maria Kunhe
Y1  - 2013/10/20
PY  - 2013
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11
T2  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
JF  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
JO  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
SP  - 56
EP  - 61
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7993
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20130205.11
AB  - Ecological integrity of a peri-urban river system facing a plethora of anthropogenic pressures was assessed through multivariate analysis of physicochemical parameters correlated to the resident macroinvertebrate community. Monthly collection of macroinvertebrates and concurrent measurement of the physical and chemical parameters (dissolved oxygen concentration, percentage saturation of oxygen, pH, temperature, electrical conductivity and salinity) of water was done over a period of 5 months from November 2011- March 2012 in six sites across the Chiraura River. Macroinvertebrates were collected using the kick-net sampling technique, identified up to family level and enumerated at each site. Biodiversity indices were calculated for each site following the South African Scoring System version 5 (SASS5). A total of 1209 macroinvertebrates belonging to 49 families and11 orders were recorded in the Chiraura River. Most pollution sensitive taxa were found at sites 3 and 4 and the most pollution tolerant families were found at sites 1, 5 and 6. Sites4 and 5 of Chiraura River were the least polluted. Unsustainable anthropogenic activities, including industrial, domestic and urban agricultural activities affects water quality of Chiraura River. This is mainly through run-off and increased effluent to the river making routine water quality monitoring imperative.
VL  - 2
IS  - 5
ER  -

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