TITLE:
Ecological Devastation in Lake Victoria: Part A: Thermal Structure and Anoxia
AUTHORS:
Moshe Gophen
KEYWORDS:
Lake Victoria, Kenya, Nile Perch, Anoxia, Thermal Stability
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ecology,
Vol.5 No.7,
July
7,
2015
ABSTRACT: Lake
Victoria is the second (excl. Caspian Sea) largest lake in the world by surface
area and 7th by Volume. The lake and catchment territories are
shared between three countries, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. A research was
carried out during 1990-1992 exploring the changes of the thermo-chemical structure
occurred after the invasion of Nile Perch. Results of changes of physico-chemical
(Temperature, DO and pH) conditions are summarized in this paper. The anoxic
conditions by space and time were enhanced. Enhancement of pollutant supply
from anthropogenic developments of terrestrial sources and atmospheric dust
deposition accompanied by the deleterious effects of the Nile Perch invasion
caused enhancement of anoxia in the lake in space and time. The combination of
bottom-up nutrient supply and strong mixing conditions, expressed as low RTR
values accelerate phytoplankton growth rate and production. The surplus of
organic matter originated from algal biomass, enhanced anoxia.