Simulation of pollution buffering capacity of wetlands fringing the Lake Victoria.
Lake Victoria has undergone substantial and most negative changes, especially over the last 30 years. One of the driving factors is nutrient enrichment from human activities in the catchment, which is causing eutrophication. This has been associated with, among others, the rapid proliferation of water hyacinth, alga blooms, and with general disruption of the lake ecosystem. Most of pollution to the lake flow via the natural wetlands. In order to understand how wetlands function within the Lake Victoria ecosystem a wetland model has been developed. The main objective of the model is to establish and simulate the buffering processes and capacity of individual wetlands (that is, their ability to absorb sediments, nutrients and pollutants) within the Lake Victoria basin. It was found that in both seasonal and permanent swamp there is a net export of organic matter produced in the wetlands. Most of the inorganic phosphorous were retained in the wetlands (60% to 90% removal) while there was a negative retention of nitrates probably due to the export of organic matter which associate very much with nitrates.
Mwanuzi
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University of Dar Es Salaam, Box 35131, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. fmwanuzi@hotmail.com
Aalderink
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Mdamo
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D017753:Ecosystem; D005068:Eutrophication; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D013636:Tanzania; D014881:Water Supply
D009573:Nitrites; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010758:Phosphorus