Authors: Tongayi Mwedzi Taurai Bere Tinotenda Mangadze
Publish Date: 2016/02/27
Volume: 23, Issue: 11, Pages: 11181-11192
Abstract
The study evaluated the response of macroinvertebrate assemblages to changes in water quality in different landuse settings in Manyame catchment Zimbabwe Four landuse categories were identified forested commercial farming communal farming Great Dyke mining GDM and urban areas Macroinvertebrate community structure and physicochemical variables data were collected in two seasons from 41 sites following standard methods Although not environmentally threatening urban and GDM areas were characterised by higher conductivity total dissolved solids salinity magnesium and hardness Chlorides total phosphates total nitrogen calcium potassium and sodium were significantly highest in urban sites whilst dissolved oxygen DO was significantly higher in the forested commercial faming and GDM sites Macroinvertebrate communities followed the observed changes in water quality Macroinvertebrates in urban sites indicated severe pollution eg Chironomidae whilst those in forested commercial farming sites and GDM sites indicated relatively clean water eg Notonemouridae Forested watersheds together with good farm management practices are important in mitigating impacts of urbanisation and agriculture Strategies that reduce oxygendepleting substances must be devised to protect the health of Zimbabwean streams The study affirms the wider applicability of the South African Scoring System in different land uses
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