Species inventory and the local uses of the plants and fishes of the Lower Sondu Miriu wetland of Lake Victoria, Kenya

Gichuki, J.; Dahdouh-Guebas, F.; Mugo, J.; Rabuor, C.O.; Triest, L.; Dehairs, F.A.

doi:/10.1023/A:1013192330498

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Species inventory and the local uses of the plants and fishes of the Lower Sondu Miriu wetland of Lake Victoria, Kenya

Gichuki, J.; Dahdouh-Guebas, F.; Mugo, J.; Rabuor, C.O.; Triest, L.; Dehairs, F.A. (2001). Species inventory and the local uses of the plants and fishes of the Lower Sondu Miriu wetland of Lake Victoria, Kenya. Hydrobiologia 458(1-3): 99-106. dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1013192330498

In: Hydrobiologia. Springer: The Hague. ISSN 0018-8158; e-ISSN 1573-5117

Available in	Authors
VLIZ: Open Marine Archive 97838 [ download pdf ]

Keywords

Africa, Victoria L.
Aquatic organisms > Freshwater organisms > Fish > Freshwater fish
Check lists
Collections > Data collections
Composition > Community composition
Fences
Fences
Fishing > Artisanal fishing
Flora
Flora > Aquatic organisms > Aquatic plants
Kenya
Kenya, Victoria L.
Products > Fishery products
Resource management > Resource utilization
Resource utilization
Resources > Natural resources > Living resources > Fishery resources
Restraint of animals > Fencing > Barriers > Fences
Sampling > Biological sampling
Structures > Hydraulic structures > Barrages > Weirs
Surveys
Tanzania, Victoria L.
Taxa > Species > Dominant species
Uganda, Victoria L.
Water bodies > Inland waters > Lakes
Water bodies > Inland waters > Wetlands
Cyperus papyrus; Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms [WoRMS]; Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. [WoRMS]
Kenya [Marine Regions]; Victoria, Lake [Marine Regions]; Victoria, Lake [Marine Regions]; Victoria, Lake [Marine Regions]; Victoria, Lake [Marine Regions]
Fresh water

Author keywords

Cyperus papyrus; socio-economic benefits; sustainable use

Authors		Top
Gichuki, J. Dahdouh-Guebas, F., more Mugo, J.	Rabuor, C.O. Triest, L. Dehairs, F.A.

Abstract

This investigation has surveyed the plants and fishes of the Lower Sondu Miriu wetland and described their use by adjacent communities. Poverty is endemic in the area. Fish samples were caught by beach seines, fence, weir traps, baskets, spears and gill-nets. A schedule (structured/openended) was used to discover the major local uses of wetland plants. A total of 37 species of aquatic plants were identified. The dominants were Cyperus papyrus L. (Papyrus), Eichhornia crassipes Mart. Solms-Laubach (Water hyacinth),Vossia cuspidata Roxb. (Hippo grass) and Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex. Steud. (Reeds) in a descending order of dominance. The invasion of the wetland by Water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes, which has lead to sudden disappearance of submerged macrophytes at the swamp-lake interface zone, is reported here for the first time. Twelve families consisting of 28 species of fish were identified, the bulk of which consisted of the indigenous fish species of Lake Victoria. A dependence on the wetland plants for the supply of building material and cooking fuel is highlighted. Traditional use is recommended as opposed to commercial-scale enterprise and industry based on swamp plants, since subsistence utilization is compatible with sustainable utilization.

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