2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference
March 13 - 15, 2022
5/23/2019 | 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM | TRAIT-BASED RESPONSE IN AN EFFLUENT-IMPACTED RIVER, EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA | 150 DEF
TRAIT-BASED RESPONSE IN AN EFFLUENT-IMPACTED RIVER, EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA
Macroinvertebrate traits are now widely used to investigate the ecological conditions of streams. In this study traits were analysed with a view to identifying signature traits for effluent pollution in an urban river in South Africa. Macroinvertebrates were sampled seasonally over a period of three years (August 2009 – September 2012) from one upstream control site (Site 1) and three downstream sites (Sites 2, 3 and 4). Site 2 was impacted by pollution sources including runoff from road networks. Site 3 was impacted by wastewater effluent discharges as well as diffuses pollution sources, while Site 4 was about 2.5 km downstream of Site 3. Selected traits: mobility, body size, body shape, respiration biotope preference, preferred food and feeding habit were analysed. Swimmers and burrowers which were mostly predators were associated with the downstream sites. The three downstream sites were also characterised by aerial breathers. Macroinvertebrates that use gills and tegument for respiration and collector-gatherers, and crawlers decreased significantly at the downstream impacted sites. Overall, the signature traits included, air-breathing, swimming, filter feeding and crawling, all of which proved to prove selective response to pollution in the studied river system.
- Functional Ecology
- Water Quality
- Monitoring
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Presenters/Authors
Oghenekaro Nelson Odume
(), Rhodes University, South Africa, odume.nelson@gmail.com;
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