Pond Life in Focus: How Environment Shapes Zooplankton in Bertoua | InformativeBD

Gwladys Joelle Mogue Kamdem,  Serge Hubert Zébazé Togouet,  Beatrix Elisabeth Beisner,  Joseph Guy Nziéleu Tchapgnouo,  Janvier Kengne Tenkeu, and Abraham Fomena,  from the institute of Cameroon.  wrote a Research article about, Pond Life in Focus: How Environment Shapes Zooplankton in Bertoua. entitled, Environmental conditions and zooplankton community structure in five ponds in Bertoua City, Cameroon (Central Africa). This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES. an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The degradation of surface water quality in Cameroon is linked to the absence of a functional waste management strategy. For such a strategy to be efficient, a general understanding of aquatic ecosystems will be of importance, these management strategies are particularly lacking in the eastern part of the country. To better understand and appreciate the ecosystems in the town of Bertoua, five ponds where chosen for the physicochemical and zooplankton communities analysis. Sampling on these ponds was conducted from March 2016 to April 2017 on a monthly basis. Samples for physicochemical analysis were collected at 20cm below water surface at the middle of each pond and measured were done following the recommendations of Rodier and Alpha. Biological samples were collected by filtering 50 liters of water through a 64µm mesh opening sieve. Identification was done using standard methods and identification keys. One-way ANOVA analysis was conducted to assess the potential differences between the different ponds base monthly observations. Although they are all hypereutrophic, with regard to the values of the physicochemical parameters, the five ponds showed no significant difference between them but, the structure of the zooplankton community remains very diverse. 118 zooplankton species have been identified in the five ponds. The distribution of zooplankton in these hydrosystems was mainly governed by the presence of organic matter. This study sheds light on the status and biological diversity of ponds in eastern Cameroon, data on which to rely to develop management strategies.

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Introduction

Like other aquatic environments, ponds are characterized by linked food chains that form food webs with interacting populations of fish, macroinvertebrates, zooplankton, phytoplankton and bacteria that also interact with their living environment (Dussart, 1980, Zébazé Togouet, 2000). Ponds also provide habitats for waterbirds and contribute to economic activity to the extent that they allow the development of fish farming. This harmony easily disturbed by anthropogenic activities. Despite being sites of high biodiversity, pond communities are not generally considered in conservation programs, various human activities such as urbanization, farming etc, contribute in deteriorating water quality and making them unsuitable for biodiversity maintenance. Today, ponds around the world are in crisis because of continues population growth and pressure from anthropogenic activities (Cairns, 2005). The case of East Cameroon is no exception. Indeed, with the uncontrolled settlement of populations in the watersheds and the development of industries, ponds are often used as receptacles for various domestic, agricultural and industrial effluents (Vikram Reddy, 2005), resulting in a degradation of water quality via accelerated eutrophication, especially in highly populated areas. However, since this part of Cameroon is rapidly developing, it is important to measure the impact of growing pollution on the water systems so as to establish a protection programs for the different water bodies that have not yet been affected by the pollution and a better restoration program for those sites that have been degraded. Very little hydrobiology work has been done so far in this forest area of the country which shows a humid tropical climate. Development in this area should be subject to systematic control to prevent environmental damage. Such conservation is of interest not only for the ecological restoration component, but also with respect to human health and ecosystem services.

Studies to determine the physicochemical and biological status of ponds in particularly understudied geographic regions are needed in order to assess their current states and to propose adequate measures of their management to local authorities. This current study focuses on urban ponds typical of the East region of Cameroon.

In other parts of the country ponds have been found to be in poor ecological states and we sought to determine whether ponds in East region of Cameroon are similarly degraded. The characterization of physicochemical and biological parameters of these hydrosystems was carried out to provide an initial assessment of ecological state that could be of use to managers in the region for the development of aquatic ecosystem conservation programs.

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Article source : Environmental conditions and zooplankton community structure in five ponds in Bertoua City, Cameroon (Central Africa)