Water hyacinth has become a major invasive plant species in Lake Victoria and while it is native to the continent of South America, human activity has introduced the greenery to Lake Victoria, where it is claimed to have negatively affected local ecosystems.
Hyacinth-choked lakeshore in 2001 at Ndere Island, Lake Victoria, KenyaBoat trapped by hyacinth (2017)
Historyedit
The exact time and place of introduction has been debated, but the plant is native to South America so it appears to have reached Lake Victoria due to human activity. As its flowers are reputed for their beauty, it might have been brought over as an ornamental for garden ponds by Belgian colonists in Rwanda and Burundi.[1] The consensus is that water hyacinth entered Lake Victoria from Rwanda via the river Kagera,[2] probably in the 1980s. The hyacinth has since spread prolifically, due to a lack of natural predators, an abundance of space, agreeable temperature conditions, and abundant nutrients, including increasing heavy metal pollution in the lake.[3][4]
Water hyacinths increased rapidly between 1992–1998, were greatly reduced by 2001, and have since resurged to a lesser degree. Management techniques include (hyacinth-eating) insect controls and manual beach cleanup efforts.[5] A water hyacinth infestation is seldom totally eradicated. Instead, it is a situation that must be continually managed.[1][6]
Developmentedit
Water hyacinth affects the Lake Victorian population in many negative ways. There are economic impacts when the weed blocks boat access. The effects on transportation and fishing are immediately felt. Where the weed is prolific, there is a general increase in several diseases, as the weed creates excellent breeding areas for mosquitoes and other insects. There are increased incidents of skin rash, cough, malaria, encephalitis, gastro-intestinal disorders, and bilharzia/schistosomiasis. Water hyacinth also interferes with water treatment, irrigation, and water supply.[3] It can smother aquatic life by deoxygenating the water, and it reduces nutrients for young fish in sheltered bays. It has blocked supply intakes for the hydroelectric plant, interrupting electrical power for entire cities. The weed also interrupts local subsistence fishing, blocking access to the beaches.[6]
There are also indications that water hyacinths can provide benefits to the Lake Victoria Region.[7] Water hyacinths have been planted in an attempt to purify eutrophicated water.[8] Once established, the plants can be harvested and used for biogas production,[9] fertilizer, and other things.[10] In 2018 two biogas digesters were installed in the village of Dunga in Kenya, with many more slated to be installed in Kenya.[11]
Referencesedit
^ abUnited Nations News Highlights, "Fighting water weeds in West Africa." Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 16Aug2000. United Nations. 19 May 2008 [1]
^ abOpande, G.O., Onyang, J.C., Wagai, S.O.. "Lake Victoria: The water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [MART.] SOLMS),its socio-economic effects, control measures and resurgence in the Winam gulf." Limnologica 34. 1-2 May2004 105-109.
^Journal of Industrial Pollution Control, "Water Hyacinth and Duckweed as indicators of heavy metal pollution in River Asa." 29(2)(2013) pp 155-162 [2]
^Kateregga, Eseza and Thomas Sterner. 2007. Indicators for an invasive species: Water hyacinths. Ecological Indicators 7(2):362-370.
^ abWorld Bank. 1996. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda - Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project. World Development Sources, WDS 1996. Washington, DC: World Bank.
^V.A. Valk, MSc thesis, Geoscience and Engineering, Delft University of Technology "Valorization of water hyacinth as a renewable source of animal feed and biogas: a business case for Lake Victoria, Kenya" 2015-02-02 [3]
^Huan Jing Ke Xue. " Purification effects of large-area planting water hyacinth on water environment of Zhushan Bay, Lake Taihu" 2011 May;32(5):1299-305.[4]
^International Journal of Engineering and Technology "Feasibility Study of Biogas Production from Water Hyacinth A Case of Lake Chivero – Harare, Zimbabwe" Volume 3 No. 2, February, 2013 [5]
^Waste Manag Res "Production of Feed and Fertilizer From Water Hyacinth Plants in the Tropics" January 1994 vol. 12 no. 1 3-11.[6]
^Kenya warms to the water hyacinth as wonder source of biofuel, theguardian.com, 27 August 2019
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December 17, 2023
water, hyacinth, lake, victoria, water, hyacinth, become, major, invasive, plant, species, lake, victoria, while, native, continent, south, america, human, activity, introduced, greenery, lake, victoria, where, claimed, have, negatively, affected, local, ecosy. Water hyacinth has become a major invasive plant species in Lake Victoria and while it is native to the continent of South America human activity has introduced the greenery to Lake Victoria where it is claimed to have negatively affected local ecosystems Hyacinth choked lakeshore in 2001 at Ndere Island Lake Victoria KenyaBoat trapped by hyacinth 2017 History editThe exact time and place of introduction has been debated but the plant is native to South America so it appears to have reached Lake Victoria due to human activity As its flowers are reputed for their beauty it might have been brought over as an ornamental for garden ponds by Belgian colonists in Rwanda and Burundi 1 The consensus is that water hyacinth entered Lake Victoria from Rwanda via the river Kagera 2 probably in the 1980s The hyacinth has since spread prolifically due to a lack of natural predators an abundance of space agreeable temperature conditions and abundant nutrients including increasing heavy metal pollution in the lake 3 4 Water hyacinths increased rapidly between 1992 1998 were greatly reduced by 2001 and have since resurged to a lesser degree Management techniques include hyacinth eating insect controls and manual beach cleanup efforts 5 A water hyacinth infestation is seldom totally eradicated Instead it is a situation that must be continually managed 1 6 Development editWater hyacinth affects the Lake Victorian population in many negative ways There are economic impacts when the weed blocks boat access The effects on transportation and fishing are immediately felt Where the weed is prolific there is a general increase in several diseases as the weed creates excellent breeding areas for mosquitoes and other insects There are increased incidents of skin rash cough malaria encephalitis gastro intestinal disorders and bilharzia schistosomiasis Water hyacinth also interferes with water treatment irrigation and water supply 3 It can smother aquatic life by deoxygenating the water and it reduces nutrients for young fish in sheltered bays It has blocked supply intakes for the hydroelectric plant interrupting electrical power for entire cities The weed also interrupts local subsistence fishing blocking access to the beaches 6 There are also indications that water hyacinths can provide benefits to the Lake Victoria Region 7 Water hyacinths have been planted in an attempt to purify eutrophicated water 8 Once established the plants can be harvested and used for biogas production 9 fertilizer and other things 10 In 2018 two biogas digesters were installed in the village of Dunga in Kenya with many more slated to be installed in Kenya 11 References edit a b United Nations News Highlights Fighting water weeds in West Africa Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 16Aug2000 United Nations 19 May 2008 1 Ambrose Philippa Water hyacinth chokes lake Victoria Marine Pollution Bulletin 34 6Jun1997 364 29Apr2008 a b Opande G O Onyang J C Wagai S O Lake Victoria The water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes MART SOLMS its socio economic effects control measures and resurgence in the Winam gulf Limnologica 34 1 2 May2004 105 109 Journal of Industrial Pollution Control Water Hyacinth and Duckweed as indicators of heavy metal pollution in River Asa 29 2 2013 pp 155 162 2 Kateregga Eseza and Thomas Sterner 2007 Indicators for an invasive species Water hyacinths Ecological Indicators 7 2 362 370 a b World Bank 1996 Kenya Tanzania Uganda Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project World Development Sources WDS 1996 Washington DC World Bank V A Valk MSc thesis Geoscience and Engineering Delft University of Technology Valorization of water hyacinth as a renewable source of animal feed and biogas a business case for Lake Victoria Kenya 2015 02 02 3 Huan Jing Ke Xue Purification effects of large area planting water hyacinth on water environment of Zhushan Bay Lake Taihu 2011 May 32 5 1299 305 4 International Journal of Engineering and Technology Feasibility Study of Biogas Production from Water Hyacinth A Case of Lake Chivero Harare Zimbabwe Volume 3 No 2 February 2013 5 Waste Manag Res Production of Feed and Fertilizer From Water Hyacinth Plants in the Tropics January 1994 vol 12 no 1 3 11 6 Kenya warms to the water hyacinth as wonder source of biofuel theguardian com 27 August 2019 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Water hyacinth Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Water hyacinth in Lake Victoria amp oldid 1174284008, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
