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Ecosystem and Biodiversity in the Nile Basin “Case Study: Lake Nasser”
Abstract
The Nile Basin consists of a number of ecological zones between two extreme opposites: the rainforest in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Sahara desert, which receives almost no rain. Some regions receive most or exclusively all of their water from the Nile, while others receive most of the water from rain, or from a combination of water sources. Still, it is the water in the Nile which links the otherwise different ecological zones together. It is the rains in the DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia which provide the Nile with water so the river can flow and give life to barren and desert areas in Sudan and Egypt. Some places become drier and experience more droughts, whereas others are more regularly flooded or experience more fluctuations in precipitation patterns. These are overall climatic premises, but there are also human factors. The richness of species depends partly on climate variables such as temperature and rainfall patterns but also on population pressure and human activities and their interaction with the environment.
... Studies of reptiles in Sudan is limited and lacking from some reason e.g. may not receive adequate attention or resources, limited resource capacity, conservation concerns with emphasis to sufficient research and data etc. Previous herpetofauna survey in the Sudan was conducted by Nimir (1983) who reported about 90 species of reptiles in Sudan and similarly recorded by (Hassan et al., 2015;Abdel-Meguid, 2017). Suliman (2006) reported that Sudan has 114 reptilian species, at least 24 of which are poisonous snakes with medical importance. ...
Birds are significant members of many ecosystems. They play a vital role in controlling pests, acting as pollinators, and maintaining ecology while reptiles are important both as predator and prey species. This study was conducted in Taya - Basonda - Al galabat National Park in March and December 2019, Gedaref state - Sudan. It aims to identify reptiles and birds and determine their diversity and richness in Taya - Basonda - Al galabat National Park.The direct count method and inventory were used to count birds and reptiles through observations across the park in March and December. Identification tools were used. The result revealed that, Seventy-two birds and sixteen reptiles species belonging to 35 and 9 families respectively were observed and identified out of 2915 and 1025 bird’s individuals in December and March respectively, and 290 and 155 reptile’s individuals in December and March respectively. The highest richness of birds was recorded in December (69 species) while in March (44 species), and highest number of reptiles recorded in December (16 species) compared to 11 species in March. The highest Shannon diversity index (H’) was reported in Taya (3.23) in March compared to Basonda and Al galabat. The park faces major threats such as human settlement, expansion of agricultural schemes, hunting, fishing, grazing of livestock and fire. The study recommended preservation of natural habitat for birds in particular and wildlife in general by stopping all human activities in the park and setting laws and firm enforcement against violators.
... Awash River is one of the major rivers in Ethiopia that flows from the central highlands to the Northern of the Rift Valley ending in Lake Abbe, which borders Djibouti, East Africa (Billi et al., 2015;FAO & IHE Delft, 2020). It is one of the most important rivers in Ethiopia with multiple purposes and is used for agriculture, hydroelectric power generation, domestic uses, and bathing, and supports a wide range of fauna including fish, birds, and cattle (Abdel-Meguid, 2016;Englmaier et al., 2020;Kebede et al., 2020). However, the river is impacted by industrial, urban, and agricultural pollutants as it is situated in a basin where major commercial and industrial centers such as Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa are located (Shawul & Chakma, 2019;Shishaye & Asfaw, 2020). ...
Research on the Awash River focused on the upper section, while the middle and lower regions received little attention. Thus, the goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic activities on the upper and middle Awash River. The study took place in nine sampling locations in dry and wet seasons from September 2021 to April 2022 using a multi-habitat sampling approach. We used macroinvertebrate metrics, environmental variables, and multivariate analysis to evaluate ecological health. The highest concentrations of NO3, soluble reactive phosphorus, and total phosphorus (0.50–0.93 mg L⁻¹) were recorded at the river-mouth of the upper Awash, while the locations below Metehara had the lowest levels of dissolved oxygen (1.81–2.33 mg L⁻¹). Redundancy analysis indicated that dissolved oxygen, NH3, temperature, NO2, pH, TSS, NO3, and TDS influenced macroinvertebrate distribution. The presence of the sensitive groups Caenidae, Hydropsychidae, Heptageniidae, and Aeshnidae at upstream sites indicated better ecological conditions. The middle and downstream sites supported moderately tolerant and tolerant taxa demonstrating water quality impairment. The lowest Ethiopian biotic score was recorded at the river-mouth of the upper Awash. The study sites below Metehara demonstrated severe ecological impairment since highly tolerant taxa were abundant and had strong correlations with temperature, TSS, and TDS levels. Pollutants from agricultural farms and domestic and industrial wastes from Addis Ababa, Metehara, and Merti towns most likely affect the impaired sites. This study demonstrated that the middle Awash experienced substantial ecological deterioration, indicating the need for restoration works to fit the water for socio-economic development.
... Lake Victoria is also the main source of the White Nile River (at the Napoleon Gulf, Jinja in Uganda, see Fig. 1), arguably the longest river in the world, flowing through Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt, through Khartoum and Cairo, discharging into the Mediterranean Sea (Sayer et al., 2018). It has a vital role in the economies and ecologies along its flow, including supplying water to the vast Sudd wetlands and transporting rich sediment supporting agriculture downstream (Abdel-Meguid, 2016;Sayer et al., 2018). The White Nile annual sediment load is estimated at 7000000 tons, carried by 18 km3 water although not all sediment and water are from Lake Victoria (Padoan et al., 2011). ...
Pharmaceutical residues in the aquatic environment are an emerging issue of global concern because of their
effects on ecosystems including; antibacterial resistance development and endocrine disruption. Lake Victoria is
the largest freshwater lake in Africa, and the second largest lake in the world. It is also the main source of the
White Nile River, arguably the longest river in the world, flowing through South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia and
Egypt, discharging into the Mediterranean Sea. However, its ecology is threatened by rapid industrialisation,
urbanization, and increased agricultural activities, which have led to increased pollution via polluted runoffs. In
this study, the occurrence of twenty-five pharmaceutical compounds (14 antibiotics, four anti-epileptic and
antidepressant drugs, three analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs, three beta-blockers, and one lipid regulator)
was studied in 55 sediment samples obtained from the Ugandan sector of Lake Victoria, and their ecotoxic risk
assessed. All the target compounds were quantifiable with levofloxacin (2–120 ng g 1 dm; dry mass), ciprofloxacin
(3–130 ng g 1 dm) enoxacin (9–75 ng g 1 dm), ibuprofen (6–50 ng g 1 dm), metoprolol (1–92 ng g 1
dm) and propranolol (1–52 ng g 1 dm) being predominant. Murchison Bay, being the chief recipient of sewage
effluents, municipal and industrial waste from Kampala city and its suburbs, had the highest levels. Ecotoxic risk
assessment revealed that ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, sulfamethazine, oxytetracycline, tetracycline, erythromycin, norfloxacin, ibuprofen, diclofenac, carbamazepine, atenolol, and metoprolol posed
high toxic risks to sediment-dwelling organisms (risk quotients, RQ >1). This is the first study reporting concentrations
and ecotoxic risks of pharmaceuticals in sediments of Lake Victoria, Uganda, and the whole of East
Africa. Detection, identification and quantification of pharmaceuticals in Lake Victoria sediments is essential for
gaining knowledge on their occurrence and fate which can ultimately be used to assist in constructing relevant
policy and management recommendations.
... Lake Victoria is also the main source of the White Nile River (at the Napoleon Gulf, Jinja in Uganda, see Fig. 1), arguably the longest river in the world, flowing through Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt, through Khartoum and Cairo, discharging into the Mediterranean Sea (Sayer et al., 2018). It has a vital role in the economies and ecologies along its flow, including supplying water to the vast Sudd wetlands and transporting rich sediment supporting agriculture downstream (Abdel-Meguid, 2016;Sayer et al., 2018). The White Nile annual sediment load is estimated at 7000000 tons, carried by 18 km3 water although not all sediment and water are from Lake Victoria (Padoan et al., 2011). ...
... FishB ase.se), the intense human activities, overexploitation, and climate change can create a great impact on the fish community structure and biodiversity [1] which would affect the validity of these lists. At the beginning of the twentieth century, a total of 82 fish species were recorded in the River Nile [28] while in 1964, a total of 57 freshwater species belonged to 16 families were recorded in River Nile and Lake Nasser [29]. After nearly four decades, the diversity of fishes declined and some species became limited to certain areas of Lake Nasser, while others have disappeared completely [30]. ...
The current study represents the first molecular characterization of freshwater fish species in Egypt from two major fish resources; the River Nile and Lake Nasser. A total of 160 DNA barcodes using a 655-bp-long fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were generated from 37 species belonging to 32 genera that represent 15 families from nine orders. The studied species were identified using different molecular-based identification approaches, in addition to the morphological identification, including neighbor-joining (NJ) trees, Barcode Index Number, and Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD). The average genetic divergence based on the Kimura two-parameter model (K2P) within orders, families, genera, and species were 0.175, 0.067, 0.02, and 0.008, respectively. The minimum and maximum K2P distance-based genetic divergences were 0.0 and 0.154, respectively. Nucleotide diversity (π) varied among families and ranged between 0.0% for families Malapteruridae, Auchenoglanididae, Schilbeidae, Anguillidae, Centropomidae and Tetraodontidae and 17% for family Cyprinidae. The current study cautions against the lack of species coverage at public databases which limits the accurate identification of newly surveyed species and recommends that multiple methods are encouraged for accurate species identification. The findings of the current study also support that COI barcode enabled effective fish species identification in River Nile and Lake Nasser. Moreover, the results of the current study will establish a comprehensive DNA barcode library for freshwater fishes along the River Nile in Egypt. Egyptian freshwater fish DNA barcodes will contribute substantially to future efforts in monitoring, conservation, and management of fisheries in Egypt.
Purpose
This study aims to develop an innovative and comprehensive framework to address water-related challenges faced by communities located in urban settlements in the area of Greater Cairo. It is commonly accepted that such global challenges that border issues of resilience, community development, social equity and inclusive growth, call for a collaboration of disciplines. Such collaboration allows for the identification of synergies in ways that can enlighten and enrich the space of potential solutions and create pathways towards robust solutions.
Design/methodology/approach
The research process has been participatory, and it involved, apart from site interviews, engagement via a photographic exhibition, during an outreach and engagement event, of the researched sites in one of the academic institutions of the authors. A total of 12 women were interviewed and the expert’s workshop was attended by 12 experts.
Findings
Social innovation can promote agile processes to prototyping services, involving multiple sectors and stakeholders through open ecosystems. For urban settlements undergoing rapid expansion, social innovation can help communities and governments to build resilience in the face of resource gaps – often making use of advancements in technology and improvements from other disciplines (Horgan and Dimitrijevic, 2019). For the unplanned urban areas around Greater Cairo, input from different knowledge areas can offer valuable contributions; in terms of the project and the study that we report on in this paper, the contributing areas included architecture and urban planning, as well as women-led entrepreneurship targeting economic growth, social and community impacts.
Originality/value
In this paper, we demonstrate the significance of a transdisciplinary framework based on social innovation, for the study of women-led entrepreneurship as a response to water-based challenges within an urban settlement. The creation of such a framework can be a significant contribution to conceptualise, examine and respond to “wicked challenges” of urban sustainability. This paper also believes that the readership of the journal will be subsequently benefitting from another way to conceptualise the interplay of theoretical perspectives at the level of organisations and the individual to support the inquiry into such challenges.
A prominent feature of Lake Nasser is the presence of khors (dendritic side extensions). We studied the zooplankton of the larger khors and coastal zone of the main lake in 1996 and 1997, and found an assemblage of rotifers, cladocerans and copepods that was partly tropical, partly temperate, at relatively high biomasses. Spatial differences were weak, but the upstream khors (Toushka and Korosko) were consistently richer than the downstream khors (El-Ramla and Kalabsha), with a rather sudden transition around km 150 at El Madiq. Summer standing crops were higher than those in winter by a factor 2–3. The zooplankton of the littoral of the main channel showed the same spatial pattern as that in the khors, being more abundant in spring (average 82 300 ind m−3) than in autumn (average 72 700 ind m−3). Zooplankton dry weight increased from 4 g m−2 at khor El-Ramla to 7 g m−2 at khor Toushka. These rather high values had low variation. The number of species, diversity and evenness all showed a high degree of similarity among the khors and in the littoral of the main lake. The lake fish fauna is poor, lacking a pelagic planktivore. The predominance of medium-sized Copepoda (one calanoid, two cyclopoids) in the zooplankton suggests that fish predation is moderate. This is confirmed by the persistence of two Daphnia species at low abundance, although rather strong variations in time suggest that Cladocera suffer from summer predation by invertebrates (copepods) as well as vertebrates (mostly larval fish). Because the zooplankton is underutilised by higher trophic levels, we suggest to assess the benefits of introducing a pelagic zooplanktivorous fish.
Species composition, abundance, and phytoplankton biomass in Lake Nasser were studied during the highest flood season in autumn 1999, and were supported by some physico-chemical environmental parameters. The nutrient salts levels were low to medium, with ranges of 0.96-9.92 μg/L for nitrite, 20.14-72.14 μg/L for ammonia, complete depletion -27.69 μg/L for phosphate, and 5.83-9.00 μg/L for silicate. A total of 71 taxa were identified, of which 46% were chlorophytes, 26% bacillariophytes and 22% cyanophytes. Phytoplankton abundance and biomass values were higher in the northern stations than in the southern, but were lower than previously reported, indicating approaching from oligomesotrophic status, with,respectively, means of 108.9 x 104 unit/L and 1.18 mg/L for the main channel, and 712 x 103 unit/L and 1.229 mg/L for the khors. Bacillariophyceae was the most important group, constituted 80% and 64% of total abundance and 61% and 51% of total biomass in the main channel and khors, respectively. Cyclotella and Melosira were the most abundant genera. Cyanophyceae second in importance, forming 11.6% and 16.8% of total abundance and 34.6% and 42.9% of total biomass in the main channel and khors, respectively. Phormidium and Anabaenopsis were the most frequent genera. Highest species diversity (2.42) and evenness (0.92) were recorded in Tushka, and highest richness (2.52) was recorded in El- Ramla. The statistical regression models performed showed that the most physico-chemical factors affecting the growth of phytoplankton abundance were pH values, dissolved phosphate and reactive silicate.As a whole, a declining in phosphorus concentration, phytoplankton abundance and biomass and development of Cyclotella and Melosira are approching the lake oligomesotrophic status.
The Yale University Prehistoric Expedition to Nubia collected zoological specimens and archeological artifacts from Egypt and the surrounding region from 1962 to 1965. A total of 2486 herpetological specimens were collected during this time, representing 51 species and 13 families. Among the herpetological specimens is a series of 1232 Chalcides ocellatus and a recently described species of spitting cobra (Naja nubiae). Because most of the collection sites are now under Lake Nasser, most specimens represent extirpated populations. Some specimens are of taxa now considered endangered species in Egypt. Although the primary purpose of the YUPEN expedition was to preserve the rich anthropological history south of Aswan, the herpetological specimens that were preserved provide a valuable temporal snapshot into the historical ecosystems that were present in Lower Egypt.
Woodfuels are the most heavily used energy source in sub-Saharan Africa. We analyzed the ecological impacts and modes of access of five user groups (domestic consumers, gin distillers, brick manufacturers, charcoal producers, and tea companies) drawing biomass energy from natural forests in western Uganda. While domestic consumers use the most species for fuelwood (>50), their consumption is likely sustainable because they generally harvest fast-growing species from fallows on their own land or their neighbors’. Charcoal producers prefer old-growth hardwood species and are responsible for the greatest loss of natural forests. They access forests by finding landholders who, either willingly or through coercion, allow trees on their lands to be cleared. The impact of charcoal production is exacerbated by a license system that undervalues natural forests and rewards rapid harvests across large areas. The tea industry consumes mainly eucalyptus wood (Eucalyptus spp.) from corporate plantations, but they indirectly create pressure on natural forests by hiring immigrants who subsequently settle in and clear forest remnants. If such practices continue, forest remnants will soon be exhausted, leaving Kibale National Park as the last natural forest in the region. Forest remnants are a vital source of water, medicinal plants, and energy for local citizens and to protect them from over-exploitation, policy makers should target the charcoal and tea industry for reform. Support for local land management institutions governing access to fallows and successional forests will inevitably enhance the policy interventions.
The fishes recorded in the Lake are known to the River Nile system and originated from those formerly living in the Nubian part of the Nile before impoundment.
The purpose of the survey of the newly-formed Lake Nubia is to indicate a basis for a preliminary determination of a fishery potential study that may lead to a future commercial exploitation. This has been executed by correlating the water chemistry, planktonic content, fish population and bottom fauna at six stations that almost represent the whole lake. The results have shown a rich western side and a relatively poorer eastern side. Secondly, the southern part of the lake is still riverain while the northern and middle portions show typical lake conditions.
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