The Diversity of algae in the major aquatic systems of the Victoria and Kyoga Lake basin and its implications on ecosystem functioning
Algae are microscopic plants in aquatic environments, and inc}ude blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria), green algae (Chlorophytes) diatoms (Bacillariohytes), Cryptophytes and Chrysophytes. Several of these groups co-exist but some may be absent due to environmental limitations existing in a specific water body. Algae are important in the aquatic food chains because algal primary production provi~es the basis for which the aquatic food linkages culminating in the fish production. Several groups of algae in communal or symbiotic association with bacteria mediate many biogeochemical processes, which characterise aquatic habitats, such as nitrogen, carbon, iron, sulphur recycling and consumption of oxygen. However, excess algal production in aquatic ecosystems can lead to deleterious effects, including deterioration in the water quality due to production of phycotoxins, reduced photosynthetic rates due to self-shadding and high BOD due to algal biomass collapse. The health of Lake Victoria is directly related to human impacts on the fisheries, wetland buffers and water quality
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| Format: | book_section biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
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National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI)
2000
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| Subjects: | Education, Fisheries, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/34470 |
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