Human Impact Induces Shifts in Trophic Composition and Diversity of Consumer Communities in Small Freshwater Ecosystems

Abstract

The current global rates of human impact intensification in freshwater ecosystems and their surroundings have caused an alarming loss of freshwater biodiversity and functioning across multiple trophic levels. Particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures are small water bodies (SWB). However, the majority of the evidence is limited to a single community, especially macroinvertebrates, thus leaving us uncertain about cross-community multitrophic responses of freshwater

SIZE COMPOSITION, GROWTH PATTERN AND CONDITION FACTOR OF NILE TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus, 1758) FROM WASAI RESERVOIR, KANO STATE – NIGERIA

“…The differences in LWR parameters of O. niloticus observed in this study may be due to food supply, food variant as well as the water condition (Siddique et al, 2019). LWR parameters affected by availability of food, seasonal changes, health condition among others as well as biological and environmental factors (Getso, 2017;Laurat et al, 2019;Taheri Mirghaed et al, 2021;Buzhdygan, et al, 2022). The condition factor (K) gives information on the physiological condition of fish in relation to its welfare.…”

“…The finding of this research also contradict with the finding of (Getso et al, 2017) who reported K value range between 0.52-1.00 in O. niloticus of Wudil river, Kano. Condition factor is influenced by both biotic and abiotic environmental conditions and can be used as an index to assess the status of the aquatic ecosystem in which the fish live (Anene, 2005;Taheri Mirghaed et al, 2021;Buzhdygan et al, 2022). Change in condition factor of fishes could be used to interpret various biological factors such as fatness, food availability, reproductive activities and environmental health (Dadzie et al, 2000;Laurat et al, 2019).…”

“…Change in condition factor of fishes could be used to interpret various biological factors such as fatness, food availability, reproductive activities and environmental health (Dadzie et al, 2000;Laurat et al, 2019). Fishes with low factor values are presumably believed to have suffered insufficient nutrition or adverse physical environmental conditions (Getso, 2017;Laurat et al, 2019;Buzhdygan, et al, 2022). Increase in K values sometimes suggests gonadal development and accumulation of fat (Ahmad et al, 2015;Amin et al, 2015).…”

“…Freshwater ecosystems have been used for the study of factors controlling the richness and distribution of aquatic organisms including fish (Esenowo and Ugwumba, 2010;Alho, et al, 2015). The present global rates of human impact intensification in freshwater ecosystems and their surroundings have triggered an alarming loss of freshwater biodiversity and functioning across multiple trophic levels (Buzhdygan et al, 2022). This might be due to certain reasons, pointed out such as fish habitat and environmental degradation, inadequate fish assemblages, inefficient harvesting systems, stakeholders' conflicts, and insufficient institutional and political recognition (Miranda, 2007;Buzhdygan, et al, 2022).…”

“…The present global rates of human impact intensification in freshwater ecosystems and their surroundings have triggered an alarming loss of freshwater biodiversity and functioning across multiple trophic levels (Buzhdygan et al, 2022). This might be due to certain reasons, pointed out such as fish habitat and environmental degradation, inadequate fish assemblages, inefficient harvesting systems, stakeholders' conflicts, and insufficient institutional and political recognition (Miranda, 2007;Buzhdygan, et al, 2022). Other factors could be lack of proper species stocking, over fishing and improper reservoir management (Phan et al, 2021).…”