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The use of stable carbon isotopes as tracers of ecosystem functioning in contrasting wetland ecosystems of Lake Victoria, Kenya
Gichuki, J.; Triest, L.; Dehairs, F. (2001). The use of stable carbon isotopes as tracers of ecosystem functioning in contrasting wetland ecosystems of Lake Victoria, Kenya. Hydrobiologia 458(1-3): 91-97. dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1013188229590
In: Hydrobiologia. Springer: The Hague. ISSN 0018-8158; e-ISSN 1573-5117, more
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
Keywords
    Analysis > Sediment analysis
    Chemical elements > Nonmetals > Carbon
    Ecosystems
    Flora > Aquatic organisms > Aquatic plants
    Isotopes
    Isotopes > Carbon isotopes
    Isotopes > Carbon isotopes > Carbon 13
    Sediments
    Water bodies > Inland waters > Lakes
    Water bodies > Inland waters > Rivers
    Water bodies > Inland waters > Wetlands
    Cyperus papyrus; Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms [WoRMS]
    Africa, Victoria L. [Marine Regions]; Kenya [Marine Regions]; Kenya, Victoria L. [Marine Regions]; Tanzania, Victoria L. [Marine Regions]; Uganda, Victoria L. [Marine Regions]
    Fresh water
Author keywords
    stable carbon isotopes; tracers; ecosystem functioning; Lake Victoria
Authors  Top 
  • Gichuki, J.
  • Triest, L., more
  • Dehairs, F., more
Abstract
    Aquatic macrophytes and sediments from two contrasting wetland ecosystems of Lake Victoria, Kenya (Lower Sondu Miriu and Kibos systems) were analyzed for their stable carbon isotopic composition in order to observe patterns in system functioning in these two ecosystems. The aquatic macrophytes had carbon isotope ratios ranging from –8.92 to –29.18 per mil (parts per thousand difference from the reference). For the dominant macrophytes, we observed most 13C enriched values for Cyperus papyrus and most 13C depleted values for Eichhornia crassipes. On transects from the river to the lake, Kibos sediments maintained lower carbon isotope signatures compared to the Lower Sondu Miriu sediments. The possible causes of the observed variation in the 13C signatures from sediments and aquatic macrophytes in the two-wetland ecosystems are outlined.
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