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Species inventory and the local uses of the plants and fishes of the Lower Sondu Miriu wetland of Lake Victoria, Kenya
Gichuki, J.; Dahdouh-Guebas, F.; Mugo, J.; Rabuor, C.O.; Triest, L.; Dehairs, F.A. (2001). Species inventory and the local uses of the plants and fishes of the Lower Sondu Miriu wetland of Lake Victoria, Kenya. Hydrobiologia 458(1-3): 99-106. dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1013192330498
In: Hydrobiologia. Springer: The Hague. ISSN 0018-8158; e-ISSN 1573-5117, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Aquatic organisms > Freshwater organisms > Fish > Freshwater fish
    Check lists
    Collections > Data collections
    Composition > Community composition
    Fences
    Fences
    Fishing > Artisanal fishing
    Flora
    Flora > Aquatic organisms > Aquatic plants
    Products > Fishery products
    Resource management > Resource utilization
    Resource utilization
    Resources > Natural resources > Living resources > Fishery resources
    Restraint of animals > Fencing > Barriers > Fences
    Sampling > Biological sampling
    Structures > Hydraulic structures > Barrages > Weirs
    Surveys
    Taxa > Species > Dominant species
    Water bodies > Inland waters > Lakes
    Water bodies > Inland waters > Wetlands
    Cyperus papyrus; Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms [WoRMS]; Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. [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
    Cyperus papyrus; socio-economic benefits; sustainable use

Authors  Top 
  • Gichuki, J.
  • Dahdouh-Guebas, F., more
  • Mugo, J.
  • Rabuor, C.O.
  • Triest, L., more
  • Dehairs, F.A., more

Abstract
    This investigation has surveyed the plants and fishes of the Lower Sondu Miriu wetland and described their use by adjacent communities. Poverty is endemic in the area. Fish samples were caught by beach seines, fence, weir traps, baskets, spears and gill-nets. A schedule (structured/openended) was used to discover the major local uses of wetland plants. A total of 37 species of aquatic plants were identified. The dominants were Cyperus papyrus L. (Papyrus), Eichhornia crassipes Mart. Solms-Laubach (Water hyacinth),Vossia cuspidata Roxb. (Hippo grass) and Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex. Steud. (Reeds) in a descending order of dominance. The invasion of the wetland by Water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes, which has lead to sudden disappearance of submerged macrophytes at the swamp-lake interface zone, is reported here for the first time. Twelve families consisting of 28 species of fish were identified, the bulk of which consisted of the indigenous fish species of Lake Victoria. A dependence on the wetland plants for the supply of building material and cooking fuel is highlighted. Traditional use is recommended as opposed to commercial-scale enterprise and industry based on swamp plants, since subsistence utilization is compatible with sustainable utilization.

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