Download Determination of emergence of new water weed in Homabay shores

Determination of emergence of
new water weed in Homabay
shores of Lake Victoria
Invasive alien species are one of the key
pressures on world’s biodiversity: altering
ecosystem services and processes, reducing
native species abundance and richness, and
decreasing genetic diversity of ecosystems
(Rands et al. 2010, Vila et al. 2011, Hejda et
al. 2009).
The study was carried out in Homabay, Lake
Victoria. It aimed at identifying the new weed
that has struck the shoreline of the lake
blocking navigation of the boats. Therefore, a
weed sample was collected for analysis of N, P,
K, Na, Ca and Mg.
Water sampling was done at various weed
sampling points and analyzed to find out the
accumulated levels of N, P, K Na, Ca and Mg of
which the results were related to those found
from analysis of the water weed.
This was to find out the most consumed
chemical nutrient by the new water weed.
A sample of the weed was taken to Nairobi
Museums for identification, classification
and display.
Key Words: Invasive alien species,
native species, biodiversity, weed,
classification