Functional groups of Afrotropical EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) as bioindicators of semi-urban pollution in the Tsitsa River Catchment, Eastern Cape, South Africa
We examined the distribution patterns of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera functional feeding groups (EPT FFGs) in five streams that drain semi-urban landscapes in the Tsitsa River catchment, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. We undertook macroinvertebrate and physicochemical analysis...
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PeerJ Inc.
2022-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/13970.pdf |
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| author | Frank Chukwuzuoke Akamagwuna Augustine Ovie Edegbene Phindiwe Ntloko Francis Ofurum Arimoro Chika Felicitas Nnadozie Dennis Junior Choruma Oghenekaro Nelson Odume |
| author_facet | Frank Chukwuzuoke Akamagwuna Augustine Ovie Edegbene Phindiwe Ntloko Francis Ofurum Arimoro Chika Felicitas Nnadozie Dennis Junior Choruma Oghenekaro Nelson Odume |
| author_sort | Frank Chukwuzuoke Akamagwuna |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We examined the distribution patterns of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera functional feeding groups (EPT FFGs) in five streams that drain semi-urban landscapes in the Tsitsa River catchment, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. We undertook macroinvertebrate and physicochemical analysis over four seasons between 2016 and 2017 at eight sites in three land-use categories (Sites 1, 2 and 3), representing an increasing gradient of semi-urban pollution. Five EPT FFGs (shredders, grazers/scrapers, predators, collector-gatherers and collector-filterers) were fuzzy coded and analyzed using RLQ-R (environmental characteristics of samples), L (taxa distribution across samples) and Q (species traits) and fourth-corner analyses. Physicochemical variables, including phosphate-phosphorus, total inorganic nitrogen and temperature, were the most influential variables that significantly influenced the distribution patterns of EPT FFGs in the Tsitsa River. RLQ and the fourth-corner model revealed varying responses of FFGs to semi-urban pollution. Of the five FFGs, collectors were the most abundant EPT FFGs in the study area, exhibiting disparate responses to disturbances, with collector-gatherers associated with impacted sites and significantly associated with phosphate-phosphorus. On the other hand, collector-filterers decreased with increasing semi-urban disturbance and exhibited a significant negative association with phosphate-phosphorus, total inorganic nitrogen and temperature. Overall, this study provides further insights into the environmental factors that influence the distribution patterns of FFGs in Afrotropical streams and the potential use of FFGs as indicators of anthropogenic pollution in tropical streams and rivers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:18:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a195f0ac5d8846ffb2ba919cec7a9f58 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:18:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-a195f0ac5d8846ffb2ba919cec7a9f582023-12-02T21:55:29ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592022-12-0110e1397010.7717/peerj.13970Functional groups of Afrotropical EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) as bioindicators of semi-urban pollution in the Tsitsa River Catchment, Eastern Cape, South AfricaFrank Chukwuzuoke Akamagwuna0Augustine Ovie Edegbene1Phindiwe Ntloko2Francis Ofurum Arimoro3Chika Felicitas Nnadozie4Dennis Junior Choruma5Oghenekaro Nelson Odume6Institute for Water Research, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South AfricaInstitute for Water Research, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South AfricaInstitute for Water Research, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South AfricaDepartment of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, NigeriaInstitute for Water Research, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South AfricaInstitute for Water Research, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South AfricaInstitute for Water Research, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South AfricaWe examined the distribution patterns of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera functional feeding groups (EPT FFGs) in five streams that drain semi-urban landscapes in the Tsitsa River catchment, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. We undertook macroinvertebrate and physicochemical analysis over four seasons between 2016 and 2017 at eight sites in three land-use categories (Sites 1, 2 and 3), representing an increasing gradient of semi-urban pollution. Five EPT FFGs (shredders, grazers/scrapers, predators, collector-gatherers and collector-filterers) were fuzzy coded and analyzed using RLQ-R (environmental characteristics of samples), L (taxa distribution across samples) and Q (species traits) and fourth-corner analyses. Physicochemical variables, including phosphate-phosphorus, total inorganic nitrogen and temperature, were the most influential variables that significantly influenced the distribution patterns of EPT FFGs in the Tsitsa River. RLQ and the fourth-corner model revealed varying responses of FFGs to semi-urban pollution. Of the five FFGs, collectors were the most abundant EPT FFGs in the study area, exhibiting disparate responses to disturbances, with collector-gatherers associated with impacted sites and significantly associated with phosphate-phosphorus. On the other hand, collector-filterers decreased with increasing semi-urban disturbance and exhibited a significant negative association with phosphate-phosphorus, total inorganic nitrogen and temperature. Overall, this study provides further insights into the environmental factors that influence the distribution patterns of FFGs in Afrotropical streams and the potential use of FFGs as indicators of anthropogenic pollution in tropical streams and rivers.https://peerj.com/articles/13970.pdfBiomonitoringFunctional feeding groupsMacroinvertebratesAquatic insectsSouth Africa |
| spellingShingle | Frank Chukwuzuoke Akamagwuna Augustine Ovie Edegbene Phindiwe Ntloko Francis Ofurum Arimoro Chika Felicitas Nnadozie Dennis Junior Choruma Oghenekaro Nelson Odume Functional groups of Afrotropical EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) as bioindicators of semi-urban pollution in the Tsitsa River Catchment, Eastern Cape, South Africa PeerJ Biomonitoring Functional feeding groups Macroinvertebrates Aquatic insects South Africa |
| title | Functional groups of Afrotropical EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) as bioindicators of semi-urban pollution in the Tsitsa River Catchment, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_full | Functional groups of Afrotropical EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) as bioindicators of semi-urban pollution in the Tsitsa River Catchment, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Functional groups of Afrotropical EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) as bioindicators of semi-urban pollution in the Tsitsa River Catchment, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Functional groups of Afrotropical EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) as bioindicators of semi-urban pollution in the Tsitsa River Catchment, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_short | Functional groups of Afrotropical EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) as bioindicators of semi-urban pollution in the Tsitsa River Catchment, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_sort | functional groups of afrotropical ept ephemeroptera plecoptera and trichoptera as bioindicators of semi urban pollution in the tsitsa river catchment eastern cape south africa |
| topic | Biomonitoring Functional feeding groups Macroinvertebrates Aquatic insects South Africa |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/13970.pdf |
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