Water hyacinth in Lake Victoria
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Water hyacinth is a major invasive plant species in Lake Victoria. While native to the continent of South America, human activity introduced the plant to Lake Victoria, where it negatively affects local ecosystems.
History
[edit]The exact time and place of introduction of water hyacinth into Africa has been a topic of debate. As its flowers are reputed for their beauty, it may have been brought over as an ornamental for garden ponds by Belgian colonists in Rwanda and Burundi.[1] Water hyacinth is currently theorised to have physically entered Lake Victoria from Rwanda via the Kagera River,[2] most likely in the 1980s. The hyacinth has since spread prolifically, due to a lack of natural predators, an abundance of space, and agreeable temperature conditions. Abundant nutrients are also present in the lake, exacerbated by increasing levels of heavy metal pollution in the lake.[3][4]
The population of water hyacinths increased rapidly between 1992 and 1998. Their population was greatly reduced by 2001, but has since resurged to a lesser degree.[citation needed][may be outdated as of February 2025] Management techniques include insect controls and manual beach cleanup efforts.[5] Water hyacinth infestations are rarely exterminated in full; instead, they must be continually managed to prevent excessive regrowth.[1][6]
Development
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Water hyacinth affects the Lake Victorian population in many negative ways. There are economic impacts when the weed blocks boat access. The effects on transportation and fishing are immediately felt. Where the weed is prolific, there is a general increase in several diseases, as the weed creates excellent breeding areas for mosquitoes and other insects. There are increased incidents of skin rash, cough, malaria, encephalitis, gastro-intestinal disorders, and bilharzia/schistosomiasis. Water hyacinth also interferes with water treatment, irrigation, and water supply.[3] It can smother aquatic life by deoxygenating the water, and it reduces nutrients for young fish in sheltered bays. It has blocked supply intakes for the hydroelectric plant, interrupting electrical power for entire cities. The weed also interrupts local subsistence fishing, blocking access to the beaches.[6]
There are also indications that water hyacinths can provide benefits to the Lake Victoria Region.[7] Water hyacinths have been planted in an attempt to purify eutrophicated water.[8] Once established, the plants can be harvested and used for biogas production,[9] fertilizer, and other things.[10] In 2018, two biogas digesters were installed in the village of Dunga in Kenya, with many more slated to be installed in Kenya.[11] Water hyacinth can also be tested for other uses, like sea cucumber that is being used to make some medicine from its chitin and chitosan.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b United Nations News Highlights, "Fighting water weeds in West Africa." Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 16Aug2000. United Nations. 19 May 2008 [1]
- ^ Ambrose, Philippa . "Water hyacinth chokes lake Victoria." Marine Pollution Bulletin 34. 6Jun1997 364. 29Apr2008
- ^ a b Opande, G.O., Onyang, J.C., Wagai, S.O.. "Lake Victoria: The water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [MART.] SOLMS),its socio-economic effects, control measures and resurgence in the Winam gulf." Limnologica 34. 1-2 May2004 105-109.
- ^ Journal of Industrial Pollution Control, "Water Hyacinth and Duckweed as indicators of heavy metal pollution in River Asa." 29(2)(2013) pp 155-162 [2]
- ^ Kateregga, Eseza and Thomas Sterner. 2007. Indicators for an invasive species: Water hyacinths. Ecological Indicators 7(2):362-370.
- ^ a b World Bank. 1996. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda - Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project. World Development Sources, WDS 1996. Washington, DC: World Bank.
- ^ V.A. Valk, MSc thesis, Geoscience and Engineering, Delft University of Technology "Valorization of water hyacinth as a renewable source of animal feed and biogas: a business case for Lake Victoria, Kenya" 2015-02-02 [3]
- ^ Huan Jing Ke Xue. " Purification effects of large-area planting water hyacinth on water environment of Zhushan Bay, Lake Taihu" 2011 May;32(5):1299-305.[4]
- ^ International Journal of Engineering and Technology "Feasibility Study of Biogas Production from Water Hyacinth A Case of Lake Chivero – Harare, Zimbabwe" Volume 3 No. 2, February, 2013 [5]
- ^ Waste Manag Res "Production of Feed and Fertilizer From Water Hyacinth Plants in the Tropics" January 1994 vol. 12 no. 1 3-11.[6]
- ^ Kenya warms to the water hyacinth as wonder source of biofuel, theguardian.com, 27 August 2019
