Author(s): Derribew Hailu, Alemayehu Negassa and Birhanu Kebede

Abstract: Aquatic ecosystem, a key resource to support biodiversity of this sphere is continuously degraded due to synergetic impact of natural and anthropogenic activities. Lake Koka is one of the Ethiopian water bodies currently invaded by water hyacinth there by impacting environment and social activities of the surrounding community which calls for effective solution. So, the study was attempted to provide information on the status of some physico-chemical properties of Lake Koka and its relationship with water hyacinth invasion in the Lake. To compare some physico- chemical parameters with water hyacinth invasion, water samples were monthly collected from three different sampling sites; Metoleka highly water hyacinth invaded area (S1), Mallima Bari moderately water hyacinth invaded site(S2) and Koka Bridge low water hyacinth invaded area (S3) and analyzed for selected parameters. The result indicated that average value of TDS, Conductivity, Transparency, Salinity, Nitrate Nitrogen and Total phosphorus were highest at S3 with values of 599.35 + 43.45mg/l, 684.57 ± 192.8 μS cm^-1, 32.27 ± 2.04 cm, 0.43 ± 0.01 ppt, 0.41± 0.06 mg/l and 0.92± 0.21 mg/l respectively. Water temperature and Resistivity were high at S1 with average values of 25.57 + 1.78OC and 2.07 ± 0.41 kΩ followed by S3 25.41 + 1.8 ^OC and (S2) 1.42 ± 0.24 kΩ and the least value of resistivity was recorded at Koka Bridge. pH and Total Phosphorus were the highest at S2 with values of 8.74 + 0.37 and 0.48± 0.2 mg/l respectively. From the current result, it can be concluded that, availability of nutrient was the lowest at highly water hyacinth invaded area which indicates the nutrient was highly utilized by the plant and vice versa.

Pages: 405-412  |  882 Views  314 Downloads

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