Synopsis of scientific results of the sarec sponsored project on the ecology of Lake Kariba

✍ Scribed by C. H. D. Magadza

• Book ID: 104613588
• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1992
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 386 KB
• Volume: 232
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1573-5141
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00014614

✦ Synopsis

A summary of current research on Lake Kariba is given . Lake Kariba is now a phosphorus limited oligotrophic lake, dependent on annual nutrient input for the maintenance of production . Nitrogen fixation by cyanobacteria has become an important source of nitrogen in the dry season and that fish harvesting is an important phosphorus sink . An up to date plankton composition list has been produced and plankton biomass determined . Diving studies indicate large biomass of bivalves . The aquatic vegetation displays both longitudinal as well as depth gradients, related to light regimes . Only preliminary data are available on mud/water interactions, but the available data indicate considerable fluxes in the river mouth stations and shallow protected littoral areas . The role of predatory birds and crocodiles in the fishery economy of the lake is evaluated and indicates no major conflict between these predators and human fishing interests .