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DI Luyt Orcid.Org 0000-0002-2852-4733 Bird and algal dynamics of two small rivers DI Luyt orcid.org 0000-0002-2852-4733 Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Science in Environmental Sciences at the North-West University Supervisor: Prof H Bouwman Co-supervisor: Dr MS Janse van Vuuren Graduation ceremony July 2018 22774173 ABSTRACT Algae are widely present in freshwater environments and serve as important primary producers in aquatic ecosystems, where they generate biomass that is transferred to higher trophic levels. Algae respond to environmental variables such as pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, temperature, and different inorganic nutrients. The same environmental variables may differ markedly between different river systems, which may have profound effects on the biota of that system. I hypothesised that the algal composition will determine the productivity of a system that will consequently be reflected by the avian composition depending on that system. The effect of algal community composition on the productivity of that system has received much attention; however, the interactions between freshwater phytoplankton and birds have not been well documented. I therefore conducted an in depth study on the avian and algal biodiversity of two small, closely located, rivers water quality factors involved. The hypothesis I tested was that freshwater quality and environmental parameters affect algal community parameters, which, in turn, affect bird community parameters. To investigate this, monthly algae and bird surveys were done and water quality variables were measured monthly over a period of 11 months (July 2016 - May 2017) along the Mooi River (MR) and Wonderfontein Spruit (WFS). Mooi River had four and Wonderfontein Spruit five sites, all within a radius of 15 km of each other. WFS is known to be highly polluted by residential areas and mining activities, while MR has small scale diamond mining and some agricultural influences. I used ANOVA and t-tests (and equivalent non-parametric tests), linear regressions, cluster analyses, PCA - and NMS ordinations, indicator species analyses, ANOSIM, and SIMPER to analyse the data. Comparisons between the rivers showed significant differences for pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, phosphorus, sulphate, nitrate, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, and richness and abundance of birds and algae. Although the phosphorus concentrations were significantly higher for MR, nitrogen was much lower than WFS, limiting algal growth potential. Additionally, multivariate results showed that algal and avian composition differed markedly between rivers. Avian biomass and diversity was strongly correlated with algal abundance that was much higher in WFS, most likely due to organic enrichment. I concluded that algal diversity was associated with water quality measurements, and that algal parameters were associated with bird parameters. Keywords: algal, avian, birds, community composition, dissolved inorganic nutrients, diversity, eutrophic, nitrogen, phosphorus i AKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my deepest gratitude to: . My Heavenly Father, for providing me with the passion, knowledge and opportunity to be able to do the research for this project. My supervisor, Prof. Henk Bouwman, for his guidance and support. Thank for your believing in me and the success of this project. Dr Sanet Janse van Vuuren, for her assistance and advice with regards to the algae component of the project. A special thanks to Dr Anatoliy Levanets, for his patience, effort and assistance, with regards to the identification of algae and algae lab work. My parents, for their encouragement and financial support throughout this project. My field assistants, Ruhan Verster, Ryno van Dyk, GR Barnard, Marinus du Preez, Zoëgné du Preez, Felicia Frederiksson, Veronica van der Schyff, Lyzandra Swart, Gavin Haagner and Duan van Aswegen for assistance with the fieldwork of the project. All land-owners of my field work, Peter Coulter, John Coulter, Louis Pretorius, Gerhard Visser, Adriana Esterhuizen, Jan Esterhuizen, Fanie Viljoen, Herman Fouché, and Willem de Lange thank you for allowing me to conduct surveys on your property. Members of the Persistent Organic Pollutant and Toxicant Group, for interest, support, loyalty, and motivation. ii ACRONYMS USED IN THE STUDY ANOSIM Analysis of Similarity ANOVA Analysis of Variance CBD Convention on Biological Diversity COP Conference of the Parties DIN Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen DO Dissolved Oxygen EC Electrical Conductivity EEH Exploitation Ecosystem Hypothesis GBA Global Biodiversity Assessment ISA Indicator Species Analysis IV Indicator Value MR Mooi River NMS Non Metric Multidimensional Scaling OECD Organisation for Economic Corporation and Development OFT Optimal Foraging Theory OIV Observed Indicator Value PAST Paleontological Statistics PCA Principle Component Analysis SBSTTA Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical, and Technological Advice SD Standard Deviation SIMPER Similarity Percentage TDS Total Dissolved Solids UNEP United Nations Environmental Program WFS Wonderfontein Spruit iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................................ i AKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................................................... ii ACRONYMS USED IN THE STUDY ............................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................... vii LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................................. ix CHAPTER 1: Introduction and Literature Review ........................................................................... 1 1.1 Riparian Ecosystems ........................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Overview ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1.2 Factors affecting riparian ecosystems....................................................................... 2 1.1.3 Importance of riparian ecosystems ............................................................................ 3 1.1.4 Vulnerability of and threats to riparian ecosystems ................................................ 4 1.2 Biodiversity ............................................................................................................................ 6 1.2.1 History ............................................................................................................................ 6 1.2.2 The Convention on Biological Diversity .................................................................... 6 1.2.3 Defining biodiversity ..................................................................................................... 7 1.2.4 Biodiversity conservation .......................................................................................... 10 1.3 Community Ecology ........................................................................................................... 11 1.3.1 Overview ...................................................................................................................... 11 1.3.2 Ecology of bird communities in wetlands ................................................................ 12 1.4 Birds ..................................................................................................................................... 14 1.4.1 Habitat selection ......................................................................................................... 14 1.4.2 Foraging and diet ....................................................................................................... 17 1.5 Algae .................................................................................................................................... 19 1.5.1 Overview ...................................................................................................................... 19 1.5.2 Factors affecting algae .............................................................................................. 21 1.5.3 Eutrophication ............................................................................................................. 26 1.6 Aim, Objectives and Hypothesis ...................................................................................... 28 1.6.1 Motivation .................................................................................................................... 28 1.6.2 Hypothesis ................................................................................................................... 29 1.6.3 Problem statement ..................................................................................................... 29 1.6.4 Aims and objectives ................................................................................................... 29 CHAPTER 2: Materials and methods.............................................................................................. 30 iv 2.1 Study Area ..........................................................................................................................
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