PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND METAL BIOACCUMULATION IN FOUR MAJOR RIVER SYSTEMS THAT TRANSECT THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA. By HARRY JONATHON BARKER DISSERTATION Submitted in Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF SCIENCE in AQUATIC HEALTH in the FACULTY OF SCIENCE at the UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG Supervisor: Professor V. Wepener Co-supervisor: Doctor T. Gyedu-Ababio Co-supervisor: Professor J.H.J. Van Vuren November 2006 TO MY PARENTS. ‘I CAN NO OTHER ANSWER MAKE, BUT, THANKS, AND THANKS AND EVER THANKS’ WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements .................................................................................................... i Summary................................................................................................................... ii Opsomming............................................................................................................... v List of Tables .......................................................................................................... vii List of Figures.......................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1 General Introduction. 1.1 Background ................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Water quality and quantity with regard to South Africa................................. 2 1.3 Metal ecotoxicology ...................................................................................... 3 1.3.1 Emission of metals..................................................................................... 4 1.3.2 Biomonitoring............................................................................................ 4 1.4 Main objectives ............................................................................................. 5 1.5 References..................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 2 Situation Analysis and Locality Descriptions. 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Sabie River.................................................................................................. 11 2.2.1 General description.................................................................................. 11 2.2.2 Water quality ........................................................................................... 12 2.3 Letaba River................................................................................................ 13 2.3.1 General description.................................................................................. 13 2.3.2 Water quality ........................................................................................... 14 2.4 Shingwedzi River ........................................................................................ 16 2.4.1 General description.................................................................................. 16 2.4.2 Water quality ........................................................................................... 18 2.5 Luvuvhu River............................................................................................. 19 Table of Contents 2.5.1 General description.................................................................................. 19 2.5.2 Water quality ........................................................................................... 20 2.6 References................................................................................................... 21 Chapter 3 Physico-chemical and Nutrient Analysis of Water and Sediment in the Luvuvhu, Shingwedzi, Letaba and Sabie Rivers. 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 24 3.2 Methods....................................................................................................... 25 3.2.1 Field sampling ......................................................................................... 25 3.2.2 Laboratory techniques.............................................................................. 26 3.2.2.1 Water............................................................................................... 26 3.2.2.2 Sediment .......................................................................................... 27 3.2.3 Data processing........................................................................................ 27 3.3 Results......................................................................................................... 27 3.3.1 Water quality and nutrient analysis .......................................................... 27 3.3.2 Sediment.................................................................................................. 53 3.3.3 Multivariate analysis................................................................................ 56 3.4 Discussion ................................................................................................... 57 3.4.1 Water quality and nutrient analysis. ......................................................... 57 3.4.2 Sediment.................................................................................................. 63 3.4.3 Multivariate analysis................................................................................ 64 3.5 Conclusions ................................................................................................. 65 3.6 References................................................................................................... 66 Chapter 4 Metal Accumulation in Water, Sediment and Fish Tissue from the Luvuvhu, Shingwedzi, Letaba and Sabie Rivers. 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 70 4.2 Methods....................................................................................................... 72 4.2.1 Field sampling ......................................................................................... 72 4.2.2 Laboratory techniques.............................................................................. 73 Table of Contents 4.2.2.1 Water............................................................................................... 73 4.2.2.2 Sediment .......................................................................................... 73 4.2.2.3 Fish.................................................................................................. 75 4.2.3 Data processing........................................................................................ 75 4.3 Results......................................................................................................... 75 4.4 Discussion ................................................................................................... 86 4.5 Conclusion................................................................................................... 92 4.6 References................................................................................................... 93 Chapter 5 Setting Quality Criteria for Nine Metals in the Luvuvhu, Shingwedzi, Letaba and Sabie Rivers by Applying the Equilibrium Partitioning Method. 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................100 5.2 Methods......................................................................................................101 5.2.1 Toxic effects data....................................................................................102 5.2.2 Product standard data..............................................................................103 5.3 Results........................................................................................................103 5.4 Discussion ..................................................................................................107 5.5 Conclusion..................................................................................................112 5.6 References..................................................................................................112 Chapter 6 Conclusions and Recommendations. 6.1 Conclusions ................................................................................................115 6.2 Recommendations.......................................................................................117 6.3 References..................................................................................................119 Acknowledgments ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special thanks and appreciation to the following persons and organisations: ♦ Our Lord for granting me the privilege, opportunity, ability, patience and strength to complete this study. ♦ My supervisor Professor Victor Wepener for his professional assistance, guidance, support, advice and motivation throughout the study. ♦ My parents for their ever willing support, guidance and understanding in allowing me to turn a dream into reality. ♦ My best friend Tracy, a pillar of strength and someone I can trust to always be there for me. ♦ My Brother Graham and Candice for their patience, encouragement and advice. ♦ The Head of Department of Zoology (University of Johannesburg), Prof J.H.J van Vuren for the use of facilities, funding and the opportunity to conduct this study. ♦ The Kruger National Park personnel, especially