Major Water Bodies Research Articles

Precision mapping of snail habitat in lake and marshland areas: Integrating environmental and textural indicators using Random Forest modeling

Schistosomiasis japonica continues to pose a significant public health challenge in China, primarily due to the widespread distribution of Oncomelania hupensis, the sole intermediate host of Schistosoma. This study aims to address the constraints of existing remote sensing analyses for identifying snail habitats, which frequently neglect spatial scale and seasonal variations. To this end, we adopt a multi-source data-driven Random Forest approach that integrates bottomland and ground-surface texture data with traditional environmental variables, enhancing the accuracy of snail habitat assessments. We developed four distinct models for the lake and marshland areas of Guichi, China: a baseline model incorporating ground-surface texture, bottomland variables, and environmental variables; Model 1 with only environmental variables; Model 2 adding ground-surface texture and environmental variables; and Model 3 integrating bottomland with environmental variables. The baseline model outperformed the others, achieving a true skill statistic of 0.93, an accuracy of 0.97, a kappa statistic of 0.94, and an area under the curve of 0.99. Our analysis pinpointed critical high-risk snail habitats distributed in a belt-like pattern along major water bodies, near the Yangtze River, QiuPu River, and around Shengjin Lake, Jiuhua River, and Qingtong River. These insights can aid local health authorities in more efficiently allocating limited resources, developing effective snail surveillance and control strategies to combat schistosomiasis. Additionally, this approach can be adapted to localize other endemic hosts with similar ecological characteristics.

Unlocking Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linn., 1758) selective breeding programmes in Uganda through geographical genetic structure mapping

AbstractNile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), native to Africa and the Levant, is an important species for both aquaculture and capture fisheries. Despite these attributes, Nile tilapia has been negatively impacted by anthropogenic activities ranging from overfishing and habitat destruction to translocations. These human‐mediated activities have threatened the genetic evolutionary integrity of native populations of Nile tilapia and congeneric species through admixture, demographic bottlenecks and introgressive hybridization. In this context, the genetic contrast between farmed/bred strains and wild Nile tilapia populations in the major lakes of Uganda remains understudied. Understanding the genetic structure of Nile tilapia populations in the major water bodies of Uganda (lakes Victoria, Kyoga, Edward, George, Albert and Nile River) is a key resource to guide selective breeding programmes, thus minimizing the effects of maladaptation under both aquaculture and natural stocks. Although the population genetics of Nile tilapia in Uganda's major lakes have been studied, this was based on limited sampling scope, especially in the wild, and the key information on the species could have been overlooked. We fill this knowledge gap by genotyping 756 Nile tilapia individuals from multiple populations for each major water body of Uganda using a panel of 34 microsatellite loci based on the microsatellite genotyping‐by‐sequencing (SSR‐GBS) technique. The results indicate two discrete gene pools/stocks: the Edward‐George system and the Albert‐Kyoga system‐Victoria. Evidence of loss of genetic diversity and admixture of some Nile tilapia stocks was found, most likely resulting from anthropogenic perturbations. This study contributes useful information key for understanding the potential Nile tilapia broodstock sources for selective breeding programmes, aimed at improving aquaculture production in Uganda.

Geographic barriers but not life history traits shape the phylogeography of North American mammals

AbstractAimSynthesize literature on genetic structure within species to understand how geographic features and species traits influence past responses to climate change.LocationNorth America.Time PeriodWe synthesized phylogeographic studies from 1978 to 2023, which describe genetic lineages that diverged during the Pleistocene (≥11,700 years ago).Major Taxa StudiedMammals.MethodsWe conducted a literature review to map genetic breaks in species distributions, then tested a set of geographic hypotheses (e.g., mountains, rivers) to explain their position by comparing break locations to a grid within each species' sampled range using logistic regression. We then conducted a meta‐analysis using species‐specific model estimates to ask if life‐history traits explained variation in which barriers were most important in species' past response to climate change.ResultsOur findings reveal heterogeneity in both where North American mammal phylogeography has been studied and the density of genetic breaks across 229 species. We found relatively high concordance among carnivores, ungulates and lagomorphs, where breaks were associated with mountains, major water bodies and relatively even terrain. In contrast, we found high variability within rodents and shrews, and no evidence that intrinsic factors related to dispersal ability explained the importance of hypothesized barriers across all species.Main ConclusionsSouthern Mexico is a hotspot for genetic breaks that has yet to be integrated into the broader story of North American phylogeography. We show that mountains and major water bodies play particularly important roles as barriers, but substantial variation across species within orders suggests that there is more to the story besides shared climatic or phylogenetic histories. Thus, understanding the phylogeography of individual species will continue to be important given that our results suggest high variability in how species may respond to future global change.

Endogenous Colonial Borders: Precolonial States and Geography in the Partition of Africa

We revise the conventional wisdom that Africa’s international borders were drawn arbitrarily. Europeans knew very little about most of Africa in the mid-1880s, but their self-interested goals of amassing territory prompted intensive examination of on-the-ground conditions as they formed borders. Europeans negotiated with African rulers to secure treaties and to learn about historical state frontiers, which enabled Africans to influence the border-formation process. Major water bodies, which shaped precolonial civilizations and trade, also served as focal points. We find support for these new theoretical implications using two original datasets. Quantitatively, we analyze border-location correlates using grid cells and an original spatial dataset on precolonial states. Qualitatively, we compiled information from treaties and diplomatic histories to code causal process observations for every bilateral border. Historical political frontiers directly affected 62% of all bilateral borders. Water bodies, often major ones, comprised the primary border feature much more frequently than straight lines.

The Simulation of Bracciano Lake (Central Italy) Levels Based on Hydrogeological Water Budget: A Tool for Lake Water Management when Climate Change and Anthropogenic Impacts Occur

Bracciano Lake is one of the major water bodies of Lazio region and the eighth lake in Italy by area. Similarly to other water bodies located on the Tyrrhenian side of the Italian Peninsula, Bracciano Lake has a volcanic origin. This water body is a strategic resource for both the emergency and ordinary water supply of Rome megacity, thanks to the short distance (about 30 km). During the last years, the concurrence of climate change and anthropogenic activities led to important water level drops of the lake: the last and worst in 2017, when the lake faced the most important water crisis of its entire history, with a critical impact on the ecological system and the consequent interruption of water supply. This paper, using the inverse hydrogeological water budget (HWB) method in a GIS environment, aims to define the water budget of Bracciano Lake on a 15-year time series (2008–2022), providing a framework of climate change and human impacts on lake water levels. The outputs have been used for the simulation of lake water levels during the same period, with a focus on the drought of 2017. The variation between simulated and observed level is, on average, 2 cm and in any case never more than 28 cm. Results show the fragile balance between inputs and outputs, highlighting the need for sustainable management of both surface water and groundwater withdrawals from the surrounding aquifer.

Research Progress in Electrochemical Detection and Removal of Micro/Nano Plastics in Water

Micro/nano plastics （M/NPs） are widely dispersed in the soil， atmosphere， and water environment due to their small particle size， easy adsorption， and strong migration， and have been detected in all major water bodies in recent years. As a type of emerging pollutant， the physiological toxicity of M/NPs has a great impact on human health. The current bottleneck in this research field lies in the precise detection and efficient removal of M/NPs. Electrochemical technology， owing to its advantages of simple portability， sensitivity， and low cost in the detection of M/NPs， has the advantages of environmental friendliness， controllable reaction， and high efficiency in the removal of M/NPs， demonstrating enormous application potential. Based on the pollution status of M/NPs， the application of electrochemical technology to the detection and removal of M/NPs in the water environment was elaborated and summarized. The electrochemical sensing methods of M/NPs and the principles and characteristics of sensor recognition of M/NPs were analyzed. The removal efficiency and influencing factors of M/NPs in water by electro-flocculation， electro-adsorption， electro-oxidation， and electro-reduction technologies were also discussed. The results indicated that the detection of M/NPs particles using electrochemical sensing methods exhibited good characterization performance， and M/NPs could be efficiently removed through electrochemical techniques such as electrocoagulation， electro-adsorption， electro-oxidation， and electro-reduction. The influencing factors of electrochemical technology on the detection and removal of M/NPs were mainly related to sensor devices， electrode materials， material interface regulation， parameter conditions， and reactor systems. In the future， researchers should focus on the design of sensors， the development of electrode materials， and the optimization of reaction processes， which are expected to realize the application of M/NPs from laboratory detection and removal to actual water bodies.

Exploring PFOA adsorption isotherm in the presence of NOM using DBD plasma-modified GAC

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a widely used perfluorinated alkyl substance (PFAS), poses significant environmental and health risks. This study investigates PFOA adsorption in the existence of natural organic matter (NOM) using granular activated carbon (GAC) modified with dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma. PFOA’s amphiphilic structure, characterized by a hydrophilic carboxyl group head and a hydrophobic perfluorinated tail, contributes to its versatility and persistence. The selection of the Chao Phraya River (CPR) water as the NOM source, captures the complexity of a major water body subjected to diverse pollution sources. The results were analyzed through the Toth and Temkin isotherm models. Application of the Toth isotherm model reveals enhanced PFOA adsorption capacity in CPR water compared to DI water, emphasizing the influence of NOM. The Temkin isotherm analysis further characterizes the strength and efficiency of the adsorption process, highlighting a stronger interaction between PFOA and plasma-modified GAC in CPR water. The study indicates that the adsorption process in CPR water may be more influenced by PFOA surface coverage on the GAC surface in the presence of NOM. Overall, this research contributes valuable insights into pollutant removal strategies, highlighting the potential of DBD plasma-modified GAC in addressing PFOA contamination challenges in water systems.

Ecological niche modelling of two water-dependant birds informs the conservation needs of riverine ecosystems outside protected area network in the Eastern Himalaya, India.

Common species often play vital roles in ecosystem functions and processes. Globally, conservation strategies are mostly focused on threatened species and rarely explored the potential of using common species as indicators of critical ecosystems. The Himalayan mountains have unique riverine ecosystems harbouring high diversity of specialist river birds. Ecological niche modelling provides effective tools to predict suitable habitats of a species and identify habitats for conservation. We used two common water-dependent bird species, Blue Whistling Thrush and White-capped Water Redstart as indicators of riverine ecosystems within the Sikkim Himalayan region and predicted their suitable habitats using an ensemble modelling approach. We selected six predictor variables for the final model including three bioclimatic and three topographic variables. For both species, bioclimatic variables such as mean annual temperature and precipitation were the most important factors compared to topographic variables. At least 70 percent of the most suitable habitats are distributed below 2000 m elevation alongside major drainages. Also, most of their potential habitats are distributed outside the protected area networks in the region. This habitat suitability pattern may be applied to other sympatric species in the region. Since major water bodies in Sikkim are largely affected by developmental activities and climate change, these riverine birds might face threats of losing suitable habitats. We recommend a dynamic approach to evaluate the habitat quality of riverine birds, especially outside protected area networks in the region to plan conservation strategies. This approach will ensure habitat conservation of many water-dependent birds and other taxa associated with the riverine ecosystems of the Eastern Himalaya.

Source Attribution of Atmospheric Dust Deposition to Utah Lake

Atmospheric deposition (AD) is a significant source of nutrient loading to waterbodies around the world. However, the sources and loading rates are poorly understood for major waterbodies and even less understood for local waterbodies. Utah Lake is a eutrophic lake located in central Utah, USA, and has high-nutrient levels. Recent research has identified AD as a significant source of nutrient loading to the lake, though contributions from dust particles make up 10% of total AD. To better understand the dust AD sources, we sampled suspected source locations and collected deposition samples around the lake. We analyzed these samples using Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) for 25 metals to characterize their elemental fingerprints. We then compared the lake samples to the source samples to determine likely source locations. We computed spectral angle, coefficient of determination, multi-dimensional scaling, and radar plots to characterize the similarity of the samples. We found that samples from local dust sources were more similar to dust in lake AD samples than samples from distant sources. This suggests that the major source of the dust portion of AD onto Utah Lake is the local empty fields south and west of the lake, and not the farther playa and desert sources as previously suggested. Preliminary data suggest that dust AD is associated with dry, windy conditions and is episodic in nature. We show that AD from dust particles is likely a small portion of the overall AD nutrient loading on Utah Lake, with the dry and precipitation sources contributing most of the load. This case identifies AD sources to Utah Lake and provides an example of data and methods that can be used to assess similarity or perform attribution for dust, soil, and other environmental data. While we use ICP metals, any number of features can be used with these methods if normalized.

Scale Morphology and Population Differentiation in Exotic Fish Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus P. 1852) from Some Major Water Bodies of Western India

Scale Morphology and Population Differentiation in Exotic Fish Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus P. 1852) from Some Major Water Bodies of Western India

Cyclone exposure mapping in coastal Bangladesh: A multi-criteria decision analysis

Owing to its geographical location, Bangladesh is highly exposed to natural disasters: the northern part is at risk of floods, while the southern part suffers from cyclones, storm surges, and salinity intrusion. This study aims to quantify the exposure to cyclones in Taltali, a southern coastal upazila of Bangladesh. To quantify the exposure, the study used 6 criteria, including elevation, slope, proximity to major water bodies, population density, proximity to cyclone tracks and land use and land cover, and produced maps focusing on each criterion. The overall exposure map was also created to observe the whole scenario of the upazila. All the analysis was done in a GIS environment using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The individual criterion map represents the status of the study area in different classes. And the overall exposure map revealed that about 60 % of the study area was quantified as very highly exposed to cyclones, including 4 unions- Barabagi, Chhota Bagi, Karaibaria, Pancha Koralia and 6 Rakhain paras- Taltali, Monukhe, Momeshi, Agathakur, Saton, and Sawdagar. In numerical terms, about 8032 ha and 178 ha of land are counted as highly and moderately exposed to cyclones, respectively. Among the seven unions, the maximum area of the Barabagi and Chhota Bagi was found to be very highly exposed, followed by Panchakoralia and Karaibaria. Data from our previous study also validated the results of this study. Despite having some limitations, the study can be used to develop the capacity of the community to respond to cyclones. And the national and international communities can use the results to formulate policies regarding disaster risk reduction and risk mitigation.

Linking source and sink: The timing of deposition of Paleogene syntectonic strata in Central Asia

Abstract Determining the age of siliciclastic continental sequences in the absence of comprehensive biostratigraphy or radiometric dating of geological markers (e.g., volcanic layers) is inherently challenging. This issue is well exemplified in the current debate on the age of Cenozoic terrestrial strata in Central Asia, where competing age models constrained by non-unique paleomagnetic correlations are interpreted to reflect the growth of the Tibetan Plateau and its impact on Central Asian climate change. Here we present a new approach to evaluate competing age models by comparing the onset of rapid basement exhumation constrained by low-temperature thermochronology in the sediment source region with the initiation of growth strata in the adjacent sedimentary sink. We first validate this method in regions with well-constrained age models and subsequently apply this approach to the Tarim and Qaidam Basins in the northern Tibetan Plateau. The results of this analysis show that syntectonic sedimentation had already initiated during the Paleocene–Eocene and was followed by intensified Oligocene–Miocene mountain building along the northern margin of the plateau. Based on this refined Paleogene tectonic history, we further arrive at a temporal correlation between Paleogene tectonism in Northern Tibet and the retreat of the Proto-Paratethys Sea, a major water body that extended across Eurasia and was closely associated with climatic and biodiversity changes. We thus highlight the previously underestimated role tectonics in Northern Tibet had in the evolution and demise of the Proto-Paratethys Sea during the Paleogene.

Effective removal of malachite green from local dyeing wastewater using zinc-tungstate based materials

The frequent use of an industrial dye such as malachite green (MG) has caused major water body deterioration and is one of the most pressing global challenges, demanding effective treatment techniques. To solve these issues, a simplistic method was developed to synthesize zinc-tungstate (ZnWO4) nanoparticles and also dope the surface matrix of the ZnWO4 nanoparticles using nonmetals of boron (B), carbon (C), and nitrogen (N) at different ratios for enhanced MG removal from wastewater. The prepared nanomaterials were characterized by different methods for crystal structure composition, surface properties, surface morphology, microstructures, functional groups, and elemental oxidation states. The BET analysis revealed a mesoporous structure with surface areas of 30.740 m2/g for ZnWO4, 38.513 m2/g for ZnWO4@BCN, 37.368 m2/g for ZnWO4@BCN/B, 39.325 m2/g for ZnWO4@BCN/C, and 45.436 m2/g for ZnWO4@BCN/N nanocomposites. The best removal of MG was accomplished at pH (8), contact period (50 min), nanoadsorbent dose (0.8 g/L), initial MG concentration (20 mg/L), and temperature (303 K). The maximum adsorption capacities of ZnWO4 and ZnWO4@BCN/N towards MG were 218.645 and 251.758 mg/g, respectively. At equilibrium, the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were the best fits for the experimental data of MG adsorption on both nanoadsorbents. After eight cycles of adsorption and desorption, both ZnWO4 and ZnWO4@BCN/N were found to be good at removing MG, with efficiencies of 71.00 and 74.20%, respectively. Thermodynamic investigations further validated the spontaneity and endothermic nature of the adsorption process. All study findings confirm the nanoadsorbents exceptional capability and economic feasibility for removing MG dye.

Study of Chemical Parameters of Himayat Sagar Lake at Rangareddy District

Abstract: Water is a single major element responsible for sustaining life on Earth. In India, water is sourced from fourteen main stream basins and countless minor basins. Furthermore, it is important to raise awareness among the public about the importance of conserving water. Chemical pollutants have been wreaking havoc on our planet's waterways, and it's time we take a stand.Take Hyderabad, for example. This city is known as the 'Limnological capital of India', and for good reason. It's home to a plethora of major and minor water bodies, many ofwhich are used as drinking water sources The study of water quality at Himayathsagar is a necessity due to its close proximity to Hyderabad city, which is growing rapidly in terms of urbanization and industrialization. In order to ensure that this important drinking water source remains safe and clean, a study of the chemical parameters of the Himayat Sagar lake in Rangareddy District was conducted. Water samples were collected and analyzed for a variety of chemical properties, such as pH, carbonates, and bicarbonates. These parameters are essential to determine the water quality and to plan forthe future management of clean water resources. The study of water quality at Himayathsagar is an important step in ensuring that this vital drinking water source remains safe and clean forgenerations to come. With the ever-growing urbanization and industrialization of Hyderabad city, it is essential that we take all necessary steps to ensure that the water quality of Himayathsagar remains at its highest level.

The finest diamond must be green: a closer look at the roles of institution in shipping firms' sustainable practices.

Shipping companies' implementation of sustainable shipping management is an important means of protecting major water bodies in the marine environment. This research establishes a theoretical model based on institutional theory and incorporates a micro-consciousness level to explore the factors influencing companies' implementation of sustainable shipping practices. After surveying the management of Chinese shipping companies, a total of 282 datasets were obtained for analysis. This study demonstrated that rules and regulations, societal norms, environmental awareness, and legal awareness can improve shipping companies' sustainable shipping practices. Meanwhile, these practices have a positive impact on the environmental, financial, and competitive performance of shipping companies. Moreover, these findings are highly significant for maritime environmental protection and sustainability.

First hydrological study on the seasonal occurrence of glyphosate, glufosinate, and their metabolites in the Red River system, North Vietnam

We report the spatial and seasonal distribution of organophosphorus herbicides, namely glyphosate (GLYP), glufosinate (GLUF), and their respective metabolites aminomethyl phosphonic acid (AMPA) and 3-(methylphosphinico)-propionic acid (MPPA), in the Red River system (North Vietnam), a major water body in Southeast Asia. The four compounds were measured at 34 sampling stations located from upstream to the estuary during the dry (March) and wet (July) seasons in 2019. Large seasonal variations in herbicide concentrations were measured for the four analytes from upstream to the estuary, with the highest range of variations observed during the wet season. In the surface waters of the Red River, the maximum concentrations of GLUF (234 ng L–1), GLYP (565 ng L–1) and its metabolite AMPA (1329 ng L–1), occurred in the wet season. These values however, are lower than reported in other rivers worldwide. In contrast, the estimated fluxes of these compounds in the Red River water basin were very high during the wet season, i.e., up to 121, 50.2, 284, and 186 kg d–1 for GLYP, GLUF, AMPA, and MPPA, respectively. During both seasons, we observed correlations between the four compounds and ammonium (NH4+), suggesting that both nitrogen containing fertilizers and herbicides were applied in areas close to the river shore. The concentrations and fluxes of the herbicides GLYP, GLUF, and their metabolites determined in the Red River were compared to those recorded in other world river systems, such as the Garonne River (France), thus highlighting the importance of monitoring these compounds in surface waters.

Hydrogeochemistry of Two Major Mid-hill Lentic Water Bodies for Irrigation of the Central Himalaya, Nepal

The concentration and composition of different salts in natural water bodies determine the water quality for various purposes. This study assesses the water quality of two mid-mountain lentic water bodies, Lake Phewa and Kulekhani Reservoir. For this purpose, selected physico-chemical parameters along with major ions such as HCO3-, SO42-, PO43-, NO3-, Cl-, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, and NH4+ were analyzed. Major ions were analyzed using ion chromatography, anions by DX-600 and cations by Dionex ISC-2500 ion chromatographs. The sources of major ions were determined by using the Gibbs diagram, Piper plot, and Scatter plots. Dissolved oxygen, ammonia and phosphate showed seasonal variations in both lakes. The concentrations of cations are in the order of Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+ in both water bodies. However the trend of anions had small variations for Cl- and SO42- in Lake Phewa (HCO3- > Cl- > SO42- > NO3-) and Kulekhani Reservoir (HCO3- > SO42- > Cl- > NO3-). The Piper plot and equiline plots indicated that the water chemistry is dominantly controlled by the dissolution of carbonate minerals and to a limited extent by weathering of silicate minerals. This is further supported by the Gibbs plot showing bedrock geology as the main source of major ions. The overall study indicates that the hydrogeochemistry of these water bodies is controlled by local geology and is suitable for irrigation purposes.

Current Situation, Dilemmas and Measures to Improve Horizontal Ecological Compensation Coordination Mechanisms in River Basins

Flowing water resources and relatively fixed regional segmentation form a governance problem. The essence of horizontal collaborative governance is the establishment of coordination and cooperation processes between different independent and decentralized stakeholders in order to solve cross-regional public problems. As a result, the process of collaborative governance involves a jagged relationship of rights and responsibilities. This study attempts to explore how to achieve cross-regional intergovernmental joint prevention and treatment, and build a coordinated governance mechanism for a whole river basin. Based on data sources including local statistical yearbooks, open data of ecological environment departments and policy texts, this paper performs a comparative analysis of the current water quality status of various major water bodies in China and the relevant domestic ecological compensation systems. Based on this analysis, the current water quality situation is not optimistic. In order to strengthen the ecological and environmental management of river basins, more than 40 relevant systems and implementation schemes of ecological compensation for river basins have been introduced from the central government to the local government level since 2016, and 13 cross-provincial agreements (schemes) on horizontal ecological compensation for river basins have been signed. By analyzing various data and more than 53 systems (programs), it becomes apparent there are some problems in the governance of aquatic environments of river basins in China. These problems include a lack of laws and regulations on ecological compensation, imperfect coordination mechanisms, a single compensation mode and insufficient amounts of compensation. Based on this, this study proposes that China’s cross-regional river basin ecological compensation and collaborative governance mechanisms should start with differential governance; explore a variety of horizontal ecological compensation methods according to local conditions; improve cross-regional river basin collaborative mechanisms, laws and regulations; build a new path of horizontal independent collaboration; broaden the channels of financial compensation; and comprehensively improve the level of regional linkages in the governance of river basins.

Ichthyofaunal diversity of Jammu region of North-Western Himalaya and its conservation status

Jammu and Kashmir has enormous fisheries potential due to its vast area and quantity of freshwater sources. The UT has rivers like Chenab, Tawi, Ravi, and Jhelum, as well as lakes including Dal lake, Wular lake, Manasbal lake, and Surinsar, Manasar lake. The purpose of this study is to summarize some of the key studies done on the Ichthyofaunal diversity of numerous water bodies in the Jammu region, as well as to create an inventory of the region’s Ichthyofauna while analyzing the dominant and least prominent species. The examination undertaken revealed the presence of 158 distinct fish species belonging to 10 orders, with Cypriniformes being the most dominating order and Cyprinidae being the most significant contributing family, while Anabantiformes and Clupeiformes were in traces. Furthermore, analysis of conservation status of the fauna revealed that, majority of the species in the region have a conservation status of “Least Concern”, while a few species are endangered or vulnerable. Analysis of fish fauna of the region’s major lotic water bodies finds that river Ravi has the largest fish diversity; however, a comparative analysis of fish fauna reveals that diversity is diminishing in the region necessitating extensive conservation strategies.

Urbanization against ecologically sensitive areas: effects of land use activities on surface water bodies in the Kumasi Metropolis

ABSTRACT The increase in human activities in urban areas resulting from the urbanisation process continues to put immense pressure on urban ecological resources including water bodies. This study seeks to assess the relationship between the various categories of human activities within the 100 m buffer of the major water bodies in the Kumasi Metropolis and the chemical and biological composition of the pollutants that are emitted into the water bodies. The findings of this study showed that the Kumasi Metropolis is confronted with weak enforcement of regulations that protect water bodies. For example, along the Subin River, human activities such as commercial activities and the development of squatter settlements did not conform to the standard setback average distance of 100 feet in the Zoning Regulation and Planning Standards. There is a need for city authorities to strategically respond to the various human activities that threaten the sustainability of water resources in cities.