Human activities influence on distribution of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) in a tropical riverine ecosystem in Kenya
Rivers are vital ecosystems that support biodiversity and provide essential ecosystem services to both man and the environment. A wide range of communities in developing countries, such as Kenya rely on river water for irrigation, domestic use, animal watering, and industrial use leading to contamin...
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Freshwater Ecology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02705060.2025.2539125 |
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| author | Charity Nafuna Barasa Gelas Simiyu Muse Judith Ashindu Khazenzi |
| author_facet | Charity Nafuna Barasa Gelas Simiyu Muse Judith Ashindu Khazenzi |
| author_sort | Charity Nafuna Barasa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rivers are vital ecosystems that support biodiversity and provide essential ecosystem services to both man and the environment. A wide range of communities in developing countries, such as Kenya rely on river water for irrigation, domestic use, animal watering, and industrial use leading to contamination and altered ecosystem quality. The study aimed to assess human activities influence on distribution of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera along River Kiminini in Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya. It was conducted in 2023 from July to September covering the wet season. Physical-chemical parameters in water and EPT richness were determined from 10 sampling stations along the river. Macroinvertebrates were collected for taxonomic identification and richness counts. The concentrations of phosphates in all stations were higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of 0.1 mg/l. Stations S1 (12.09 mg/l), S2 (11.77 mg/l), S3 (14.40 mg/l), S7 (10.85 mg/l), and S9 (12.54 mg/l) had nitrate levels above the WHO-recommended threshold of 10 mg/l. The macroinvertebrates analysis revealed 42 macroinvertebrates genera, with EPT dominating the upstream stations and decreasing downstream with increasing levels of physical-chemical parameters influenced by human activities. In view of the downstream reduction in EPT richness with increase in physical-chemical parameters levels, the study highlights the significance of riparian land use control and continuous EPT species monitoring as a crucial measure to reduce water quality deterioration and enhance habitat conditions in general. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1386fd6012d444de9229cbc7245518c8 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0270-5060 2156-6941 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Freshwater Ecology |
| spelling | doaj-art-1386fd6012d444de9229cbc7245518c82025-08-20T02:46:16ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Freshwater Ecology0270-50602156-69412025-12-0140110.1080/02705060.2025.2539125Human activities influence on distribution of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) in a tropical riverine ecosystem in KenyaCharity Nafuna Barasa0Gelas Simiyu Muse1Judith Ashindu Khazenzi2Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Eldoret, Eldoret, KenyaDepartment of Environmental Sciences, University of Eldoret, Eldoret, KenyaDepartment of Environmental Sciences, University of Eldoret, Eldoret, KenyaRivers are vital ecosystems that support biodiversity and provide essential ecosystem services to both man and the environment. A wide range of communities in developing countries, such as Kenya rely on river water for irrigation, domestic use, animal watering, and industrial use leading to contamination and altered ecosystem quality. The study aimed to assess human activities influence on distribution of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera along River Kiminini in Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya. It was conducted in 2023 from July to September covering the wet season. Physical-chemical parameters in water and EPT richness were determined from 10 sampling stations along the river. Macroinvertebrates were collected for taxonomic identification and richness counts. The concentrations of phosphates in all stations were higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of 0.1 mg/l. Stations S1 (12.09 mg/l), S2 (11.77 mg/l), S3 (14.40 mg/l), S7 (10.85 mg/l), and S9 (12.54 mg/l) had nitrate levels above the WHO-recommended threshold of 10 mg/l. The macroinvertebrates analysis revealed 42 macroinvertebrates genera, with EPT dominating the upstream stations and decreasing downstream with increasing levels of physical-chemical parameters influenced by human activities. In view of the downstream reduction in EPT richness with increase in physical-chemical parameters levels, the study highlights the significance of riparian land use control and continuous EPT species monitoring as a crucial measure to reduce water quality deterioration and enhance habitat conditions in general.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02705060.2025.2539125Water qualityenvironmenthuman activitiesrichness countsmonitoring |
| spellingShingle | Charity Nafuna Barasa Gelas Simiyu Muse Judith Ashindu Khazenzi Human activities influence on distribution of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) in a tropical riverine ecosystem in Kenya Journal of Freshwater Ecology Water quality environment human activities richness counts monitoring |
| title | Human activities influence on distribution of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) in a tropical riverine ecosystem in Kenya |
| title_full | Human activities influence on distribution of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) in a tropical riverine ecosystem in Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Human activities influence on distribution of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) in a tropical riverine ecosystem in Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Human activities influence on distribution of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) in a tropical riverine ecosystem in Kenya |
| title_short | Human activities influence on distribution of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) in a tropical riverine ecosystem in Kenya |
| title_sort | human activities influence on distribution of ephemeroptera plecoptera and trichoptera ept in a tropical riverine ecosystem in kenya |
| topic | Water quality environment human activities richness counts monitoring |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02705060.2025.2539125 |
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