Assessment of water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) distribution and changes in Lake Koka and Lake Ziway through remote sensing techniques

Abstract Water hyacinth is an invasive weed that significantly impacts Ethiopia’s environment and human well-being, particularly in Lake Koka and Lake Ziway. It reduces water availability and biodiversity in these areas. This study aimed to predict the spread of water hyacinth using GIS-based multi-...

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Main Authors: Gemechu Tolera, Abebe Getahun, Akewake Geremew, Seyoum Mengistou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94028-8
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author Gemechu Tolera
Abebe Getahun
Akewake Geremew
Seyoum Mengistou
author_facet Gemechu Tolera
Abebe Getahun
Akewake Geremew
Seyoum Mengistou
author_sort Gemechu Tolera
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Water hyacinth is an invasive weed that significantly impacts Ethiopia’s environment and human well-being, particularly in Lake Koka and Lake Ziway. It reduces water availability and biodiversity in these areas. This study aimed to predict the spread of water hyacinth using GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation and Sentinel-2 imagery. Field collections were conducted in both lakes during the wet and dry seasons of 2020. A multivariate statistical classifier was employed to map the spatial distribution of water hyacinth. The results indicate that in Lake Koka, coverage increased from 3.87% (1455.39 ha) in the dry season to 12.44% (4678.06 ha) in the wet season. In Lake Ziway, coverage ranged from 10.01% (6526.30 ha) to 11.39% (7424.05 ha) between the seasons. These findings highlight the significant proliferation of water hyacinth during the rainy season, which harms biodiversity and socioeconomic development. Additionally, the study found a decrease in the area covered by water hyacinths in agricultural land, water bodies, and bare land. Restoring land use and monitoring weed growth regularly is essential to mitigate these effects.
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issn 2045-2322
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spelling doaj-art-56ffbb696a1041f299b9951f4061e0602025-08-20T02:32:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-94028-8Assessment of water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) distribution and changes in Lake Koka and Lake Ziway through remote sensing techniquesGemechu Tolera0Abebe Getahun1Akewake Geremew2Seyoum Mengistou3Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa UniversityDepartment of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa UniversityDepartment of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa UniversityDepartment of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa UniversityAbstract Water hyacinth is an invasive weed that significantly impacts Ethiopia’s environment and human well-being, particularly in Lake Koka and Lake Ziway. It reduces water availability and biodiversity in these areas. This study aimed to predict the spread of water hyacinth using GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation and Sentinel-2 imagery. Field collections were conducted in both lakes during the wet and dry seasons of 2020. A multivariate statistical classifier was employed to map the spatial distribution of water hyacinth. The results indicate that in Lake Koka, coverage increased from 3.87% (1455.39 ha) in the dry season to 12.44% (4678.06 ha) in the wet season. In Lake Ziway, coverage ranged from 10.01% (6526.30 ha) to 11.39% (7424.05 ha) between the seasons. These findings highlight the significant proliferation of water hyacinth during the rainy season, which harms biodiversity and socioeconomic development. Additionally, the study found a decrease in the area covered by water hyacinths in agricultural land, water bodies, and bare land. Restoring land use and monitoring weed growth regularly is essential to mitigate these effects.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94028-8DistributionDry seasonGISSentinel-2 imagesWet season
spellingShingle Gemechu Tolera
Abebe Getahun
Akewake Geremew
Seyoum Mengistou
Assessment of water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) distribution and changes in Lake Koka and Lake Ziway through remote sensing techniques
Scientific Reports
Distribution
Dry season
GIS
Sentinel-2 images
Wet season
title Assessment of water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) distribution and changes in Lake Koka and Lake Ziway through remote sensing techniques
title_full Assessment of water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) distribution and changes in Lake Koka and Lake Ziway through remote sensing techniques
title_fullStr Assessment of water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) distribution and changes in Lake Koka and Lake Ziway through remote sensing techniques
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) distribution and changes in Lake Koka and Lake Ziway through remote sensing techniques
title_short Assessment of water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) distribution and changes in Lake Koka and Lake Ziway through remote sensing techniques
title_sort assessment of water hyacinth pontederia crassipes distribution and changes in lake koka and lake ziway through remote sensing techniques
topic Distribution
Dry season
GIS
Sentinel-2 images
Wet season
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94028-8
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