Occurrence and distribution of invertebrates in temporary wetlands of the Pangani River Basin, northeastern Tanzania

Grite Nelson Mwaijengo; Issakwisa Bernard Ngondya; Linus Munishi; Ally Mohamed Ally; Salome Milola

doi:10.15468/q48e66

Occurrence and distribution of invertebrates in temporary wetlands of the Pangani River Basin, northeastern Tanzania

Citation

Mwaijengo G N, Ngondya I B, Munishi L, Ally A M, Milola S (2022). Occurrence and distribution of invertebrates in temporary wetlands of the Pangani River Basin, northeastern Tanzania. Version 1.2. TanBIF. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/q48e66 accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-12.

Description

Temporary wetlands are aquatic habitats characterized by a recurrent dry phase of varying duration (Williams et al., 2001). They are generally small (< 10 ha in area) and shallow (often < 30 cm) with alternating phases of flooding and drying, and largely autonomous hydrology (Ramsar, 2002). Despite their relatively small size, temporary wetlands harbor unique flora and fauna that are uncommon or absent in permanent aquatic habitats; hence contributing significantly to local and regional biodiversity (Williams et al., 2003; Nicolet et al., 2004; De Meester et al., 2005; Aguilar-Alberola and Mesquita-Joanes, 2011). Regarding their invertebrate fauna, they are often inhabited by a variety of organisms such as large branchiopod species (e.g. Notostraca, Anostraca, Spinicaudata, Laevicaudata, Cyclestherida) and smaller-bodied zooplankton groups like cladocerans, copepods, and rotifers (Brendonck and Williams, 2000; Williams, 2006; Boix et al., 2016). This dataset presents data on the occurrence of freshwater invertebrates in the temporary wetlands of the Pangani River Basin, northeastern Tanzania. The invertebrate occurrence data were obtained from the assessment program with the aim of understanding the physical condition of temporary wetlands and the patterns and processes shaping the biota of temporary wetlands in the Pangani River Basin. Thus, providing the baseline information needed to formulate conservation and management frameworks for the sustainable management of temporary wetlands in the region. In total, the dataset covers the period between April 14, 2017 and April 17, 2017 and contains 126 occurrence records belonging to 8 orders, 21 families, and 31 genera. Given that Pangani River basin is of high ecological importance to the region (PBWO/IUCN, 2007); renowned for high species richness and endemism across multiple taxonomic groups (VPO, 2015; Seeteram et al., 2019). Therefore, access to reliable, and ready to use freshwater biodiversity data is vital to guide policy formulation and decision-making processes for sustainable utilization and management of the basin. Mobilization and preparation of this dataset was funded by JRS Biodiversity Foundation through Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and Biodiversity Information for Development programme.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

The macroinvertebrates were observed from temporary wetlands in the floodplain system of the Ruvu River catchment in the Pangani River Basin.

Sampling

Invertebrates taxa presented in this dataset were collected during the implementation of the VLIR-UOS project “Sustainable Management of Soil and Water for the Improvement of Livelihoods in the Upper Pangani River Basin, Tanzania”, Grant number ZIUS2013AP029. The invertebrates data was collected from twelve temporary wetlands in the Ruvu River catchment. The set of temporary wetlands comprised a strong gradient in hydrological connectivity (HC), with river connected wetlands seasonally connect to the Ruvu river during the high base flow while endorheic wetlands lack such connection. All selected wetlands were sampled during the peak of the wet season of April 2017. Invertebrates were collected in a semi-quantitative way by sweeping a 500-µm D-frame net 15-20 times across different microhabitats in the wetland (i.e., open water, submerged vegetation, floating vegetation, and emergent vegetation) relative to the structural heterogeneity and wetland size. Invertebrates were identified to genus and species levels using various identification guides (Day et al., 1999; Day and De Moor, 2002; Day et al., 2002; De Moor et al., 2003; Stals and De Moor, 2007; De Moor et al., 2009)

Quality Control

We collated all the invertebrates data into Microsoft Excel spreadsheets according to the Darwin-Core standard i.e., following Darwin core quick reference guide. We verified the taxonomic nomenclature using the “species matching” tool available on the GBIF website (https://www.gbif.org/tools/species-lookup). To ensure data adherence to Darwin Core standards we performed data cleaning. We used the data validator tool available on the GBIF website (https://www.gbif.org/tools/data-validator) to identify missing or incorrect information in our dataset. The two tools used are open-source software

Method steps

Invertebrates taxa presented in this dataset were collected during the implementation of the VLIR-UOS project “Sustainable Management of Soil and Water for the Improvement of Livelihoods in the Upper Pangani River Basin, Tanzania”, Grant number ZIUS2013AP029. The invertebrates data was collected from twelve temporary wetlands in the Ruvu River catchment. The set of temporary wetlands comprised a strong gradient in hydrological connectivity (HC), with river connected wetlands seasonally connect to the Ruvu river during the high base flow while endorheic wetlands lack such connection. All selected wetlands were sampled during the peak of the wet season of April 2017. Invertebrates were collected in a semi-quantitative way by sweeping a 500-µm D-frame net 15-20 times across different microhabitats in the wetland (i.e., open water, submerged vegetation, floating vegetation, and emergent vegetation) relative to the structural heterogeneity and wetland size. Invertebrates were identified to genus and species levels using various identification guides (Day et al., 1999; Day and De Moor, 2002; Day et al., 2002; De Moor et al., 2003; Stals and De Moor, 2007; De Moor et al., 2009)We collated all the invertebrates data into Microsoft Excel spreadsheets according to the Darwin-Core standard i.e., following Darwin core quick reference guide. We verified the taxonomic nomenclature using the “species matching” tool available on the GBIF website (https://www.gbif.org/tools/species-lookup). To ensure data adherence to Darwin Core standards we performed data cleaning. We used the data validator tool available on the GBIF website (https://www.gbif.org/tools/data-validator) to identify missing or incorrect information in our dataset. The two tools used are open-source software

Taxonomic Coverages

This dataset present invertebrate assemblages observed in temporary wetlands in the Pangani River Basin between April 14, 2017 and April 17, 2017. The dataset contains a total of 126 occurrences belonging to 30 genera. The taxonomic groups in this dataset includes 13 hemipterans, 4 anisopterans, 2 zygopterans, 5 coleopterans, 2 decapod, 2 ephemeropterans, and 3 anostracans

Agraptocorixa
rank: genus
Anisops
rank: genus
Appasus
rank: genus
Atyopsis
common name: Freshwater shrimp rank: genus
Baetis
common name: Blue-winged olive rank: genus
Berosus
rank: genus
Borborophilus
rank: genus
Branchipodopsis
common name: Fairy shrimp rank: genus
Crenigomphus
rank: genus
Dineurus
rank: genus
Dytiscus
rank: genus
Enithares
rank: genus
Hydrophilus
rank: genus
Laccotrephes
rank: genus
Lestes
rank: genus
Lethocerus
rank: genus
Limnogeton
rank: genus
Macrocoris
rank: genus
Manohyphella
rank: genus
Micronecta
rank: genus
Neomacrocoris
rank: genus
Notogomphus
rank: genus
Notonecta
common name: Backswimmer rank: genus
Pseudagrion
rank: genus
Ranatra
common name: Water scorpion rank: genus
Spercheus
rank: genus
Trithemis
common name: Dropwing rank: genus
Streptocephalus bourquinii
rank: species
Streptocephalus wirminghausi
rank: species
Anax imperator
common name: Blou Keiser rank: species
Caridina nilotica
rank: species

Geographic Coverages

The Pangani River basin is located along 36ᵒ20'E to 39ᵒ02'E Longitude and 02ᵒ55'S to 05ᵒ40'S Latitude in the northeastern Tanzania. The drainage area of the Pangani River basin about 43,650 km2 (95% of it lies in Tanzania and the remainder in Kenya), and the main river channel is 500 km long. Major features of the basin are Lake Jipe on the Ruvu tributary, the Kalimawe Dam on the Mkomazi, Nyumba ya Mungu (NyM) Dam and Kirua Swamps. The basin has a semi-arid climate with average annual precipitation of approximately 2500 mm in the highlands and around 500mm in the lowland (PBWB/IUCN, 2011). Numerous temporary wetlands varying in size, morphometry and hydroperiod have existed in the Pangani River Basin. Unfortunately, most of the wetlands have been converted to agricultural land, settlement and/or filled-up (e.g. for mosquito control) with their

Bibliographic Citations

Boix, D., Kneitel, J., Robson, B.J., Duchet, C., Zúñiga, L., Day, J., Gascón, S., Sala, J., Quintana, X.D., Leon, B., 2016. Invertebrates of temporary Ponds in Mediterranean Climates. In: Batzer, D. & Boix, D. (eds.) Invertebrates in Freshwater Wetlands: An International Perspective on their Ecology. Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 645, 141-189. Brendonck, L., Williams, W.D., 2000. Biodiversity in wetlands of dry regions (drylands) In: Biodiversity in wetlands: assessment, function and conservation vol. 1. Gopal, B., W.J. Junk & J.A. Davis (Editors). Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands, pp. 181-194. Day, J.A., De Moor, I.J., 2002. Guides to the freshwater invertebrates of southern Africa. Arachnida and Mollusca (Araneae, Water Mites and Mollusca). Report No. TT182/02: 1–141, Water Research Commission, South Africa. Day, J.A., Harrison, A.D., De Moor, I.J., 2002. Guide to the Freshwater Invertebrates of Southern Africa. Insecta III: Diptera. Report No. TT201/02: 1–200, Water Research Commission, South Africa. Day, J.A., Stewart, B.A., De Moor, I.J., Louw, A.E., 1999. Guides to the freshwater invertebrates of southern Africa. Crustacea I : Notostraca, Anostraca, Conchostraca and Cladocera. Report No. TT121/00: 1–123, Water Research Commission, South Africa. De Moor, I.J., Day, J.A., De Moor, F.C., 2009. Guide to the Freshwater Invertebrates of Southern Africa. Insecta I: Ephemeroptera, Odonata and Plecoptera. Report No. TT 207/03:1-288, Water Research Commission, South Africa. De Moor, I.J., Day, J.A., De Moor, F.C., 2003. Guide to the Freshwater Invertebrates of Southern Africa. Insecta II: Hemiptera, Megaloptera, Neuroptera, Trichoptera and Lepidoptera. Report No. TT214/03: 1–209, Water Research Commission, South Africa. Gallardo, B., National, S., Paillex, A., 2014. Response of benthic macroinvertebrates to gradients in hydrological connectivity : a comparison of temperate , subtropical , Mediterranean and semiarid river floodplains. Freshw. Biol. 59, 630–648. https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.12292 Keddy, P.A., 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation. Cambridge University Press, New York, pp. 497. Ramsar, 2002. The Convention on Wetlands. Resolution VIII . 33 Guidance for identifying , sustainably managing , and designating temporary pools as Wetlands of International Importance.pp1-7. Ramsar Convention Secretariat, 2016. An Introduction to the Convention on Wetlands (previously The Ramsar Convention Manual). Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Gland, Switzerland. Stals, R., De Moor, I.J., 2007. Guides to the Freshwater Invertebrates of Southern Africa. Coleoptera. Report No. TT320/07: 1–263, Water Research Commission, South Africa. Williams, D.D., 2006. The biology of temporary waters. Oxford Biology, pp. 268. Williams, P., Biggs, J., Fox, G., Nicolet, P., Whitfield, M., 2001. History,origins and importance of temporary ponds. Freshw. Biol. Assoc. 17, 7–15. Williams, P., Whitfield, M., Biggs, J., Bray, S., Fox, G., Nicolet, P., Sear, D., 2003. Comparative biodiversity of rivers , streams , ditches and ponds in an agricultural landscape in Southern England. Biological 115, 329–341. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(03)00153-8 -

Contacts

Grite Nelson Mwaijengo
originator
position: Lecturer
The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
P.O Box 447
Arusha
23311
Arusha
TZ
Telephone: +255756931201
email: grite.nelson@nm-aist.ac.tz
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3685-5986

Issakwisa Bernard Ngondya
originator
position: Lecturer
The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
P.O Box 447
Arusha
Arusha
TZ
Telephone: 0784355896
email: issakwisa.ngondya@nm-aist.ac.tz
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0103-6428

Linus Munishi
originator
position: Associate Proffessor
The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
P.O.Box 447
Arusha
Arusha
TZ
Telephone: 0768171890
email: linus.munishi@nm-aist.ac.tz
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0188-8630

Ally Mohamed Ally
originator
position: Early career Researcher
University of Dar es Salaam
P.O.Box 35091
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam
TZ
Telephone: 0715888313
email: allyallym25@gmail.com

Salome Milola
originator
position: Early career Researcher
The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
P.O.Box 447
Arusha
Arusha
TZ
Telephone: 0763847578
email: milolasalome@gmail.com

Grite Nelson Mwaijengo
metadata author
position: Lecturer
The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
P.O Box 447
Arusha
23311
Arusha
TZ
Telephone: +255756931201
email: grite.nelson@nm-aist.ac.tz
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3685-5986

Issakwisa Bernard Ngondya
metadata author
position: Lecturer
The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
P.O Box 447
Arusha
Arusha
TZ
Telephone: 0784355896
email: issakwisa.ngondya@nm-aist.ac.tz
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0103-6428

Linus Munishi
metadata author
position: Associate Proffessor
The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
P.O Box 447
Arusha
Arusha
TZ
Telephone: 0768171890
email: linus.munishi@nm-aist.ac.tz
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0188-8630

Ally Mohamed Ally
metadata author
position: Early Career Researcher
University of Dar es Salaam
P.O.Box 35091
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam
Telephone: 0715888313
email: allyallym25@gmail.com

Grite Nelson Mwaijengo
principal investigator
position: Lecturer
The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
P.O Box 447
Arusha
23311
Arusha
TZ
Telephone: +255756931201
email: grite.nelson@nm-aist.ac.tz
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3685-5986

Grite Nelson Mwaijengo
administrative point of contact
position: Lecturer
The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
P.O Box 447
Arusha
23311
Arusha
TZ
Telephone: +255756931201
email: grite.nelson@nm-aist.ac.tz
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3685-5986

Issakwisa Bernard Ngondya
administrative point of contact
position: Lecturer
The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
P.o.Box 447
Arusha
Arusha
TZ
Telephone: 0784355896
email: issakwisa.ngondya@nm-aist.ac.tz
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0103-6428

Linus Munishi
administrative point of contact
position: Associate Proffesor
The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
P.o.Box 447
Arusha
Arusha
TZ
Telephone: 0768171890
email: linus.munishi@nm-aist.ac.tz
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0188-8630

Hulda Gideon
administrative point of contact
position: Senior Research Officer
Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology
P.O.Box 4302
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam
TZ
Telephone: 0754310879
email: hgideon@costech.or.tz