Water hyacinth eichhornia crassipes is an invasive plant species introduced to ethiopian water bodies around the mid 20th century with recently exacerbated devastating ecological and economic consequences. These plants have established populations in states and 53 countries. Water scarcity and related environmental problems in parts. Map showing water hyacinth infestation during july 2012 source. Genetic uniformity characterizes the invasive spread of water hyacinth eichhornia crassipes, a clonal aquatic plant. For the last 67 years, water hyacinth has been colonizing lake tana, the largest lake in ethiopia. In 2014, researchers from ethiopia found out that about onethird of the lakes shoreline, around 128km, was invaded by water hyacinth. Besides, the drainage system blockage by the weed contributes for the rise of groundwater table and flooding problems. Exploration of fungal pathogens associated with water hyacinth eichhornia crassipes mart. In just two years, the estimated coverage of the weed. Water hyacinth degree of infestation and associated kebeles as well as woredas 2015 figure 7. It commonly forms dense, interlocking mats due to its rapid reproductive rate and complex root structure. Occurrence and diversity of fungal pathogens associated.
It is generally 1020 cm high but can reach 1 m high when established in dense mats ecoport, 2011. This fact sheet provides information and some options for controlling water hyacinth. The general information about the impact of water hyacinth. The recent invasion of water hyacinth eichhornia crassipes is the most pressing challenge of lake tana, the largest fresh water body of ethiopia and the source of the blue nile river. The water hyacinth first appeared five years ago and believe to have been brought by expat engineers working on nearby dams, according to wase anteneh, a researcher with the university of bahir dar. Ethiopias lake tana is losing the fight to water hyacinth. While ethiopia has relatively abundant water resources, it is considered water stressed due to rapid population growth over the last decade. Originally from south america, water hyacinth, eichhornia crassipes mart. Eichhornia azurea, eichhornia crassipes distribution. The aim of the research was to highlight the devastating impact of the water hyacinth on aquatic life and human activities on aba samuel dam and to underline prospects of its beneficial use.
The weed forms thick mats over the infested water bodies. In ethiopia, water hyacinth was observed and reported for the. Water hyacinth has been reported to invade two major areas of ethiopia. The state of water resource management in ethiopia. The weed species grows in and swims over water and expands very quickly. Impacts of water hyacinth invasion in lake tana, ethiopia.
Determinants of environmental conservation in lake tana. The history of water hyacinth in africa french botanist alire raffeneaudelile was cultivating that plant in egypt by the late 1790s, by the 1870s water hyacinth emerged as an ecological disaster in egypt as it would be soon in other parts of the world as well. Control methods are outlined integrating physical, chemical and biological techniques. This paper presented the study made to identify determinant factors affecting. The purpose of this study is to detect the spatiotemporal trend of the weed during 20, 2015 and 2017. It is suggested that neochetina eichhorniae could be used as a biological control agent, possibly in combination with cercospora rodmanii. Summary of waterhyacinth infestation on lake tana figure 6.
Water hyacinth is a rhizomatous and stoloniferous plant. Pdf impact of water hyacinth, eichhornia crassipes. Lake tana has surface area of about 3,500 square kilometers, and is. Water hyacinth is found in southeastern united states as well as california, hawaii, and the virgin islands. Evaluation of water hyacinth harvester and wh management. Invasion of water hyacinth eichhornia crassipes is.
Impact of water hyacinth, eichhornia crassipes martius pontederiaceae in lake tana ethiopia. Water hyacinth threatens livelihoods in ethiopias lake. It causes to a significant ecological and socioeconomic effects villamagna and murphy, 2010. Incursion of water hyacinth, eichhornia crassipes, has been a potential threat to lake tana and its ecosystem services. In six years, according to research by the local bahirdar university, it covered 50,000 hectares of the lake. Water hyacinth was first recorded in south africa on the cape flats in the early 1900s and since then, has spread throughout the country. The effects of introduced water hyacinth on habitat structure, invertebrate assemblages, and fish diets. The states of oregon and washington do not have the water hyacinth listed as a noxious weed simply because the established populations found have not spread to the rate of invasiveness.
Pdf preliminary survey of water hyacinth in lake tana. The ecosystem of lake tana, ethiopias largest lake, has been threatened by the spread of water hyacinth, which experts warn could create significant damages to the fish and other aquatic life. In the northern ethiopia, lake tana has serious problems related to the alien water hyacinth invasive weed. The history of water hyacinth in africa aquarius systems. Residents living on the shores of ethiopias lake tana are appealing for government assistance to save them from the fastspreading water hyacinth. In 2011, it was noticed at the mouth of megech river at the northeastern corner of the lake. Map showing waterhyacinth infestation during july 2012 source. High infestation was observed in lemba arbaytu, tana woyna, jarjar abanor and adisgie dingie kebeles bordering lake tana shore areas.
Macrophytes play critical ecological role in inland water bodies, especially in shallow systems. Feasability study for the potential to harvest waterhyacinths in ethiopia s lake tana biosphere reserve with a view to produce biofuel and organic agrofertilizer. Solms, is one of the worlds most prevalent invasive aquatic plants. Yet, the invasion of the weed appears expanding its scope across the wetlands of the lake. On the other hand water hyacinth once established is very difficult to manage and eradication is often impossible. With this background, bahir dar university bdu and organization for rehabilitation and development in amhara orda have established research technical team to map the current water hyacinth coverage on lake tana. Eichhornia crassipes, commonly known as common water hyacinth, is an aquatic plant native to the amazon basin, and is often a highly problematic invasive species outside its native range. Potential of water hyacinth infestation on lake tana. Studies on this invasive species in ethiopia have addressed various aspects such as economic impact, biodiversity loss. The weed has created an eminent threat to the water quality and quantity of the lake and its biodiversity. Detecting spatiotemporal expansion of water hyacinth. The effect of water hyacinth in lake tana aquatic biodiversity water hyacinth persistent species are extensively conventional as one of the foremost cause of biodiversity loss and can have momentous.
Its expansion is currently managed by abstraction removing by hand. Water hyacinth was introduced in the water bodies of the rift valley in 68years ago and currently, the weed is distributed lake tana, lake abaya, lake koka, koka dam. Water hyacinth is an exotic freshwater weed damaging wetland resources over the lake tana basin, ethiopia. The water hyacinth, known in ethiopia as the emboch, was first noticed in lake tana in 2012 by the biologist ayalew wonde. It is found at the surface of rivers, lakes, canals and ponds and may root in the mud of shallow waters. Investigation of water hyacinth was conducted from october 27, 2011 to november 3, 2011 by interdisciplinary expedition groups. Review of the manuscript water549727, spatiotemporal prediction of potential water hyacinth infestation area using a gisbased multicriteria evaluation technique for lake tana, ethiopia by dersseh et al. Determinants of manual control of water hyacinth expansion. Estimates of renewable annual groundwater per year range from.
Request pdf preliminary survey of water hyacinth in lake tana, ethiopia pinvestigation of water hyacinth was conducted from october 27, 2011 to november 3, 2011 by interdisciplinary. Solms is a free floating perennial herb of fresh water ecosystems. Environmental impact water hyacinth mats block irrigation canal and rivers leading to flooding. Bedilu bekele mengistu, dikaso unbushe, eyualem abebe. A combination of mechanical, biological and herbicide methods are the best strategy in managing water hyacinth. At present, it is one of the fiveinvasive alien plants in the country fessehaie, 2005. This study aimed to assess the potential effects of water hyacinth and its management on water quality and human health. In an effort to integrate fungal pathogens into water hyacinth management, this paper investigates the diversity of fungal pathogens associated with water hyacinth in ethiopia, their impact on the growth of water hyacinth plants and their safety on important plant species. Managing water hyacinth the gbo requires a person to take reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risks posed by water hyacinth. It is considered one of the hundred most dangerous plants in the world due to its ability to spread rapidly. Landsat 8 satellite images captured in december were used to assess the rate of expansion of the. Plant size ranges from a few inches to a metre in height. Pdf exploration of fungal pathogens associated with.
In ethiopia, water hyacinth caused wastage of water through excessive evapotranspiration 28. Water hyacinth infestation in ethiopia was known to appear in koka reservoir in 1956 was dispersed and now became relentless to lake tana in the blue nile basin admas et al. Besides its negative effect in hampering transportation, irrigation and hydroelectric power, it also creates a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Carelessness and lack of conservation efforts in the country brought invasive species from the southeast to northwest ethiopia admas et al. This manuscript analyse and predict the potential area of invasion of the water hyacinth in lake tana ethiopia. The water hyacinth eichhornia crassipes in ethiopia.
This extensive distribution, as well as the resilience of the weed, is attributed to the highly eutrophic, or nutrient enriched, state of south africas waters, and has led to the severe degradation of a. Water hyacinth control and possible uses introduction water hyacinth eichhornia crassipes water hyacinth is an aquatic plant which can live and reproduce floating freely on the surface of fresh waters or can be anchored in mud. Water hyacinth eichhprnia crassipes is the most dangerous and worst invasive aquatic weed in the worldwide including ethiopia, and negatively affecting millions of water resources, fisheries, transportation and social structure. Here we report the impact of the invasive plant species on macrophyte species assemblage. This is following the infestation of the water hyacinth on the countrys largest lake. Constructional details of waterhyacinth chopper cum crusher. A total of 24 sites were delineated using geographical positioning system gps during investigation of water hyacinth. In ethiopia, water hyacinth was announced in 1956 in koka lake and awash river tegene and ayele, 2014. Preliminary survey of water hyacinth in lake tana, ethiopia. This allows ownership and trade of the water hyacinth still legal in these states and allow for the possibility of more invasions around the state. Ethiopias largest lake threatened by water hyacinth the. Residents living on the shores of ethiopia s lake tana are appealing for government assistance to save them from the fastspreading water hyacinth.
Impacts of water hyacinth invasion in lake tana, ethiopia a water weed is damaging ethiopias largest lake and putting livelihoods at risk endalk. Distribution, impacts and management option for water. Unesco, african union commission, hoarec, and university of karachi ishu. The water hyacinth, eichhorrnia crassipes, has been widely recognized as the worst aquatic weed the world over and of increasing importance in africa, ethiopia inclusive. Since 2011, water hyacinth has invaded lake tana, which is the largest lake in the highlands of ethiopia 16. Different measures, including manual labour and harvesting machinery are in use to reduce its damage and expansion. Water hyacinth in lake tana poses a big threat to ethiopia. Millions of ethiopians, who rely on lake tana, are at risk of losing their source of livelihood. Water hyacinth national invasive species information.