Journals Information
Environment and Ecology Research Vol. 13(5), pp. 643 - 656
DOI: 10.13189/eer.2025.130504
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Relationship between Macroinvertebrate Abundance and Physico-Chemical Properties of Water in River Kapingazi, Embu County, Kenya
Nyambane N. M. 1,*, Onyari C. N. 2
1 Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, Kenya
2 Department of Land and Water Management, University of Embu, Kenya
ABSTRACT
The study sought to assess the relationship between macroinvertebrate abundance attracted to decomposing leaf litter from three tree species and the physicochemical properties of water in Kapingazi in Embu County, Kenya. Five sites with evident human activities were purposively selected. Fresh leaves were plucked from three plant species (Lantana Camara, Guajava sp., and Eucalyptus grandis), air-dried, and about 5.0 g packed in 12 mesh/litter bags (litter bags) for each species. The physico-chemical variables were measured (mostly in-situ) at the sites. Both correlation and multilinear regression analyses were done to establish the relationship between the macroinvertebrates and the physicochemical properties of the river water. The findings revealed that the macroinvertebrates were more abundant in the dry month (2233) than the wet month (1158) with peak macroinvertebrate abundance recorded on the 14th and 21st observation days for all the sites in the months of September and December 2018, respectively. Correlation was positive between macroinvertebrate abundance and pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature. Salinity correlated highly and positively with EC and TDS in both months. Regression revealed increasing pH, DO, Q and TP generally increased macroinvertebrate abundance. It was concluded that macroinvertebrate abundance was affected by site, season, plant species and the physicochemical properties of the water in Kapingazi River. It is recommended that human activities at different sites be regulated with more proactive policy and legal initiatives to improve and stabilize the balance of biotic interactions for a sustainable riverine ecosystem like that of Kapingazi River.
KEYWORDS
Anthropogenic Activities, Benthic, Physicochemical Properties, Correlation and Regression, River Ecosystem
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Nyambane N. M. , Onyari C. N. , "Relationship between Macroinvertebrate Abundance and Physico-Chemical Properties of Water in River Kapingazi, Embu County, Kenya," Environment and Ecology Research, Vol. 13, No. 5, pp. 643 - 656, 2025. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2025.130504.
(b). APA Format:
Nyambane N. M. , Onyari C. N. (2025). Relationship between Macroinvertebrate Abundance and Physico-Chemical Properties of Water in River Kapingazi, Embu County, Kenya. Environment and Ecology Research, 13(5), 643 - 656. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2025.130504.