- Title
- IMPACTS OF ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES ON THE STABLE ISOTOPIC DYNAMICS OF PARTICULATE ORGANIC MATTER IN MBASHE RIVER, EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA
- Creator
- MUNETSI ZVAVAHERA
- Description
- Mbashe River passes through three districts of Eastern Cape, South Africa, with catchments that have been modified by anthropogenic activities. To determine the effects of anthropogenic activities on the river particulate organic matter, (δ13CPOM), (δ15NPOM) and C/N ratios of particulate organic matter were investigated. Six sampling sites from three sections of the river were identified and selected according to anthropogenic activity occurring close to the river and sampled over a period of twelve months. The results indicated that different anthropogenic activities had significant effect on the POM stable isotope dynamics, resulting in uniquely distinct stable isotopes signatures varying both temporally and spatially. The C/N ratios, (δ13CPOM), and (δ15NPOM) isotopic values varied significantly (95% confidence interval) and revealed that POM was derived from different sources in the river catchment. Anthropogenic activities affected C/N ratios and δ15NPOM temporally, spatially and between river sections. The upstream was δ15NPOM depleted (4.5‰) while downstream the river δ15NPOM was enriched (5.8 ‰). The δ13CPOM values ranged from -12‰ to -32‰ temporally during the study period. The study revealed that POM was mainly derived from allochthonous sources (C/N ratios >8). The (δ15NPOM) revealed that upstream was more affected by anthropogenic activities than downstream. Our findings suggest that anthropogenic activities had more temporal effect than site to site. Further research is recommended and required to check whether isotopic dynamics observed can be replicated and determine whether the effect of anthropogenic activities is increasing or decreasing.
- Date
- 2014
- Subject
- stable isotopes, anthropogenic activities, enrichment, depletion
- Type
- Masters, MSc
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/11260/2361
- Identifier
- vital:41451
- Format
- Publisher
- Walter Sisulu University
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Walter Sisulu University
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WSU Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details | SOURCE1 | Munetsi Zvavahera.pdf | 10 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details |