The status of a river ecosystem in Swaziland: a case of Lusushwana River in Matsapha Online publication date: Wed, 15-Apr-2015
by Saico S. Singwane; Sihle W. Magagula
International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology (IJHST), Vol. 4, No. 4, 2014
Abstract: Biodiversity is a fundamental aspect in ecology and nature conservation. Over the decades it has suffered immensely due to human activities. This study focused on the biodiversity status of Lusushwana River and how it correlates with river quality in three sampling sites. The study also investigated the issue of anthropogenic activities within a catchment, which in turn impacts on a riverine ecosystem as a functional unit. Methods used include, judgment sampling techniques, Shannon biodiversity index and transect data collection techniques and the Shannon biodiversity index versus IDAHO water quality index to illustrate the relationship between the two quantitative data sets. Spearman's rank correlation shows that the two are related through correlation with an R value of +0.5 for Lusushwana River. Species diversity was found to be 2.40 with phragmites dominating the river ecosystem. Water quality had an IDAHO index value of 1.67; hence not ideal for drinking and swimming.
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