Seasonal macrophyte diversity and water quality in an urban wetland

Abstract

The ecosystem services of encroached urban wetlands that receive wastewater and surface run-offs have become more challenging due to climate variability. Our study assessed the seasonal macrophyte diversity and water quality of the streams flowing into and out from Pece wetland in Gulu Municipality. The macrophyte species in the wetland were sampled along five transects. Water samples from the streams were also collected and analyzed in the laboratory. Results indicated forty two macrophyte species that were in twenty four families. Macrophyte diversity and equitability were higher at the wetland edge, but were not significantly different in the entire wetland (p=0.41, respectively). The recorded faecal coliforms (FC), total suspended solids, electrical conductivity and turbidity in the streams were higher in the wet season than the dry season. The wetland doubled the retention of FC during the dry season and relatively less retention of total suspended solids was recorded in the dry season. The urban expansion and farming might alter the macrophyte abundance and richness in Pece wetland, thus affecting the ecosystem services.