scholarly journals Ecological Characterization of Invasive Alien Species and Associated Abiotic Factors of Three Islands in the Pool Malebo in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Michael Tshibangu Mukendi ◽  
Henri Kunzi Mbale ◽  
Pisco Munkolo Menga ◽  
Masens-da-Musa Yung ◽  
Jean Meti Ntumba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Pistia Stratiotes ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Congo River ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

Nowadays, invasive alien species are causing more and more environmental problems in several water bodies around the world, in Africa and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In October 2020, a floristic inventory was carried out around three islands of the Congo River (Molondo, Mipongo and Japon) at the Pool Malebo in Kinshasa. The study focused on the identification and behavior of alien species along with associated abiotic factors in the Malebo Pool of the Congo River in Kinkole, Kinshasa. The study used a simple random sampling design to select different sites where samples were collected after a direct observation. We collected invasive species in the middle of the Congo River and to achieve that, we used canoe depending on the location of each site. Recorded species were classified either alien species or invasive alien species according to the status in the study region. The identification of collected species was performed according to APG III. Seeing the way these species invade the environment and how they disturb the ecology of rivers, the physico-chemical characteristics of waters were measured between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm with the appropriate electronic probe for each parameter. For each parameter, the comparison between the sites was carried out using the ANOVA test with XLSTAT 2013 software. The findings show that 19 species have been identified as invasive alien species out of which, four were dominant, namely Echinochloa pyramidalis, Eichhornia crassipes, Salvinia molesta and Pistia stratiotes. Considering the physico-chemical parameters, no significant differences were observed for the temperature (F=0.42 and p=0.66), conductivity (F=1.55 and p=0.25) and turbidity (F=2.28 and p=0.14) for the three sites. While the pH (F=4.98; p=0.026; LSD=0.361), dissolved oxygen (F=12; p=0.001; LSD=3.65) and salinity (F=4.06; p= 0.04; LSD= 1.69) showed significant variation in the three sites. The formation of vegetation groups around these islands in the Congo River at the Pool Malebo in Kinshasa  would also be justified by the influence of these parameters.

scholarly journals Floristic Inventory of Invasive Alien Aquatic Plants Found in Some Congolese Rivers, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Henri Kunzi Mbale ◽  
Michael Tshibangu Mukendi ◽  
Gédéon Ngiala Bongo ◽  
Anthony Batoba Kikufi ◽  
Félicien Luyeye Lukoki
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Pistia Stratiotes ◽  
Chemical Characteristics ◽  
Congo River ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

Aim: To identify invasive aquatic alien plant species found in the Pool Malebo and some rivers in Kinshasa city, their behavior as well as their socio-economic impacts. Study Design: The study used a combination of purposive sampling and simple random sampling in order to select different sites where samples were collected. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in different rivers (Pool Malebo system (Kinkole, Kingabwa), and N'sele, Funa and Lukaya rivers) of Kinshasa city in Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Pool Malebo is located along the Congo River. This was conducted between March and October 2013. Methodology: The collection was performed after a direct observation. The location of collection depended on sites, at Kingabwa and Kinkole, we collected invasive species in the middle of the Congo river and to achieve that, we used canoe. While at N’sele, Lukaya and Funa rivers, samples were collected at the edges. The collection took place in the morning between 7 and 11 am. Recorded species were classified either alien species or invasive alien species according to the status in the study region. The identification of collected species was carried out according to APG III. Seeing the way these species invade the environment and how they disturb the ecology of rivers, the physico-chemical characteristics of waters were measured between 7:00 and 11:00 am with the appropriate electronic probe for each parameter. For each parameter, the comparison between the sites was carried out using the ANOVA test with XLSTAT 2013 software. Results: Out of 151 specimens collected, 35 species have been identified of which 19 species as alien were identified and 4 proved to be invasive alien species, namely: Eichhornia crassipes, Echinochloa pyramidalis, Ludwigia peploides and Pistia stratiotes. These invasive species are used by farmers as livestock feed and also as green manure for different agricultural and farming activities, As to the physico-chemical characteristics, no significant differences were observed for the temperature and the turbidity in various sites while the pH and conductivity, there was a highly significant difference between different sites. The hydrology of these rivers is seriously disturbed due to the presence of these invasive alien species. These species constitute a serious threat in the erosion of aquatic biodiversity in the removal of native species in the formation of floating monospecific dense mats as observed. Conclusion: The invasion of alien species is a consequence of human activities and a concern, which affects all sectors of the society. It constitutes a true challenge for ecologists, economists, social scientists, agricultural engineers, environmentalists and other in order to develop and implement strong risk analysis frameworks and environmental impact assessments.

scholarly journals Toxic metal concentration and ecotoxicity test of sediments from dense populated areas of Congo River, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 83-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry K. Mata ◽  
Dhafer Mohammed M. Al Salah ◽  
Georgette N. Ngweme ◽  
Joel N. Konde ◽  
Crispin K. Mulaji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metal Concentration ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Toxic Metal ◽  
Ecotoxicity Test ◽  
Congo River ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

scholarly journals Patterns in the alien flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a comparison of Asteraceae and Fabaceae

2020 ◽  
Vol 153 (3) ◽  
pp. 373-389
Author(s):  
Farzaneh Bordbar ◽  
Pierre Meerts
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Life Form ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Geographic Origin ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Trait Divergence ◽  
Native Flora ◽  
Alien Flora ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

Background and aims – This work provides the first pattern analysis of the alien flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R. Congo), using Asteraceae and Fabaceae as a case study. Methods – Based on herbarium collections, existing databases, and literature data, a database of 38 alien species of Asteraceae and 79 alien species of Fabaceae has been assembled. Patterns in the introduction pathway, phylogeny, life form, morpho-functional traits, geographic origin, and occurrence in D.R. Congo are explored. Key results – America is the main source continent in both families, but Asia is also an important donor of Fabaceae. Taxonomic spectrum discrepancies between the alien and the native flora reflect the continent of origin. Sixty-six percent of alien Asteraceae have been accidentally introduced, most of which being annual weeds of disturbed soil. In contrast, 90% of alien Fabaceae have been deliberately introduced for forestry, agriculture, or environmental purposes, most of which being phanerophytes. Traits were compared between pairs of congeneric alien and native species. For Asteraceae, a sharp discrepancy was found in the life form spectrum (aliens: mostly therophytes; natives: phanerophytes). For Fabaceae, alien species had larger leaves and larger pods compared to their native congeners. The number of specimens in collections was positively correlated with the time since the date of first collection for both families. The Guineo-Congolian region has the highest number of alien Fabaceae, while alien Asteraceae are overrepresented in the Zambezian region.Conclusions – Contrasting patterns between alien Asteraceae and Fabaceae in the flora of D.R. Congo in terms of life forms, trait divergence compared to the native flora, and occurrence, reflect the divergent biological attributes and relations to humans of the two families. The striking discrepancies between the two families call for analyses of patterns of alien flora at family level and warn against global generalisations.

scholarly journals Invasive Status of Tarebia Granifera Based on Density of Population in River of Gunung Sejuk Village, South Buton Regency

AQUASAINS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 875
Author(s):  
LM. Junaidin Sirza ◽  
Muhammad Fajar Purnama ◽  
Khoirul Anwar ◽  
Salwiyah . ◽  
Abdullah .
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Random Sampling ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Invasive Status ◽  
Density Analysis ◽  
Tarebia Granifera

This research was conducted from May to August 2020, located in the Wandoke Watershed, Gunung Sejuk Village, South Buton Regency. This study aims to analyze the invasive status of the alien species Tarebia granifera based on the perspective of its population density in the river of Gunung Sejuk village. This research is intended to examine the dominance of T. granifera species to local gastropod commodities in the typical habitats and niches of the Wandoke river. Determination of the station or location of the observation begins with a preliminary survey, making it easier to select and determine research stations. Determination of research stations using purposive sampling technique or method of designating stations deliberately, based on the presence of invasive alien species populations of T. granifera and T. granifera sampling using simple random sampling or T. granifera sampling is done randomly in a square transect measuring 100 m2 , using a quadratic transect measuring 1 m2, with the assumption that each point in the transect measuring 100 m2 has homogeneous conditions. The population density of T. granifera at each station in the months of May - August (Spatial and Temporal) shows the size is not much different, where the density range is 21 ind/m2- 43.33 ind/m2. The results of measurement and population density analysis of T. granifera in the waters of the Wandoke river, Gunung Sejuk village is the massive empirical evidence of the invasive pattern of the thiaridae snail.

scholarly journals The spread of cholera in western Democratic Republic of the Congo is not unidirectional from East–West: a spatiotemporal analysis, 1973–2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry César Ntumba Kayembe ◽  
Catherine Linard ◽  
Didier Bompangue ◽  
Jérémie Muwonga ◽  
Michel Moutschen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Spatiotemporal Analysis ◽  
Space Time ◽  
Congo Basin ◽  
Great Lakes Region ◽  
Spatial Spread ◽  
Congo River ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

Abstract Background Cholera outbreaks in western Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are thought to be primarily the result of westward spread of cases from the Great Lakes Region. However, other patterns of spatial spread in this part of the country should not be excluded. The aim of this study was to explore alternative routes of spatial spread in western DRC. Methods A literature review was conducted to reconstruct major outbreak expansions of cholera in western DRC since its introduction in 1973. We also collected data on cholera cases reported at the health zone (HZ) scale by the national surveillance system during 2000–2018. Based on data from routine disease surveillance, we identified two subperiods (week 45, 2012–week 42, 2013 and week 40, 2017–week 52, 2018) for which the retrospective space–time permutation scan statistic was implemented to detect spatiotemporal clusters of cholera cases and then to infer the spread patterns in western DRC other than that described in the literature. Results Beyond westward and cross-border spread in the West Congo Basin from the Great Lakes Region, other dynamics of cholera epidemic propagation were observed from neighboring countries, such as Angola, to non-endemic provinces of southwestern DRC. Space–time clustering analyses sequentially detected clusters of cholera cases from southwestern DRC to the northern provinces, demonstrating a downstream-to-upstream spread along the Congo River. Conclusions The spread of cholera in western DRC is not one-sided. There are other patterns of spatial spread, including a propagation from downstream to upstream areas along the Congo River, to be considered as preferential trajectories of cholera in western DRC.

scholarly journals First observation of Aedes albopictus in the Tshuapa province (Boende) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim Marien ◽  
Nicolas Laurent ◽  
Nathalie Smitz ◽  
Sophie Gombeer
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Albopictus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Congo Basin ◽  
Congo River ◽  
Coi Barcoding ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

In May-June 2021, we detected Aedes albopictus adults near the central hospital in Boende, the capital city of the Tshuapa province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We identified the mosquitoes using morphological and molecular techniques (COI barcoding). This is the first report of this species in the DRC outside of Kinshasa and Kongo Central. Given the central location of Boende in the Congo Basin, our finding suggests that the vector might also have spread to other cities which are located upstream of the Congo River and its major tributaries. Because Aedes albopictus is an important vector for human arbovirus transmission, we highlight the need to investigate its distribution range and to update disease risk maps in Central Africa.

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