Determination of emergence of new water weed in Homabay shores of Lake Victoria

Invasive alien species are one of the key pressures on world’s biodiversity: altering ecosystem services and processes, reducing native species abundance and richness, and decreasing genetic diversity of ecosystems (Rands et al. 2010, Vila et al. 2011, Hejda et al. 2009).

The study was carried out in Homabay, Lake Victoria. It aimed at identifying the new weed that has struck the shoreline of the lake blocking navigation of the boats. Therefore, a weed sample was collected for analysis of N, P, K, Na, Ca and Mg.

Water sampling was done at various weed sampling points and analyzed to find out the accumulated levels of N, P, K Na, Ca and Mg of which the results were related to those found from analysis of the water weed.

This was to find out the most consumed chemical nutrient by the new water weed. A sample of the weed was taken to Nairobi Museums for identification, classification and display.

Key Words: Invasive alien species, native species, biodiversity, weed, classification