Skip to main content
Log in

Swamps, springs and diatoms: wetlands of the semi-arid Bogoria-Baringo Rift, Kenya

  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Lakes Bogoria and Baringo lie in a semi-arid part of the Kenya Rift Valley between 0° 15′–0° 30'N and 36° 02′–36° 05′E. Nevertheless, the area around these lakes contains numerous wetland systems that have been formed: along lake shorelines; along faults where hot, warm and cold springs have developed; and along river systems that cross the rift floor. Six major types of wetland are recognized: Proximal Hot Springs; Hot Spring Marshes; Blister Wetlands; Typha and Cyperus papyrus Swamps; Floodplain Marshes; Hypersaline Lake Littoral Wetlands; and Freshwater Lake Littoral Wetlands. These show significant variability in terms of geomorphic setting, water chemistry, temperature, plant communities and diatom floras. They are variously dominated by macrophytes, such as Cyperus laevigatus, Typha domingensis and Cyperus papyrus. In some cases macrophytes are absent. In hot spring settings and in hypersaline lake littoral zones bacterial mats are common.

Although absent in some samples, diatoms occur in at least parts of all of the wetlands, varying in diversity, abundance and species composition. Canonical correspondence analysis indicates that diatom floras show a close relationship with pH, temperature, and specific conductivity, with other environmental variables such as Si and nitrate being of secondary importance. Common diatoms include: Anomoeoneis sphaerophora var. guntheri, Navicula tenella, N. cuspidata, and Nitzschia invisitata in hot springs, where diversity is generally low and abundance is variable. Other wetland types contain distinctive diatom floras that variously include: Fragilaria brevistriata, Gomphonema parvulum, Navicula tenelloides, Nitzschia communis, N. latens, N. sigma, Rhopalodia gibberula, and Stauroneis anceps.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ashley, G. M., M. Goman, V. C. Hover, A. M. Muasya, R. B. Owen & R.W. Renaut, 2002. Artesian blister wetlands, a perennial water resource in the semi-arid rift valley of East Africa. Wetlands 22: 686–695.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashley, G. M., M. Maitima Mworia, A. M. Muasya, R. B. Owen, S. G. Driese, V. C. Hover, R.W. Renaut, M. F. Goman, S. Mathai & S. H. Blatt, in review. Evolution of a freshwater wetland in a semi-arid environment, Loboi Marsh, Kenya, East Africa. Sedimentology.

  • Barker, P., F. Gasse, N. Roberts & M. Taieb, 1990. Taphonomy and diagenesis in diatom assemblages: a Late Pleistocene palaeoecological study from Lake Magadi, Kenya. Hydrobiologia 214: 267–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cholnoky, B. J., 1970. Bacilariophyceen den Bangweolosumpfen. Exploration Hydrobiologique du Bassin du Lac Bangweolo et du Lualapa. Cercle Hydrobiologique de Bruxelles 5: 1–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cioni, R., G. Fanelli, M. Guidi, J. K. Kinyariro & J. Marini, 1992. Lake Bogoria hot springs (Kenya): geochemical features and geothermal implications. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 50: 231–246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, S. R., J. Huvane, P. Vaithiyanathan & C. J. Richardson, 1999. Calibration of diatoms along a nutrient gradient in Florida Everglades Water Conservation Area-2A, USA. Journal of Paleolimnology 22: 413–437.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowardin, L. M., V. Carter, F. C. Golet & E. T. Laroe, 1979. Classi-fication of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. U.S. Department of the Interior Fish andWildlife Service, Report No. FWS/OBS-79/31. Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Driese, S. G., G. M. Ashley, Z. H. Li, V. C. Hover & R. B. Owen, in review. Micromorphology, geochemistry, and stable carbon isotopes of late Holocene wetland and floodplain soils, Loboi Plain, Kenya: wetland pedogenesis in a semi-arid setting. Palaeogeography, Paleoaclimatology, Palaeoecology.

  • Gasse, F., 1986a. East African Diatoms. Taxonomy, Ecological Distribution. Bibliotheca Diatomologica 11, J. Cramer, Stuttgart, 202 pp.

  • Gasse, F., 1986b. East African diatoms and water pH. In Smol, J. P., R. W. Battarbee, R. B. Davis & J. Merilainen (eds), Diatoms and Lake Acidity. Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht: 149–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasse, F., 1987. Diatoms for reconstructing palaeoenvironments and palaeohydrology in tropical semi-arid zones, examples of some lakes from Niger since 12,000 BP. Hydrobiologia 154: 127–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasse, F., S. Juggins & L. B. Khelifa, 1995. Diatom-based transfer functions for inferring past hydrochemical characteristics of African lakes. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 117: 31–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasse, F., J. F. Talling & P. Kilham, 1983. Diatom assemblages in East Africa: classification, distribution and ecology. Revue d'Hydrobiologie Tropicale 16: 3–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasse, F. & F. Tekaia, 1983. Transfer functions for estimating paleocological conditions (ph) from East African diatoms. Hydrobiologia 103: 85–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasse, F., P. Barker, P. A. Gell, S. C. Fritz & F. Chalie, 1997. Diatom-inferred salinity in palaeolakes: an indirect tracer of climate change. Quaternary Science Reviews 16: 547–563.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haberyan, K., 1992. Algal communities near Cape MacLear, southern Lake Malawi. Hydrobiologia 215: 175–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hustedt, F., 1927-1930. Die Kieselalgen Deutschlands, Osterreichs und der Schweiz, Band 7, Die Kieselalgen. Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft.

  • Johansson, J & J. Svensson, 2002. Land degradation in the semi-arid catchment of Lake Baringo, Kenya. Project Report No. B343, Earth Sciences Centre, Göteborg University, 79 pp.

  • Jones, B. & R. W. Renaut, 1995. Noncrystalline calcite dendrites from hot-spring deposits at Lake Bogoria, Kenya. Journal of Sedimentary Research 65: 154–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, B. & R. W. Renaut, 1997. Controls on aragonite and calcite precipitation in hot spring travertines at Chemerkeu, Lake Bogoria, Kenya. Canadian Journal Earth Sciences 34: 801–818.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, B. & R. W. Renaut, 1998. Origin of platy calcite crystals in hot-spring deposits in the Kenya Rift valley. Journal of Sedimentary Research 68: 913–927.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krammer, K. & H. Lange-Bertalot, 1986-1991. Bacillariophyceae (4 vols). In Ettl, H., H. Heynig & D. Mollenhauer (eds), Susswasserflora von Mitteleuropa 2/1-4. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena.

    Google Scholar 

  • LaVigne, M. & G. M. Ashley, 2002. Climatology and Rainfall Patterns: Lake Bogoria National Reserve (1976-2001), Department of Geological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, U.S.A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liutkus, C. M. & G. M. Ashley, 2003. Facies model of a semiarid freshwater wetland, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Journal of Sedimentary Research (in press).

  • Owen, R. B., 2002. Sedimentological characteristics and origins of diatomaceous deposits in the East African Rift System. In Renaut, R. W. & G. M. Ashley (eds), Sedimentation in Continental Rifts. SEPM Special Publication No. 73: 233–246.

  • Owen, R. B. & R. Crossley, 1992. Spatial and temporal diatom variability in Lake Malawi and ecological implications. Journal of Paleolimnology 7: 55–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owen, R. B. & R.W. Renaut, 2000. Spatial and temporal facies variations in the Pleistocene Olorgesailie Formation, southern Kenya Rift Valley. In Gierlowski-Kordesch E. H. & K. K. Kelts (eds), Lake Basins through Space and Time. American Association Petroleum Geologists: 553-559.

  • Patrick, R. & C.W. Reimer, 1975. The Diatoms of the United States. Monographs of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadephia 13, 213 pp.

  • Pentecost A., R. G. Bailey, H. Busulwa & A. Williams, 1997. Epilithic diatom communities of the Bujuku-Mubuku River system, Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda. Archiv fur Hydrobiologie 139: 479–493.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pielou, E. C., 1966. The measurement of diversity in different types of biological collections. Journal Theoretical Biology 13: 131–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Renaut, R. W. & B. Jones, 2000. Microbial precipitates around continental hot springs and geysers. In Riding, R. & S. Awramik (eds), Microbial Sediments. Springer-Verlag, Berlin: 187–195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Renaut, R. W. & J. J. Tiercelin, 1994. Lake Bogoria, Kenya Rift Valley-A sedimentological overview. In Renaut, R. W & W. M. Last (eds), Sedimentology and Geochemistry of Modern and Ancient Saline Lakes. SEPM Special Publication 50: 101–123.

  • Schoeman, F. R. & R. E. M. Archibald, 1976. The Diatom Flora of Southern Africa, CSIR Special Report 50, Pretoria.

  • Siver, P. A., 1999. Develoment of paleolimnological inference models for pH, total nitrogen and specific conductivity based on planktonic diatoms. Journal of Paleolimnology 21: 45–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevenson, A. C., S. Juggins, H. J. B. Birks, D. S. Anderson, N. J. Anderson, R. W. Battarbee, F. Berge, R. B. Davis, R. J. Flower, E. Y. Haworth, V. J. Jones, J. C. Kingston, A. M. Kreiser, J. M. Line, M. A. R. Munro & I. Renberg, 1991. The Surface Waters Acidification Project Palaeolimnology Programme: Modern Diatom/Lake-Water Chemistry Data-set. ENSIS Publishing, London, 86 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tarnocai, C., 1980. Canadian wetland registry. In Rubec C. D. A. & F. C. Pollett (eds), Proceedings of a Workshop on Canadian Wetlands. Environment Canada, Ecological Land Classification Series 12, Ottawa, Ontario: 9–21.

  • Thompson, K. & A. C. Hamilton, 1983, Peatlands and swamps of the African continent In Gore, A. J. P. (ed.), Ecosystems of the World, 4B, Mires: Swamp, Bog, Fen and Moor, Regional Studies. Elsevier, Amsterdam: 331–373.

    Google Scholar 

  • ter Braak, C. J. F., 1986. Canonical correspondence analysis: a new eigenvector method for multivariate direct gradient analysis. Ecology 67: 1167–1179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiercelin, J. J. & A. Vincens (eds), 1987. Le Demi-Graben de Baringo-Bogoria, Rift Gregory, Kenya, 30,000 and d'histoire hydrologique et sedimentaire. Bulletin Centres Recherches Exploration-Production, Elf Aquitaine 11: 249–540.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincens, A., 1986. Diagramme pollinique d'un sondage Pleistocene superieur-holocene du Lac Bogoria, Kenya. Revue de Palaeobotanie et Palynologie 47: 169–192.

    Google Scholar 

  • West, G. S. & F. L. S. West, 1896. Algae from Central Africa. Journal of Botany British & Foreign 34: 377–384.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Owen, R., Renaut, R., Hover, V. et al. Swamps, springs and diatoms: wetlands of the semi-arid Bogoria-Baringo Rift, Kenya. Hydrobiologia 518, 59–78 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HYDR.0000025057.62967.2c

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HYDR.0000025057.62967.2c

Navigation