Community composition of zooplankton and macroinvertebrates of Chelekleka wetland, Ethiopia, and the seasonal visitation of greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

Abstract

Greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) are key species in wetlands and feed mainly on zooplankton and macroinvertebrates. Little is known about the zooplankton and macroinvertebrate communities of East African wetlands and the relationship with the abundance of greater flamingos. We aimed to investigate how the macroinvertebrate and zooplankton community fluctuated in relation to the variation of greater flamingo abundance in the Chelekleka, wetland, Ethiopia. Data were collected from May 2021 to February 2022, where monthly collections of zooplankton and macroinvertebrate samples were conducted at two predetermined sampling sites. The abundance of greater flamingos was recorded twice weekly. Different zooplankton (40 species) and macroinvertebrate (28 families) taxa were recorded in the wetland. Significant monthly variations in zooplankton and macroinvertebrate species richness and abundance were observed. The greater flamingos visited the wetland from December to February. The monthly abundance of greater flamingos varied significantly, with a maximum record of 154 in December 2021. The monthly abundances of most macroinvertebrates and some zooplankton were negatively correlated with the abundance of greater flamingos. This implies that the greater flamingo has a regulating effect on zooplankton and macroinvertebrate community structures. The Chelekleka wetland provides habitat for a diverse assemblage of zooplankton and macroinvertebrate taxa that attract populations of the greater flamingo and other migratory birds. However, anthropogenic activities threaten the wetland, which requires immediate conservation intervention to sustain the habitat and its aquatic communities.

Keywords

• Conservation
• Diversity
• Macroinvertebrate
• Phoenicopterus roseus
• Wetland
• Zooplankton