Deliverables
The information generated during the Ecotools project was the result of a close collaboration between partner research institutions and was focused on determining the role of the wetland and inshore waters on the Lake Victoria basin ecosystem. This information provides a fundamental understanding of the ecosyte functions and formed the basis for the second product of the project.
Tropical wetlands in developing countries are under high pressure to provide fundamental resources, alleviate poverty and provide key services to the region. To better understand these processes, Ecotools researchers developed and tested methodologies for the study of material fluxes that enter and are released from the ecosystem.
These include:
- Nutrient retention of papyrus and disturbed wetlands, methodologies and results.
- Carbon dynamics and productivity in tropical wetlands; non invasive eddy covariance (EC) techniques.
- Wetland/atmosphere water exchange; evapotranspiration studies.
As wetlands play a major role on the quality of the receiving water body, researchers developed methodologies and databases that would serve as a basis for the analysis and modelling of the lake productivity and spatial heterogeneity.
These include:
- Wetland impacts on water quality properties; combining material and energy fluxes
- New methods for the study of characterisation of inshore water quality.
- Satellite based geographical water quality information.
- New instruments for the analysis of spatial and temporal trends in water quality.
The ecological and socio-economic data that was generated from field investigations and historical records was utilised to develop a series of models focused on the understanding of the functional and economic support given by the wetland and inshore areas. This modelling and analysis package is the result of a close collaboration and exchange between the Ecotools researchers in the 7 partner institutions. These models (methodology, validation and results) are available in the dissemination booklet and on the internet platform. A more detailed description of the development of the different elements in this product is present in a series of scientific publications.
The different elements of this product are;
- Ecological modelling Developments in the modelling of phosphorus retention in wetlands.
- Ecological modelling Determination of residual nutrient uptake capacities.
- Ecological modelling management impacts on retention capabilities for nitrogen.
- Ecological modelling wetland impacts on the phytoplankton productivity of inshore waters.
- Socio economic dynamics of wetland utilisation within the littoral wetland communities.
- Ecological economic modelling. An integrated catchment approach to fisheries management.
- Dissemination workshops with policy makers, resource managers and decision makers.
- Dissemination book and scientific publications.
- Internet platform.
The modelling approaches follow a common framework and provide information that is integrated into the final catchment model.
While the models were validated on data from the Lake Victoria ecosystems, their use in similar ecosystems is possible.
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