TITLE:
Does Typha spp. Contribute to Wetland Waterloss and Health Risk: A Case Study of Hadejia Nguru Wetlands (HNW) System NE Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Gabriel Salako, Henry Sawyerr, Oluwasogo Olalubi
KEYWORDS:
Evapotranspiration, Typha Swamp, Wetlands, Mosquito Larva, Water Loss
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ecology,
Vol.6 No.4,
February
22,
2016
ABSTRACT: The role of Typha spp. on water loss and public health
has been uncertained and relatively poorly reported in Hadejia Nguru wetlands. This
study investigated the extent to which Typha spp. contributed to evapotranspirative water loss and the level at which it provides
suitable habitat for mosquito breeding. A comparative analysis between Typha swamp
and open water was made to determine the evapotranspiration water loss and mosquito
larva load accounted for by Typha swamp in the wetland. Maximum and minimum temperatures
were measured and recorded daily for the months of January, March and June in 2013.
Blaney-Criddle equation was used to estimate the evapotranspiration from Typha swamp
(Site A) while piche evaporimeter was used to measure direct evaporation from the
adjacent open water (Site B). Water samples were collected in Sites A and B using
100 ml beaker at random and the number of mosquito larvae in the sample was counted.
T test was used to evaluate differences in water loss and larva load between open
water and Typha swamp in the wetland. The findings revealed that there was no significant
difference in water loss at p