THE MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF ABIOTIC PARAMETERS OF THE LAKE TANGANYIKA SUB CATCHMENT

Abstract

Results from multivariate statistical analysis of abiotic parameters conducted during the dry season at 20accessible sites on 8 rivers, 2 lakes and a dam covering the Lake Tanganyika sub catchment are discussed.Standard methods were used to determine the levels of abiotic parameters from water samples. Physicalparameters including DO, EC, Eh, turbidity, temperature, pH and secchi transparency were measured in situwhile chlorophyll a was determined in the laboratory. Nutrients such as NO 3- , SiO 2 , PO 43- and Fe 2+ weredetermined along with HCO 3- . Factor analysis resulted in four factors including increased primaryproductivity, redox conditions, dissolution, and reduction processes. Processes including dissolution,diffusion, adsorption, absorption, nitrification, denitrification, mixing and reduction along with theanthropogenic activities, increased photosynthetic activity of algae and the geomorphology of the ecosystemscontribute to the variation of the abiotic parameters. It is recommended that quantification of river flows,sediment load and nutrient budget at various sampling points be determined seasonally for proper evaluationof the hydrologic and limnological functioning of the ecosystem.