The results showed that during the early morningsampling events the lake exhibited a slight thermalstratification. Due to the lakes' shallow depth thepersistence <strong>of</strong> the thermocline was limited to onlyseveral hours.The lake <strong>water</strong> pH was fairly constant, showingvery small fluctuations (Fig 7). The mean pH in L.<strong>Nakuru</strong> as measured at 8 sites was 10.2±0.7 with acorresponding median <strong>of</strong> 10.24. The lake wascharacterized by high phytoplankton or suspended solidscontent which inhibited <strong>water</strong> transparency. Seasonalvariations were quite distinct, with values <strong>of</strong> lower than5cm being recorded during the 1993-1997 periodcharacterized by very low lake levels. Annual meanSecchi disc transparency increased between 10cm to over25 cm in from 1997, showing much higher values duringrainfall seasons.Fig 7. Mean monthly pH at L. <strong>Nakuru</strong>Fig 5. Mean monthly <strong>water</strong> temperature (oC)3.2. Hydro-meteorological monitoringWater flows in perennial streams draining thebasin have become erratic <strong>and</strong> highly seasonal. The meanannual temperature ( o C) was 18.2 ±0.9, total evaporation(mm) 4,158,597; total rainfall (mm) 2,908,567, surfaceinflow from all inlets (m 3 ) was 1,033,968; ground <strong>water</strong>inflow (m 3 ) 464,013. The lake levels fluctuated, with arecorded mean depth <strong>of</strong> 1.9 meters.Fig. 5. Mean Temperature (Vertical pr<strong>of</strong>ile)Fig.8. Mean monthly weather parameters (Rainfall,Humidity <strong>and</strong> Evaporation)4
Fig.9. Average <strong>water</strong> balance.Fig.10. Mean monthly lake level vs. rain- evap. (mm)3.3. DiscussionThe long-term mean dissolved oxygen level ishigh (9.2±7.4mg/l). The DO levels vary from supersaturation to near anoxia as a function <strong>of</strong> stratification<strong>and</strong> high biological activity <strong>of</strong> the productive, naturalcommunity living the lake. Super saturation <strong>of</strong> dissolvedoxygen in the upper <strong>water</strong>s during the day <strong>of</strong>ten resultsfrom the high rates <strong>of</strong> photosynthesis (Melack & Kilham1974, Vareschi 1982). The fish in L. <strong>Nakuru</strong>,Sarotherodon alcalicus grahami is known to tolerate DOlevels as low as 3 mg/ l. Similarly, Arthrospira fusiformisproductivity is lowered significantly at DO levels <strong>of</strong>below 2 mg/l (Vareschi, 1982).The rate <strong>of</strong> change in conductivity that alsoinfluences Arthrospira growth was low, rarely exceeding2 mS/cm per week. Sampling sites located at Rivermouths recorded wide ranges due to dilution. Theconductivity <strong>of</strong> <strong>water</strong> increased from 20.38mS/cm (Sep.1973) to 23.28mS/cm (Jan. 1974) <strong>and</strong> then 25.18mS/cmby March 1974. This was accompanied by a decline <strong>of</strong>Chl a from 910-200 Chl a m-3. Detailed descriptions <strong>of</strong>the biotic responses are provided in (Melack 1979, 1981,1988, Vareschi 1982, Vareschi & Vareschi, 1984). Theconductivity tolerance threshold for copepod Lovenulaafricana range between 6 to 24 mS/cm (Vareschi 1982).The only <strong>water</strong> <strong>quality</strong> parameter, whichremains remarkably constant in the lake, is pH. This isdue to the high buffering capacity <strong>of</strong> the lake. The meanlong-term pH <strong>of</strong> the lake at the 8 lake sampling sites is10.2. Tuite (1978) reported a declined <strong>of</strong> pH from about10.45 in early 1974 to between 10-10.15 during most <strong>of</strong>the period 1974-1976. These pH changes or differencesmay among other factors be as a result <strong>of</strong> alterations inphotosynthetic activity by algae (Talling et al, cited byTuite 1978). The mean <strong>of</strong> 10.5 is that recorded by5between 1972-1979 Vareschi (1978, 1979, 1982) <strong>and</strong> isreported as the only environmental factor which remains“exceptionally constant” <strong>and</strong> unsusceptible to alkalinity<strong>and</strong> conductivity.Surface <strong>water</strong> temperature are typically 25-27oC (Vareschi, 1982) <strong>and</strong> have not changed much in thelast decade (10 year median=27.3 o C).As is typical <strong>of</strong> shallow, saline lakes, worldwide,climatic variations have caused large changes in depth<strong>and</strong> salinity on annual, decadal <strong>and</strong> longer time scales<strong>and</strong> have had major consequences for the ecology <strong>of</strong> thelake. Daily fluctuations in heating <strong>and</strong> cooling result instrong diel cycles <strong>of</strong> stratification <strong>and</strong> mixing (Melack &Kilham 1974). High insolation <strong>and</strong> adequate supply <strong>of</strong>nutrients usually support abundant phytoplankton (Peters& MacIntyre 1976, Melack et al. 1982, Vareschi 1982).The long term mean electrical conductivity(44.7±39.8mS/cm) is higher, compared to historicalvalues, Tuite, 1978 (mean = 23.8mS -1 ; Range: 15.3-39.28mS -1 ) Vareschi (1978, 1979, 1982) recorded a range<strong>of</strong> 8.5-165.5mS -1 . The lower <strong>and</strong> upper ranges have beenexceed in the last 10 years (5-222µS -1 ). The lower valueswere recorded during floods while upper ones duringdry-outs (1961 <strong>and</strong> between 1993-1997).During the study it was evident that somesamples were dominated by blue green algae formingblooms. These are Arthrospira fusiformis (=Spirulinaplatensis), Anabaenopsis magna, Anabaenopsis abijatae,Anabaena arnoldii, Anabaena flos aquae var. circinalis,Synechococcus elongates <strong>and</strong> Rhabdoderma linearis.Recently, cyanobacterial toxins were suggested aspotentially lethal agents for <strong>Lake</strong> <strong>Nakuru</strong> lesserflamingos (WWF, 1998, Krienitz et al 2003, 2005., Codeet al, 2003., Metcalf et al., 2006).The lesser flamingo <strong>and</strong> tilapia fish both sharethe same food base, which is formed by the cyanophyteArthrospira fusiformis. There have been a number <strong>of</strong>unexplained lesser flamingo <strong>and</strong> fish die-<strong>of</strong>fs in the pastin <strong>Lake</strong> <strong>Nakuru</strong>. Mass flamingo die <strong>of</strong>fs in 1993, 1995,100, 2002, 2004, (Beasley et al 2005), <strong>and</strong> 2006 (Raini,2009), raised concerns regarding populationsustainability. The lake experienced high populationfluctuation. The flamingo breeding attempt at <strong>Lake</strong><strong>Nakuru</strong> in 2001 flopped <strong>and</strong> over 3000 nests ab<strong>and</strong>oneddue to rapid <strong>water</strong> level recession. A fish kill occurred in1992 <strong>and</strong> fish stock failed to recover until 1998 due thepersistently low lake levels (Fig.10). As a result <strong>of</strong> thisdecline in fish population, the fish eating birds were verydifficult to find in the lake, a negative change inbiodiversity. The recent fish kill occurred in August 2004<strong>and</strong> was attributed to extreme oxygen depletion.The mean lake level has declined from 2.5 m to
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