ABSTRACT Cage aquaculture is expanding in Lake Victoria to meet increasing fish demand, yet ecological impacts remain a concern. This study assessed the effects of cage aquaculture on water quality and the abundance and diversity of pelagic and benthic macroinvertebrates at Anyanga Beach, Lake Victoria, Kenya. A comparative field design was applied, sampling conducted monthly from November 2024 to January 2025 at cage and control sites. Water quality parameters were measured in situ, while benthic macroinvertebrates were collected using an Ekman grab and pelagic macroinvertebrates using a plankton net. All organisms identified and analysed as family‐level operational taxonomic units to maintain consistent taxonomic resolution across samples. Data analysed using independent‐samples t ‐tests, Shannon–Wiener diversity indices, correlation, multiple regression, and linear mixed‐effects models at α = 0.05. Significant differences in water quality were observed between sites. Dissolved oxygen was lower at cage sites ( t = −30.154, p < 0.001), while conductivity, chlorophyll a, total nitrogen and ammonium‐nitrogen were significantly higher ( t = 29.703–42.104, p < 0.001). Transparency and silicate were higher at control sites ( t = −38.872 and −25.377, p < 0.001). Macroinvertebrate communities at cage sites were dominated by pollution‐tolerant groups, particularly Chironomidae and Oligochaete taxa, whereas relatively sensitive families, including Baetidae, Hydropsychidae and Caenidae, were more abundant at control sites ( p < 0.001). Diversity was significantly lower at cage sites for both benthic (2.24 ± 0.02 vs. 2.38 ± 0.01; p < 0.001) and pelagic communities (2.78 ± 0.01 vs. 2.80 ± 0.01; p < 0.05). Linear mixed‐effects models identified ammonium as a key driver, negatively influencing pelagic abundance ( β = −3.708, p = 0.034), benthic abundance decreased with temperature and chlorophyll a but increased with transparency, total nitrogen and ammonium. These findings indicate that nutrient enrichment from cage aquaculture alters water quality and macroinvertebrate communities, emphasizing need for improved management.
Hamisi et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: