Soda lakes are alkaline ecosystems characterised by extreme conditions and are one of the most productive aquatic ecosystems. Lesser flamingo, an obligate phytoplankton filter feeder, is widely identified as the flagship species of these saline-alkaline wetlands throughout the African continent. This study, carried out at three lagoons in Lake Natron for ten consecutive months from March 2019, investigated the relationship between Chlorophyll-a and lesser flamingo abundances, and physical–chemical variables and Chlorophyll-a abundance. Lake Natron is the only regular breeding site for the East African population of this specialised species and is known to host thousands of birds year-round. There was a strong correlation between lesser flamingo and Chlorophyll-a abundances. Chlorophyll-a abundance was significantly influenced by dissolved oxygen, water turbidity, phosphate, nitrate and ammonium. Findings from this study suggest that annual fluctuation in the lesser flamingos numbers in Lake Natron is triggered by phytoplankton abundance whose primary productivity is influenced by physical–chemical variables in the lake waters. In turn, these changes are mainly due to both anthropogenic activities and weather changes within the lake basin and its surroundings. Thus, the conservation and management of this lake require concerted efforts from different stakeholders including those found in Kenya.

中文翻译：

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物理化学变量对坦桑尼亚纳特龙湖浮游植物和小火烈鸟（小火烈鸟）丰度的影响

苏打湖是碱性生态系统，以极端条件为特征，是生产力最高的水生生态系统之一。小火烈鸟是一种专性浮游植物滤食动物，被广泛认为是整个非洲大陆这些盐碱湿地的旗舰物种。这项研究从 2019 年 3 月起连续 10 个月在纳特龙湖的三个泻湖进行，调查了叶绿素a和较小火烈鸟丰度之间的关系，以及物理化学变量和叶绿素a丰度之间的关系。纳特龙湖是这种特殊物种的东非种群唯一的常规繁殖地，并且以全年容纳数千只鸟类而闻名。小火烈鸟和叶绿素a之间有很强的相关性丰富。叶绿素a丰度受溶解氧、水浊度、磷酸盐、硝酸盐和铵盐的显着影响。这项研究的结果表明，纳特龙湖中较小火烈鸟数量的年度波动是由浮游植物丰度引发的，浮游植物的初级生产力受湖水中物理化学变量的影响。反过来，这些变化主要是由于湖盆及其周边地区的人为活动和天气变化造成的。因此，该湖的保护和管理需要包括在肯尼亚发现的利益相关者在内的不同利益相关者的共同努力。