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Ophrydium versatile protozoa found in the Lapalala River in the Waterberg by CSIR researcher Paul Oberholster |
Paul Oberholster holding the protozoa in his hand to demonstrate their size |
Amidst concerns about water scarcity and water contamination in South Africa, a discovery by CSIR researcher Paul Oberholster has given hope that not all has been spoiled. Oberholster discovered a particular species of protozoa in a tributary of what he calls “pristine water” in the Lapalala River in the Waterberg.
Oberholster is a limnologist, a scientist who studies the properties of
fresh water. He is responsible for
undertaking and leading research projects into water quality.
Oberholster says he was doing research in a river channel in the Lapalala Wilderness in the Waterberg when he came across unusual, jelly-like beads, some as large as 18cm in diameter, attached to a rock layer.
“At first I thought they were jelly-fish but then I realised that they did not have tentacles. Tests confirmed them to be protozoa,” he says excitedly. Protozoa are unicellular micro-organisms.
To him this was an indication that the water was unspoiled and uncontaminated as this particular species of protozoa is only found in clean water.
Oberholster says protozoa can only be detected under a microscope because of its size, but Ophrydium versatile was big enough to see with the naked eye.
“Ophrydium versatile has never been detected anywhere in South Africa and the rest of Africa. It needs clean water and a high penetration of the sun to survive in the water,” he explains.
Oberholster says there are 6 000 species of Protozoa, but none have been found in such circumstances. “They are very sensitive to the presence of heavy metals in the water or any kind of pollution, which explains why they are so rare," he says.
He says the salt and metal content was so low in the Lapalala water channel that it made survival easy for the protozoa.
“The lower the total dissolved solids in the water, the more favourable the conditions for this species,” says Oberholster.
Oberholster could not verify whether the species has always been in the water but confirmed that its presence in the Waterberg meant the water was clean.
“We were very excited when we realised what our discovery meant,” he says.
The worrying factor is that new coal mining projects and several new coal-fired power stations were being developed in the Waterberg area and this meant the water could be contaminated.
“But a water problem can be avoided with good management,” maintains Oberholster.
He says that the rich biodiversity in that area can be preserved if the mines and ecosystems are managed well.
CSIR Communication:
Kamogelo Seekoei, email: KSeekoei@csir.co.za
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