International Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 1(2): 59-65, 2009
ISSN: 2041-2908
© M axwell Scientific Organization, 2009
Submitted Date: July 30, 2009
Accepted Date: August 19, 2009
Published Date: October 30, 2009
Benthic Macro Invertebrate Fauna and Physico-chemical Parameters in Okpoka
Creek Sediments, Niger Delta, Nigeria
A.D.I. George, J.F.N. Abowei, and E.R. Daka
Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Rivers State
University of science and Techno logy , Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
2
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce
Island , Am assoma, Bay elsa State, Nigeria
3
Departm ent of Applied and Environmental Biology , Facu lty of Science, Rivers State University
of science and Techno logy , Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
1
Abstract: The benth ic macro inv ertebrate fauna and phy sico-chem ical parameters in Ok poka creek sediments
was studied for a period of one year. A total of nineteen (19) species(Ophidon ais serpentina, Arenicola marina,
Eunice harassi, Marphysa sanguinea, Capitella capitata, Notomastus latrella, Notomastus tenuis, Glycera
capitata, Glyc era convoluta, Nereis diversicolor, Nereis pelagica, Nereis virens, Nephthys homberg i,
Nototropis swamidami, Cliberanus cooci, Iphinoe tripa nosa , Chironomus ablabiesm ia, Tellina nym phalis
andTympanotonus fuscatus) of benthic invertebrates’ fauna belonging four (4) phyla (Annelida, Amphipoda,
Arthropoda and Mollusca), six (6) classes (Oligochaeta Polychaeta Crustacea Insecta Bivalvia and Gastropoda)
and twelve (12) families (Naididae Arenicolidae Eunicidae Capitellidae Glyceridae Nereidae Nephthyldae
Gam maridae Callianassidae Chironomidae Tellidae) were found in the Okpoka creek during the study.
Polychae ta with six (6) families and twelve (12) species and percentage composition of 63.2% occurred most;
followed by Crustacean with six (2) families and twelve (3) species and percentage composition of 15.8%. The
rest families (Oligochaeta, Insecta, Bivalvia, Gastropoda) each with a family and specie occurred least. pH had
a positive relationship with Ophidonais serpentine, Arenicola marina, Nereis diversicolor, Nereis pelagea,
Nereis Virens, Nephthy s hom berg i, Iphinoe tripanosa and Tellina nym phalis, whereas temperature was
strongly related with Arenicola marina, Notom astus latreila, Notomastus tenius, Marphysa sanguinea, Glycera
convoluta, , Nereis diversicolor, Nereis pelagea, Nereis Virens, Nephthys hom bergi, Iphinoe tripanosa and
Tellina nym phalis, and Cliberanus cooci. A po sitive relationship exists between salinity and Notomastus
latreila, Glyc era convoluta Nototropis swa midami, Cliberanus cooci, Iphinoe tripanosa and Tellina nym phalis.
Similarly, dissolved Oxygen and Notomastus latreila, Notomastus tenius, Eunice harassi, Marphysa sanguinea,
Marph ysa sang uinea , Nereis diversicolo r, Nephthy s hom berg i, Clibernarius cooci, Iphinoe tripanosa and
Tellina nym phalis. Strongly related. Biochemical Oxygen demand exhibited positive relationship with
Ophidon ais serpentine, Eunice harassi, Glycera capitata, Nereis diversico lor, Nereis pelagea, Nephthys
hom berg i, Nototropis swa midami and Tellina nym phalis. Conductivity related strongly with Ophidon ais
serpentine, Notomastus latreila, Marphysa sanguinea, Glycera convoluta, Nereis diversico lor, Nereis pelagea,
Clibernarius cooci, Iphinoe tripanosa and Tympa notonus fuscatus.
Key words: Benthic invertebrates, physico-chemical parameters, Okpoba creek sediments, Niger Delta, Nigeria
INTRODUCTION
Benthic macro fauna are those organisms that live on
or inside the deposit at the bottom of a water body
(Barnes and Hughes, 1988; Idowu and U gwu mba, 20 05).
In the brackish water ecosystem, they include several
species of organisms, which cut across different phy la
including annelids, coelenterates, molluscs, arthropods
and chordates. These organisms play a vital role in the
circulation and recirculation of nutrien ts in aqu atic
ecosystems. They constitute the link between the
unavailable nutrients in detritus and useful protein
materials in fish and shellfish. Most benthic organisms
feed on debris that settle on the bottom of the water and
in turn serve as food for a wide range of fishes (Imevbore
and Bak are, 1970; A debisi, 1989; Ajao 1990; Oke, 1990;
Idowu and Ugwumba, 2005). They also accelerate the
breakdown of decaying organic matter into simpler
inorganic forms such as phosphates and nitrates (Gallep
et al., 1978). All forms of aquatic plants, which are the
first link of se veral food ch ains ex isting in aquatic
environm ent, can utilize the nutrients. These organisms
therefore form a major link in the food chain as most
estuarine and marine fishes, birds and mammals depend
directly or indirectly on the benthos for their food su pply
(Barnes and H ughes, 19 88).
Corresponding Author: J.F.N. Abowei, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University,
Wilberforce, Island, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
59
Int. J. Anim. Veter. Adv., 1(2): 59-65, 2009
Macrob enthic invertebrates are useful bio-indicators
providing a more accurate understanding of changing
aquatic conditions than chemical and microbiological
data, which at least give short-term fluctuations (Ravera,
1998, 2000; Ikom i et al., 2005). Odiete (1999) stated that
the most popu lar biological m ethod in assessment of
freshwater bodies rece iving domestic and industrial
wastewaters is the use of benthic macro-invertebrates.
Their composition, abundance and distribution can be
influenced by water quality (Imevbore, 1967; Haslam,
1990; APHA , WW A, WE F, 1992; Odiete, 1999). They
all stated that variations in the distribution of macrobenthic organism s could be as a result of differences in
the local environmental conditions. Studies on macro
invertebrates in the Niger Delta of Nigeria are few
(Okpuruka, 1985; Onwuteaka, 1992; Umeozor, 1995;
Nweke, 2002; A nsa, 2005 ). However, on ly few published
works are available on the macro invertebrate fauna of
Bonny River of the Niger Delta. Despite the importance
of benthic macro invertebrate in the aquatic en vironmen t,
particularly in the Okp oka creek, Information on the
benthic macro invertebrate fauna and pyysico-chemical
parame ters is still lacking . This study is aimed at bridging
that gap.
commu nities. The communities are Oginigba, Woji New
layou t, Azuabie, Okujagu-Ama, Ojimba-Ama, Abuloma,
Okuru-Ama, Oba-Ama and Kalio-Ama.
Artisanal fishers m ainly exploit the fisheries. The
fishers use wooden/dug-out canoes ranging in size from
3 to 8m long. The canoes are either paddled or powered
by small outboard engines, and manned by an average of
two men. From these boats, the fishers operate their cast
nets, hook and lines, gillnets, crab pots, etc.
Sampling stations: Six samp ling stations were
established along a spatial grid of the Okpoka creek
covering a distan ce of about six kilometers. The sampling
stations were established based on ecological settings,
vegetation and human activities in the area. The sampling
station is about one kilometer apart from each other.
Station 1: Located upstream o f the Po rt Harc ourt m ain
abattoir at Oginigba waterfront w ith living houses on the
left flank of the shoreline. Veg etation is sparse with
mainly red mangrove (Rhizophora sp.,) white mangrove,
Avicenia sp. and Nypa palm (Nypa fructicans).
Station 2: Situated at Azuabie / Port H arcou rt main
abattoir waterfront. It is located downstream of Station 1.
The bank fringing the A zuab ie/abattoir is bare with no
visible plants e xcep t toilet houses, residential houses,
animal pens, boats and b adges, while at the opposite side
there are few mangrove and Nypa palm. Human activities
here include slaughtering of animals, marketing, fishing
and boat building. It is located downstream of station 1
and it is main collection point of abattoir wastes and other
human and market wastes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Area: The study was carried out in Okpoka creek,
which is one of the several adjoining creeks off the Upper
Bonny River estuary in the Niger Delta. The Bonny River
Estuary lies on the Southea stern edge of the Niger Delta,
between longitudes 6°58¢ and 7°14" East, and latitudes
4°19" and 4°34' North. It has an estimated area of
206Km 2 and extends 7Km offshore to a depth of about 7.5
metres (Irving, 1962, Scott, 1966; Alalibo, 1988). The
Bonny River is a major shipping route for crude oil and
other cargoes, and leads to the Port Harcourt quays,
Federal Ocean Terminal, Onne , and Port H arcourt
Refinery company terminal jetty, Okirika. Specifically,
the Okpoka creek lies between Longitudes 7°03' and 7°05'
East and Latitud es 4°0 6' and 4 °24' and it is about 6
kilometers lon g.
Characteristically, the area is a typical estuarine tidal
water zone with little fresh w ater input but w ith extensive
mangrove swamps, inter-tidal mud flats, and influenced
by semi-diurnal tidal regime. In the Bonny River estuary,
the salinity fluctuates with the sea son and tide regime is
influenced by the Atlantic ocean (Dangana, 1985). Tidal
range in the area is about 0.8m at neap tides and 2.20m
during spring tides (N ED EC O, 1961).
It is strategically located southwestern flanks of Port
Harco urt and Okirika of Rivers State. The creek is
bounded by thick ma ngrove fore st dom inated by
Rhizophora species interspersed by White mangrove
(Avecinia sp.) and Nypa palm. Along the shores of the
creek are located the Port Harcourt Trans- Amadi
Industrial layout, several establishments, markets, the
main Port Harcourt Zoological garden and several
Station 3: It is downstream from the Port Harcourt
abattoir at the W oji sand-Crete. It is about one kilometer
away from Station 2. The major activities here included
sand mining and loading.
Station 4: This station is located at Okujagu-Ama area.
There are no indu strial activities here. Mainly fishers
occupy the area. Nypa palm dominates the marginal
vegetation while the op posite side is thickly populated
with red man grove forest. Rhizophora racem osa and
Rhizophora mangle. The main activity is fishing, boat
ferrying and occasional sand moving.
Station 5: Is situated at Ojimba cum Abuloma
waterfronts. There are no com merc ial activities apart from
ferryboats operations. The shoreline fringes have mainly
Nypa palm. The area is shallow and at low tide, the
greater part of the bottom mud flat is exposed.
Station 6: Is located in front of K alio-am a directly
between Okpoka and Amadi creeks. The human activities
here include jetty operations, oil and non-oil industrial
activities, boat traffic and fishing. Vegetation is few
dominated by red man grove intersp ersed with white
mangrove Avicenia africana.
60
Int. J. Anim. Veter. Adv., 1(2): 59-65, 2009
(19) species Ophidon ais serpentina, Arenicola marina,
Eunice hara ssi, Marphysa sanguinea, Capitella capitata,
Notomastus latrella, Notomastus tenuis, Glycera capitata,
Glycera convoluta, Nereis diversicolor, Nereis pelagica,
Ne reis virens, Nephthys hombergi, Nototropis
swa midami, Cliberanus cooci, Iphinoe tripanosa,
Chironomus ablabiesm ia, Tellina nymphalis and
Tympanotonus fuscatus) of benthic invertebrates’ fauna
belonging four (4) p hyla (A nnelida, Amph ipoda,
Arthropoda and Mollusca), six (6) classes (Oligochaeta
Polychae ta Crustacea Insecta Bivalvia and Gastropoda)
and twelve (12) families (Naididae Arenicolidae
Eunicidae Capitellidae Glyceridae Nereidae Nephthyldae
Gammaridae Callianassidae Chironomidae Tellidae) were
found in the Okpoka creek during the study.
Table 2 shows the total number of families, species
and percentage composition of the benthic m acro
invertebrate fauna in the study area. Polycha eta w ith six
(6) families and twelve (12) species and percentage
composition of 63.2% occurred most; followed by
Crustacean with six (2) families and twelve (3) species
and percentage com position of 15 .8% . The rest fam ilies
(Oligochaeta, Insecta, Bivalvia, Gastropoda) each with a
family and specie occu rred least.
Table 3 represents the Seasonal mean values,
Standard Error and physico-chemical parameters of the
study area. The wet season mean physico-chemical values
for Air Temperature (oC ), Water Temp erature (oC ), P H,
Salinity D.O (mg/l) B.O.D (mg/l) Conductivity ms/cm
Rainfall (mm) 30.95±0.89, 29.09±0.1248, 6.81±0.367,
6.98±0.7012, 4.68±0.2144, 2.32±0.145167.94±985.154,
7.86±2.75 respectively; while the dry season values w ere
31.69±1.34 29.49±0.1143, 6.97±0.0443, 11.67±0.5173,
4.47±0.1791, 2.03± 0.1407, 18943.17±914.3041,
2.05±1.74 respectively.
Results of the correlation coefficient matrix between
the benthic macro invertebrates and the six water
parameters studied are presented in Table 4. pH had a
positive relationship with Ophidonais serpentine,
Arenico la marina, Nereis diversicolor, Nereis pelagea,
Nereis Virens, Nephthys hombe rgi, Iphinoe tripanosa
and Tellina nym phalis, whereas temperature was strong ly
related with Arenicola marina, Notomastus latreila,
Notomastus tenius, Marphysa sanguinea, Glycera
convoluta, , Nereis diversicolo r, Nereis pelagea, Nereis
Virens, Nephthys hom bergi, Iphinoe tripanosa and
Tellina nym phalis, and Cliberanus cooci.
A positive relationship ex ists between salinity and
Notomastus latreila, G lycera conv oluta Nototropis
swamidami, Cliberanus cooci, Iphinoe tripanosa and
Tellina nym phalis. Similarly, dissolved Oxygen and
Notomastus latreila, N otom astus tenius, Eunice harassi,
Marph ysa sanguinea, Marphysa sanguinea , Nereis
diversicolor, Nep hthys hom berg i, Clibernarius cooci,
Iphinoe tripanosa and Tellina nymphalis, strongly related.
Biochemical Oxygen demand exhibited positive
relationship with Ophidon ais serpentine, Eunice harassi,
Glycera capitata, Nereis diversico lor, Nereis pelagea,
Nephthys hom berg i, Nototropis swamidami, and Tellina
Sam ple collection: Ben thic samples for the analysis of
benthos and sediment particle size were collected using an
Eckman grab of 10cm diameter and 12cm long. At each
sampling station, se nding the grab down into the b ottom
and using the messenger to close and grab some quan tity
of sedim ent made 3 hauls. The grab was then removed
under suction pressure. Th e subtidal benthic samples w ere
collected monthly from each station. Composite samples
was composed from each station and put into labeled
polythene bags for sub sequen t determination of the
sediment particle sizes. The remaining benthic samples
were washed through a sieve o f 1mm x 1m m m esh size to
collect the benthos.
The wash ed sedim ent with m acro benthos were
poured into a wide mouth labeled plastic container and
preserved with 10% formalin solution to which Rose
Bengal (dye) had been added. The Rose Bengal dye at
strength of 0.1% selectivity colored all the living
organisms in the sample (Claudiu et al., 1979; Zabbey,
2002; Idowu and Ugwum ba, 2005). The preserved
samples were later taken to the laboratory for further
analysis.
In the laboratory, the washed and preserved sediment
with benth ic invertebrates we re pou red into a wh ite
enamel tray and sorted. The sorting was made effective by
adding moderate volume of water into the con tainer to
improve visibility. Large benthos was picked using
forceps while the smaller ones were pipette out. The
organisms were sorted into their different groups and
preserved in 5% forma lin. The preserved animals w ere
later identified to their lowest taxonomic group under
light and stereo dissecting microscope and counted. The
identification was carried out using the keys by Days
(1967), Pennak (1978), Hart (1994) and Merrit and
Cunnis (1996).
The monthly percentage occurrence and relative
numerical abun dance of m acro b entho s we re estimated.
The densities of abundant species w ere analyzed for each
of the sampling stations using the formula:
Density = Total Numbe r of Anima ls
Area of Sa mpling unit
(1)
Physico-chemical parameters were correlated with macro
benthos abundance.
Data Analysis: Data collected for the environmental
parameters were subjected to statistical analysis using
Analysis of variance (A NO VA ) to determine their
variations at stations and season s. W herea s the m ultiple
linear correlation analysis w as carried out on the water
parame ters and benthos to verify if there is any significant
relationship. If any, the Duncan multiple range test was
used to separate the means.
RESULTS
The result for the phyla, classes, families and
genus/species of macro inverteb rate fauna pre sent in
Okpoka creek is presented in Table 1. A total of nineteen
61
Int. J. Anim. Veter. Adv., 1(2): 59-65, 2009
Tab le 1: C hec klist o f Be nthic Inv erteb rates in the O kpo ka C reek , Off Up per B onn y
S/N
Phylum
Class
1
Annelida
Olig och aeta
"
Po lych aeta
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
R iver N iger D elta, N igeria
Fam ily
Naididae
Arenicolidae
Eunicidae
"
Capitellidae
"
"
Glyceridae
"
Nereidae
"
"
Nephthyldae
Genu s/Species
Ophidonais serpentina
Arenicola marina
Eunice ha rassi
Marphysa san guinea
Ca pitella cap itata
No tom astu s latre lla
No tom astu s tenu is
Gly cera cap itata
Gly cera con volu ta
Nereis diversicolor
Nereis pelagica
Nereis virens
Nephthys hombergi
2
Amph ipoda
"
"
Crustacea
"
"
Gamm aridae
Callianassidae
"
N o to tr op is sw a m id a mi
Cliberanus cooci
Iphinoe tripanosa
3
Arthropoda
Inse cta
Chironomidae
Ch iron om us a blab iesm ia
4
Mollusca
"
Biv alvia
Gastropoda
Tellidae
Potamidae
Tellin a ny mp halis
Tympanotonus fuscatus
Table 2: N umber o f Families and Sp ecies in each class of Ben thic organisms
Class
Total No. of Families
Total No . of species
Olig och aeta
1
1
Po lych aeta
6
12
Crustacean
2
3
Inse cta
1
1
Biv alvia
1
1
Gastropoda
1
1
To tal
12
19
Table 3: Seaso nal mean v alues, Standard Error and p hysico-chemical param eters.
Parameter
Wet season
-------------------------------------------------------Range
Mean
A i r T e m p. (o C )
28.90-32.55
30.95±0.89 c
W a t er Te m p. (o C )
28.30-29.80
29.09±0.1248 b
PH
6.58-7.06
6.81±0.367 a
Salinity (% o )
2.54-15.55
6.98±0.7012 b
D.O . (mg /l)
3.58-5.61
4.68±0.2144 a
B.O .D. (m g/l)
1.907-2.740
2.32±0.145 a
Conductivity (ms/cm)
12 59 5.0 0-2 27 05 .0
167.94±985.154 a
Rainfall (mm)
4.02-12.74
7.86±2.75 ab
Mean with same superscript are not significantly different at P£ 0.05
nym phalis. Conductivity related strongly with Ophidonais
serpentine, Notomastus latreila, Marphysa sanguinea,
Glycera convoluta, Nereis diversico lor, Nereis pelagea,
Clibernarius cooci, Iphinoe tripanosa, and Tympanotonus
fuscatus.
Percentage species composition
5.3
63 .2
15 .8
5.3
5.3
5.3
10 0.2
Dry season
----------------------------------------------------------------Range
Mean
29.50-34.40
31.69±1.34 c
29 .20 -30 .0
29.49±0.1143 a
6.80-7.10
6.97±0.0443 b
7.81-14.41
11.67±0.5173 a
4.23-4.87
4.47±0.1791 a
1.432-2.597
2.03±0.1407 a
13952.50-22541.667
18943.17±914.3041 a
0.06-5.50
2.05±1.74 d
species (5.3%) each. The low diversity of benthic
macrofauna in this study is not unusual in the Niger Delta.
Hart (1994), reported forty-three species from mangrove
swamp of Port Harcourt area of the Niger Delta. Also
Umeozor (1995) recorded twenty three species in the New
Calabar river; Ansa (2005) in her study of Adoni flats
reported twenty eight families, six classes and five phyla,
Hart and Zabbey (2005) recorded thirty taxa belonging to
twenty families and five classes of macro inve rtebrates in
W oji Creek in the upper reaches of Bonny River in the
Lower Niger Delta; while Sikoki and Zabbey (2006)
identified fourteen species representing eleven families of
macro inv ertebrates in Imo R iver.
Similarly, Oyenekan, 1975; Ajao and Fagade, 1990
and Williams, 1999, had reported varied results of species
composition of ben thic organism s in Lagos L agoon. A
total of forty-two species of benthic m acro fauna were
collected from the La gos lagoo n during the w et and dry
seasons by Ajao and Fagade (1990) while Williams
DISCUSSION
The nineteen species belonging to twelve families,
six classes and four phyla of benthic macro invertebrates
encountered in the study area varied from other reports.
Polychae ta dominated the faunal composition (63.2%)
with twelve species from six fam ilies. Polychaeta w ere
also the predominant benthos in terms of numerical
strength. They accounted for 85.8% in 2006 and 78.0% in
2007. The class crustacean had three species from two
families constituting 15 .8% of the sp ecies richness.
The other groups w ere O ligoch aeta, Insecta, B ivalvia
and Gastropoda represented by one family and one
62
Int. J. Anim. Veter. Adv., 1(2): 59-65, 2009
Cap itelle capitata
=
0.156
0.739
1.000
=
-0.005
0.978
-0.480
0.275
0.070
0.628
0.019
0.897
0.135
0.346
0.224
0.114
0.449
0.001
0.237
0.094
1.000
0.225
0.142
0.075
0.755
0.314
0.178
0.050
0.838
-0.007
0.982
0.280
0.915
-0.181
0.617
0.295
0.086
0.472
0.042
-0.051
0.777
0.110
0.543
0.465
0.211
0.230
0.497
-0.222
0.633
1.000
Areni
cola
marina
-0.452
0.060
0.384
0.116
0.081
0.751
0.456
0.087
0.420
0.073
0.093
0.811
0.258
0.108
-0.058
0.819
-0.057
0.754
0.110
0.458
-0.420
0.915
0.248
0.337
0.240
0.568
0.270
0.517
-0.020
0.910
-0.045
0.908
0.103
0.344
0.102
0.347
0.159
0.142
0.246
0.021
0.255
0.017
0.286
0.007
1.000
Cap it
elle
capit
ata
0.146
0.563
-0.215
0.460
0.338
0.512
0.234
0.464
0.514
0.192
0.381
0.066
-0.045
0.875
0.273
0.208
0.320
0.169
0.872
0.024
-0.083
0.876
0.513
0.487
0.741
0.259
0.429
0.111
-0.133
0.831
0.158
0.403
0.008
0.966
0.090
0.638
-0.082
0.668
-0.339
0.067
-0.024
0.902
1.000
Notom
astus
later
iceus
Eunice
0.215
0.785
0.007
0.983
0.909
0.005
0.498
0.030
0.888
0.001
0.074
0.792
0.677
0.006
0.360
0.552
0.597
0.157
0.025
0.968
1.000
harassi
0.673
0.012
0.539
0.108
0.478
0.137
0.560
0.073
0.422
0.032
-0.063
0.817
-0.028
0.902
0.691
0.0002
0.433
0.332
0.599
0.155
0.064
0.904
1.000
0.262
0.365
0.883
0.311
-0.167
0.425
-0.317
0.122
-0.430
0.032
-0.118
0.574
0.024
0.910
-0197
0.346
1.000
0.041
0.897
0.539
0.269
0.242
0.189
0.089
0.634
-0.186
0.316
0.046
0.824
0.143
0.443
0.302
0.099
1.000
Natom
astus
tenuis
0.382
0.107
0.089
0.717
0.256
0.289
0.570
0.011
0.200
0.413
0.160
0.512
Glyc
era
capit
ata
0.636 1.000
0.090
0.306 -0.044
0.423 0.893
0.197 0.187
0.466 0.416
-1.127 0.145
0.695 0.636
0.070 0.143
0.830 0.585
0.247 0.262
0.356 0.279
0.819 0.726
0.007 0.103
-0.152 0.412
0.719 0.270
0.973 0.350
0.005 0.772
1.000 0.908
0.272
0.285 0.496
0.324 0.060
-1.000 0.695
0.513
0.335
0.082
0.278
0.153
0.259
0.183
0.210
0.283
0.027
0.891
0.278
0.152
1.000
Marp
hysa
sang
uinea
Table 4: Correlations between benthic macro invertebrate fauna and physicochemical parameters.
Ophido
nais
serpe
ntina
Notomastus
latericeus
Nato ma stus tenu is
=
1.000
Eunice harassi
=
Op hidon ais
serpentina
Arenicola marina
Marph ysa
sanguinea
Glyc era ca pitata
=
=
Glyc era co nvolu te
Nereis diversicolor =
=
=
Nephythys
hombergi
Noto tropis
s w am i da m i
Cliberanus cooki
=
Nereis pelegica
Iphinoe tripanosa
0.676
0.527
=
=
Chironomus
ablab iesm ia
Tellina nym pha lis
=
Nereis virens
Tympanotonus 5
-0.156
0.647
-.0333
0.317
-0.334
0.285
-0.482
0.134
-0.119
0.728
0.148
0.665
0.417
0.583
=
PH
20
Temp
21
Sal
22
DO
23
BOD
24
Cond
25
Glyc
era
conv
olute
Nereis
pelegica
Ner eis
virens
Nere is
1.000
0.424
0.039
0.094
0.633
-0.206
0.594
0.139
0.742
-0.282
0.540
0.984
0.112
0.093
0.772
-0.420
0.407
0.056
0.784
0.167
0.339
-0.158
0.366
-0.177
0.308
-0.118
0.500
-0.100
0.568
0.256
0.144
0.047
0.930
0.322
0.335
0.118
0.801
0.543
0.635
0.036
0.869
0.198
0.671
-0.011
0.943
0.029
0.847
-0.256
0.082
-0.215
0.147
-0.116
0.439
-0.235
0.112
1.000
divers
icolor
0.346
0.066
0.187
0.255
0.270
0.092
0.516
0.104
-0.108
0.725
0.967
0.820
1.000
1.000
0.157
0.535
0.186
0.584
0.718
0.029
0.526
0.025
0.012
0.978
0.330
0.524
0.998
0.002
=
0.203
0.249
-0.313
0.413
0.026
0.844
0.066
0.618
-0.134
0.313
0.019
0.886
0.045
0.737
0.079
0.553
1.000
0.187
0.560
0.840
0.160
0.336
0.136
0.146
0.529
-0.100
0.665
-0.198
0.389
-0.456
0.038
0.032
0.890
Neph
ythys
homb
ergi
1.000
0.690
0.040
0.238
0.434
-0.209
0.590
0.595
0.290
0.370
0.022
-0.245
0.640
0.007
0.947
0.030
0.783
-0.213
0.049
0.060
0.583
0.038
0.726
0.129
0.236
Notot
ropis
swam
i da m i
1.000
0.570
0.109
0.625
0.375
1.000
0.360
0.306
0.666
0.536
0.289
0.317
-0.430
0.125
0.542
0.045
0.469
0.091
0.195
0.505
0.474
0.087
Clibe
ranus
cooki
1.000
-0.076
0.886
0.258
0.834
-0.052
0.844
-0.175
0.779
0.400
0.073
-0.534
0.013
0.032
0.889
0.095
0.681
0.056
0.010
-0.108
0.642
Iphinoe
tripanosa
1.000
0.839
0.161
=
1.000
Chiron
omus
ablabi
esm ia
0.699
0.081
=
0.495
0.146
-0.029
0.936
0.369
0.294
-0.371
0.291
-0.276
0.441
0.353
0.318
1.000
0.582
0.100
0.584
0.099
0.721
0.028
-0.067
0.864
-0.311
0.415
0.732
0.025
Tellina
nym pha lis
1.000
-0.408
0.316
-0.039
0.795
-0.008
0.996
0.056
0.704
0.062
0.978
0.043
0.769
0.276
0.057
Tympan
otonus
fuscatus
1.000
0.310
0.303
0.257
0.397
0.346
0.247
-0.325
0.279
-0.410
0.164
0.060
0.847
PH
20
1.000
Temp
21
1.000
Sal
22
1.000
DO
23
1.00
0
BOD
24
1.000
Cond
25
63
Int. J. Anim. Veter. Adv., 1(2): 59-65, 2009
(1999) recorded fifteen benthic species at Oworoshoki
portion of the lagoon and nine at the Lighthouse creek.
The differences in species composition recorded could be
attributed to the ecological differences of the different
geographical locations and depth of investigation.
The observed trend that Polychaeta was more
dom inant, with six families followed by Crustacea with
two families in this study is in agreement with the studies
of Om bu (1987) in the Bonny R iver. In his report
Polychae ta was the highest in spec ies richness with
68.78% followe d by Oligo chae tes and Crustacea with
6.5% each.
Zabbey, (2002) also had similar results for W oji
creek in the upper reaches of B onny River. In contrast,
Hart (1994) reported the predominance of crustaceans,
polychaetes, and gastropods, while Nwadiaro (1987)
recorded a dominance of crustaceans and insects followed
by molluscs and annelids in a lower Niger Delta river
(River Sombriero). The dominance of polychaetes in the
area can be attributed to their high level of pollutiontolerance. This assertion is in agreement with the
observation of Ajao and Fagade (1990). They reported
that the polychaetes, capitella capitata, Nereis sp., and
Polydora sp. w ere fou nd associated w ith sites gro ssly
polluted with organic matter, heavy metals and petroleum
hydrocarbons (Ajao and Fagade, 1990). They also
observed that the important polychae te species w ere
pollution-tolerant and proliferated in the W estern
industrialized portions of the Lagos lagoon receiving
effluents from industrial establishments on the shore.
The distribution pattern of the macro invertebrates in
all the stations of the creek did not show major
differences. This indicates that all the in fauna are able to
inhab it both sandy and sand-loamy substrates with or
without vegetation co ver. Ansa (2005) reported that the
presence of bivalve an d polycha ete in her ben thic
collection in the A ndoni mu d flats w as due to their ability
to inhabit sandy and loamy substrates with or without
vegetation
The results showed strong relationship between the
physico-chemical quality and the distribution of
organisms along the creek studied. This is an indication of
the ability of the organisms to survive, adapt, migrate or
die under favorable and unfavorable environmental
conditions as was also reported by Stiling (1992) and
Tyokumbur et al. (2002). Similar trends in the correlation
between the physico-chemical quality and the distribution
of organisms have been reported by many scientists such
as Bake r et al. (1979), Ebele (1981), Ajao and Fagade
(1990), M atagi (1996) an d Og bogu (2001).
The weak correlation of some of the fauna to water
quality parameters can be attributed to their physiological
adaptations to the unfavorable environmental conditions.
This assertion agrees with earlier works of Yoloye (1988)
and Tyokumbo r et al. (2002). They stated that a weak
correlation of animal groups such as Diptera, O donata and
Gastropoda to water temperature could b e attributed to
their physiological adaptation to anoxic conditions created
by high temperatures that reduce oxygen dissolution. For
example, Chironomus (Diptera) are noted to contain
haemoglobin for trapping dissolved oxygen.
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65