Abstract
Bio –concentrated levels of trace metals; Fe, Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb in three (3) freshwater mangrove fauna; Tympanotonus fuscatus (periwinkle), Periophthalmus barbarous (mudskipper) and Guinearma (Sesarma) alberti (West African Sesarmid Crab) was investigated utilizng atomic absorbance spectrophotometery. Faunal sampling was conducted at five (5) sites in the Falcorp wetland area of Warri, Delta State, once monthly for an eighteen (18) month period. Maximal mean Fe and Zn values; 349.7 9 µg/g, dried wt ±15.64 and 16.92 µg/g, dried wt ±1.65 were recorded for the respective mudskipper and crab samples while minimal mean Fe and Zn values; 124.14 µg/g, dried wt ±7.85 and 7.71 µg/g, dried wt ± 0.96 were documented for the digested periwinkle tissues. The differences in the mean Fe, Zn, Cu and Cd values was siginificantly different at different levels (P<0.001, P <0.01 and P<0.05). The detection of significant bioconcentration of these metals especially Cd, is a possible indication of the wide reaching deletrious ecological effects of anthropogenic activities in the affected area.
 Keywords: Falcorp mangrove swamp, Bioaccumulation, Trace metal, benthic bio-indicator
Highlights
Activities of the nearby Warri petroleum refinery and an upsurge in bunkering and illegal refining activities within the swamp and neighbouring creeks
Several authors have reported the suitablility and effectiveness of utilizing these representative benthic fauna and mudskipper as bio indicators with respect to aquatic niches exposed to varying levels of heavy metal pollution (Ikram et al, 2010; Chaiyaraa et al, 2013; Ansari et al, 2014; Abu and Nwokoma, 2016; Moslen et al, 2017; Aigberua and Izah, 2018; Numbere, 2019; Abiaobo et al, 2020)
Amongst the mean bio accumulated heavy metals detected in the perwinkle tissues, Fe; 138.14 μg/g, dried wt ±9.51 was the highest, while nil values were recorded in respect of Cr for both dry and wet seasons (Table 2)
Summary
Activities of the nearby Warri petroleum refinery and an upsurge in bunkering (crude oil theft) and illegal refining activities within the swamp and neighbouring creeks. Several authors have reported the suitablility and effectiveness of utilizing these representative benthic fauna and mudskipper as bio indicators with respect to aquatic niches exposed to varying levels of heavy metal pollution (Ikram et al, 2010; Chaiyaraa et al, 2013; Ansari et al, 2014; Abu and Nwokoma, 2016; Moslen et al, 2017; Aigberua and Izah, 2018; Numbere, 2019; Abiaobo et al, 2020).
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