Abstract
Benthic macro-invertebrates of the Northern axis of metropolitan segment of Lagos Lagoon sediments, Nigeria were investigated for six months (April – September, 2010). The study was aimed at using benthic macro-invertebrates to assess the water quality of this part of the Lagoon. A total of ten taxa belonging to three major animal phyla from a total of 2,672 individuals were encountered. The dominant taxa throughoutthe study and stations were Pachymelania aurita, Aloidis trigona, and Neritina glabrata. Station A (Ikorodu port) had seven taxa, station B (Ibese) had five while stations C (Ofin) and D (Oreta) had eight taxa each.Stations A(Ikorodu port), B(Ibese), C(Ofin) and D(Oreta) accounted for 8.19%, 0.94%, 79.83% and 11.04% respectively in all the individuals collected. Gastropoda was highest and accounted for 54.83% of all individuals collected from all stations contributing 2.58% at station A and 0.49%, 48.39% and 3.37% respectively at stations B, C and D, while Polychaeta had the least (0.97%) with station A, B, C and D constituted 0.82%, 0.04%, 0.04% and 0.07% respectively. Sediment type of the study areas was predominantly muddy sand. The presence of more pollution tolerant species (Nereis spp, Capitella capitata and Polydora ciliata) in station A may serve to confirm that the community has been impacted by pollution. The low faunal abundance and diversity observed in station B could be attributed to stress imposed by effluents from industrial sources. The information of this study will be very useful in formulating policies and regulatory framework for sustainable management of Lagos Lagoon
Highlights
Coastal lagoon ecosystems serve as pollution filters and are of important traditional value to local people, yet they have become targets of destructive exploitation in recent times
This study was aimed at using the structure and spatial distribution of benthic macro-invertebrates of the Northern axis of metropolitan segment of Lagos Lagoon to assess the water quality of this part of the Lagoon
The lagoon is shallow with an average depth of 1.5m except at the channels that are dredged occasionally (Webb, 1958). It opens into the gulf of Guinea through the Lagos harbour which is the only opening to the sea for the entire western lagoons of Nigeria
Summary
Coastal lagoon ecosystems serve as pollution filters and are of important traditional value to local people, yet they have become targets of destructive exploitation in recent times. Discharge of domestic and industrial effluents and sand mining activities are some of man’s actions which undermine the ecological integrity of lagoon ecosystem. Many lagoons in West Africa presently required biodiversity restoration and conservation measures, which call for periodic species survey. Benthic macro-invertebrates community is widely used for detection and monitoring of man’s impact on aquatic ecosystems.
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