Abstract
The physic-chemical parameters of water samples containing leech from the University of Port Harcourt, Abuja Community were examined, between July – September, 2012. The major findings of the results showed that at a low temperature of 21 0 C the pH was 4.4 – 4.58 a high increase in BOD, 2.60 – 17.8, COD 12.00 – 140mg, DO 2.4 – 80mg and TSS 20 – 940. The results indicated that 28 taxa of the leeches were recorded in 4 families, 5 were recorded in station 1, 2(3); 3(9) and 4(11) Haementeria costata were more in number with a mean density of 3.3m 2 while Erobdella octoculata has the least with a mean density of 0.75m 2 . It was observed the leeches were easily adapted to the various ecological conditions due to human activities and the resident fishes in the water body. KEYWORD : Water body, invertebrates, leeches, conductivity and community.
Highlights
Leeches are carnivorous invertebrates in the class Hirudinea
The aim of this study is to ascertain the effect of physico-chemical parameters of water containing leech at University of Port Harcourt community, Abuja Campus
A typical sampling sites were fresh water swamp in a virgin forest that has not been cultivated for several years
Summary
Leeches are carnivorous invertebrates in the class Hirudinea. A few specific leeches feed on blood. Humans encounter leeches in the wild, where they are irritating but not usually harmful (Bartonek and Tranger, 2003). These animals are called annelids, which means that their bodies are divided into segments. They tend to be aquatic, living in freshwater, swamps, and marshes. Some leeches are comfortable on land, especially in humid areas like jungles (Davies and Wilkialis, 2001)
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