Abstract
A study was undertaken to determine the macroinvertebrates pollution tolerance index (PTI) in Calabar River, Cross River state, Nigeria. Five sampling stations were chosen along the river course: Ikot Okon Abasi, Tinapa, Unicem, Marina resort and Nsidung beach which were labeled stations 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Physico-chemical parameters; surface water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total dissolved solids (TDS) and total suspended solids (TSS) were measured using their respective meters while macroinvertebrates were sampled using a Van Veen grab, stained with Rose Bengal solution and identified under microscope. Macroinvertebrates pollution tolerance index was obtained using online software designed by Northern Kentucky Univeristy and Leaf Pack Network Biotic and Water Quality Calculator. The results obtained for physicochemical parameters showed the highest temperature as 29.90C in station five while the lowest was 26.40C in station one. pH was highest (6.60) in station five and lowest (5.52) in station one. DO was highest (4.4mg/L) in station four and lowest (3.0 mg/L) in station five while BOD was highest (3.2 mg/L) in station three and lowest (0.3 mg/L) in station one. An average total of 5366 macroinvertebrate individuals were encountered belonging to nine families and eleven species. Tubificidae had the lowest occurrence with 18 individuals which made up 0.3% of the total macroinvertebrates while Penaeidae had the highest occurrence with 2,455 individuals constituting 45.8% of the total count. Pollution tolerance index was highest (21) in station five and lowest (9) in station four with the water quality being generally poor. Hence, it is suggested that anthropogenic activities should be regulated and continuous monitoring of the river course should be carried out.
Highlights
Macroinvertebrates are organisms without backbones, which are visible to the eye without the aid of a hand lens or microscope
The Calabar River in Cross River State, Nigeria is located between latitude 040 55’ 55” to 050 02’ 50”N and longitude 0080 16’ 35” to 0080 18’ 13.8” E
The highest temperature was 29.90C in station five, the lowest was 26.40C in station one. pH was highest in station five and lowest in station one with 6.60 and 5.52 respectively while dissolved oxygen (DO) ranged from 3.0 to 4.4 mg/l
Summary
Macroinvertebrates are organisms without backbones, which are visible to the eye without the aid of a hand lens or microscope They consist of the immature stages of many flies, beetles (adult and immature), mayflies, caddis flies, stoneflies, dragonflies, aquatic worms, snails, and numerous other organisms (Idowu and Ugwumba, 2005). They serve as useful bioindicators of aquatic health status due to their high functional and taxonomic diversity, ubiquity, tolerance of wide environmental gradients, rapid, and often predictable response to environmental changes of natural and anthropogenic origin. This study is undertaken to evaluate the pollution tolerance index of macroinvertebrates in Calabar River, Nigeria
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