Abstract

Seasonal changes in the microbial communities of the New Calabar Riverwater have been investigated. Analyses of the BOD, pH, salinity, oil and grease levels of effluents of industries sited along the river were also conducted. High hydrocarbon-utilizing microbial populations were found. The percentage of hydrocarbon-utilizing heterotrophic bacteria ranged between 0-98% and 0-68% in the rainy and dry months, respectively. Counts of hydrocarbon-utilizing actinomycetes in the rainy months ranged between 0-95% and 2-55% in the dry months. The hydrocarbon-utilizing yeast population ranged between 1-95% and 2-85% for the rainy and dry months, respectively. Rainy month values for hydrocarbon-utilizing mould population ranged from 0-17% while dry month values ranged from 0-47%. The hydrocarbon-utilizing cyanobacterial population ranged between 0-95% and 0-33% in the rainy and dry months, respectively. Our results suggest that the heterotrophic bacterial and cyanobacterial populations are higher in the rainy months than in the dry months. However, the hydrocarbon-utilizing yeast, mould and actinomycete populations did not show seasonal variation.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.