Seasonal Variation in Physicochemical Parameters of Lekki Lagoon and the Conservation of Its Ecosystem

Isaiah O Opadokun,E K Ajani,A E Falaye

doi:10.4236/gep.2015.39002

Isaiah O Opadokun, E K Ajani + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2015.39002

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Abstract

Some physicochemical parameters like temperature, transparency, dissolved solid, suspended materials, turbidity, conductivity, pH, total alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, phosphate and salinity of water samples collected at Lekki Lagoon from November 2010 to September 2012 were evaluated. Fifteen locations were selected for water sampling according to the activities that took place in the lagoon. Physical water quality parameters such as temperature, transparency, total dissolved solids and total suspended solid showed strong seasonal and spatial fluctuation. Parameters like conductivity, pH and total alkalinity had relatively constant values among stations though they varied seasonally. Dissolved oxygen, nitrate and phosphate values were within permissible range for fish. Higher salinity values were recorded in wet seasons than dry seasons suggesting that salinity variation at Lekki Lagoon was due to salt incursion from the adjourning Lagos Lagoon and Mahin Creek during rainy season rather than evaporation factor. Salinity range of 1.70 - 6.00 psu recorded in this study also shows that Lekki Lagoon is tending towards brackish and this may affect the ichthyofauna composition of the lagoon.

Highlights

Larger percentage of fish being consumed in the country comes from brackish-marine environment [1]
A similar trend was observed on Lagos Lagoon by Ajani [13]
Dry seasons’ temperatures were slightly higher than the wet seasons the fluctuation was just 1.03 ̊C and 0.33 ̊C in the first and second sampling years respectively. This agrees with earlier works [13]-[15] who asserted a slight variation of about 0.5 ̊C only in the dry and wet seasons’ temperature of the lagoon of Southwestern Nigeria

Summary

Introduction

Larger percentage of fish being consumed in the country comes from brackish-marine environment [1]. (2015) Seasonal Variation in Physicochemical Parameters of Lekki Lagoon and the Conservation of Its Ecosystem. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 3, 11-17. Lekki Lagoon, located in Lagos and Ogun states of Nigeria covers an area of nearly 247 km and lies between longitude 4 ̊00'E and 4 ̊15'E and latitude 6 ̊22'N and 6 ̊37'N [2] [3]. Lagos Lagoon links Lekki Lagoon at the upper part while Mahin creeks link the lagoon at the lower part. River Oni flows into Lekki Lagoon in the north eastern side while Rivers Oshun and Saga flow in from the north western parts [4] [5].

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