Fluctuating salinity levels and an increasing pollution gradient on fish community structure and trophic levels in a small creek in the Niger delta, Nigeria

International Aquatic Research, Oct 2014

Assessing the ecological status of rivers, creeks, and streams is a fundamental and increasingly important water management issue worldwide. This study examines the variations in fish community structure along an increasing pollution gradient in a small Niger Delta creek in Nigeria in both time and space. Salinity of the area fluctuated between fresh and mesohaline brackish waters with values ranging from 0.4 to 5.2 PPT and electrical conductivity values ranging between 16.9 and 136.0 µS/cm. The site in the upper creek (Site 1) was relatively free from gross pollution, with significantly high dissolved oxygen levels and low nutrient and salinity levels. Site 3 recorded relatively higher values of 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and high nutrient levels, indicating substantial input of organic matter to the creek upstream. Six (6) species, Tilapia guineensis (Cichlidae), Bostrychus africanus (Eleotridae), Hemichromis fasciatus (Cichlidae), Ethmalosa fimbriata (Clupeidae), Gerres melanopterus (Gerreidae), and Clarias macromystax dominated the sample and accounted for about 70 % of the total catch. Tilapia guineensis constituted the major dominant species and accounted numerically for about 20 % of the total catches and 45 % of the total biomass. Multi-species fisheries dominate the coastal zone with Tilapia guineensis, Gerres melanopterus and Ethmalosa fimbriata, Liza falcipinus, Mugil spp., and Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, the major species in the commercial catches. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, BOD5, and temperature were important variables structuring the overall fish assemblages. Overall, salinity was the major environmental variable determining the diversity of fish communities at the various sites. The effect of anthropogenic activities and land use practices around the creek only marginally affected the abundance of the fish species but not the diversity. These findings indicate that the water body is still useful as a good fishing ground for the rural communities and every effort should be put in place to ensure its protection and conservation for the production of healthy fish.

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Fluctuating salinity levels and an increasing pollution gradient on fish community structure and trophic levels in a small creek in the Niger delta, Nigeria

Int Aquat Res Fluctuating salinity levels and an increasing pollution gradient on fish community structure and trophic levels in a small creek in the Niger delta, Nigeria Francis O. Arimoro 0 1 2 Robert B. Ikomi 0 1 2 Francis O. Nwadukwe 0 1 2 Ovie D. Eruotor 0 1 2 Augustine O. Edegbene 0 1 2 0 R. B. Ikomi F. O. Nwadukwe O. D. Eruotor Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Delta State University , PMB 1, Abraka , Nigeria 1 F. O. Arimoro (&) A. O. Edegbene Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Technology , P.M.B. 65, Minna , Nigeria 2 Ajijiguan creek Assessing the ecological status of rivers, creeks, and streams is a fundamental and increasingly important water management issue worldwide. This study examines the variations in fish community structure along an increasing pollution gradient in a small Niger Delta creek in Nigeria in both time and space. Salinity of the area fluctuated between fresh and mesohaline brackish waters with values ranging from 0.4 to 5.2 PPT and electrical conductivity values ranging between 16.9 and 136.0 lS/cm. The site in the upper creek (Site 1) was relatively free from gross pollution, with significantly high dissolved oxygen levels and low nutrient and salinity levels. Site 3 recorded relatively higher values of 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and high nutrient levels, indicating substantial input of organic matter to the creek upstream. Six (6) species, Tilapia guineensis (Cichlidae), Bostrychus africanus (Eleotridae), Hemichromis fasciatus (Cichlidae), Ethmalosa fimbriata (Clupeidae), Gerres melanopterus (Gerreidae), and Clarias macromystax dominated the sample and accounted for about 70 % of the total catch. Tilapia guineensis constituted the major dominant species and accounted numerically for about 20 % of the total catches and 45 % of the total biomass. Multi-species fisheries dominate the coastal zone with Tilapia guineensis, Gerres melanopterus and Ethmalosa fimbriata, Liza falcipinus, Mugil spp., and Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, the major species in the commercial catches. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, BOD5, and temperature were important variables structuring the overall fish assemblages. Overall, salinity was the major environmental variable determining the diversity of fish communities at the various sites. The effect of anthropogenic activities and land use practices around the creek only marginally affected the abundance of the fish species but not the diversity. These findings indicate that the water body is still useful as a good fishing ground for the rural communities and every effort should be put in place to ensure its protection and conservation for the production of healthy fish. levels; Fish communities; Salinity levels Physicochemical parameters Trophic Introduction Freshwater systems across much of the African continent including Madagascar are under increasing pressure from the combined onslaught of introduced species, pollution from burgeoning populations and industries, dams and water extractions, and overall land use change (Thieme et al. 2005) . This multitude of threats on a wide front requires conservationists to establish priorities and to set goals and targets for the conservation of aquatic systems and their rich biodiversity. The numerous creeks in the Niger Delta serve various functions such as sources of potable water, economic uses including artisanal fisheries, recreation as well as for its esthetic value. The Ajijiguan creek is one of the small creeks located in the Niger Delta area. It is an important creek due to its proximity to the downstream estuarine Benin River and upstream freshwater Ethiope River. Generally, creeks are characterized by many interacting physical factors that produce spatial and temporal heterogeneity and may exert a major influence on benthic communities and fish (Arimoro et al. 2006; Salgado et al. 2007; Ekeke et al. 2008; Adite et al. 2013) . Fish, as a source of ‘‘rich food for poor people’’, can play an important role in improving Africa’s food security and nutritional status; more than 200 million Africans eat fish regularly (World Fish Center 2005). Fresh, but more often smoked, dried, or even as powder, fish is a critical source of dietary protein and micronutrients for many communities in the coastal areas around these water bodies. Fish may also be the sole accessible and/or affordable source of animal protein for poor households in urban or peri-urban areas (FAO 2003; Delgado et al. 2003; World Fish Center 2005) . The continuous existence of fish in the whole of Nigeria and especially in the Niger Delta is currently being jeopardized as a result of pollution from anthropogenic activities (Arimoro et al. 2006, Ekeke et al. 2008; Obasohan and Oronsaye 2009; Ogamba et al. 2014) . Therefore, studies of this nature are needed to provide cues for conservat (...truncated)


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Francis O. Arimoro, Robert B. Ikomi, Francis O. Nwadukwe, Ovie D. Eruotor, Augustine O. Edegbene. Fluctuating salinity levels and an increasing pollution gradient on fish community structure and trophic levels in a small creek in the Niger delta, Nigeria, International Aquatic Research, 2014, pp. 187-202, Volume 6, Issue 4, DOI: 10.1007/s40071-014-0078-2