Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief: Petre Gastescu, Hyperion University of Bucharest (Romania)
Managing Editor: Petre Bretcan, Valahia University of Targoviste (Romania)
Volume 9(1) / 2015
ISSN: 1844-6477 (print version)
ISSN: 2284-5305 (electronic version)

 

 

  

 

SEASONAL ASSEMBLAGE OF MACROBENTHIC INVERTEBRATES OF A SHALLOW TROPICAL EUTROPHIC AFRICAN RESERVOIR

 

Moshood MUSTAPHA, Hammed YAKUBU

University of Ilorin, Department of Zoology, PMB 1515, Ilorin, postal code 240001, Nigeria; Tel:+2348035797590; +2347088337581; email: moonstapha@yahoo.com, Hamsohood@gmail.com

Abstract

A Seasonal assemblage of macrobenhic invertebrates of a tropical reservoir was carried out for 12 weeks. Three replicates of samples were collected from 3 sites using the kick net sampling technique. The collected macrobenthos were sorted into different taxonomic groups and identified to genus level. Three phyla namely Annelida with 1 class and 2 species, Arthropoda with 1 class and 6 species and Mollusca with 2 classes and 4 species were identified. All the 12 taxa were recorded in station 1 which is a riverine, unpolluted and devoid of human activities, while 9 and 10 taxa were recorded in stations 2 and 3 respectively. A total of 718 individuals comprising 32 gastropods, 423 bivalves, 39 oligochaetes, and 224 insects and larvae were sampled. The phylum mollusca with 455 individuals constituted 61.97%, arthropoda with 224 individuals 31.19% and annelid with 39 individuals 5.43%. The class bivalvia was dominant with 423 individuals constituting 58.9%, while class oligochaete was least with 39 individuals. There was significant difference (P<0.05) in the abundance of the macrobenthos among the stations and the weeks. The abundance of species in the stations is Station 1 > 2 > 3. The macrobenthic assemblage was linked to the organic loadings coming from the allochtonous inputs, low water level and high transparency at the period of sampling. Macrobenthic species of interest in the reservoir include Aspatharia which is a source of food (protein) to the people, Bulinus and Biomphalaria which are intermediate host of schistosomiasis, Chironmous larvae which are indicator of pollution. Based on the macrobenthic assemblages of the reservoir, the ecological status of the reservoir could be classified as excellent and its productivity high. The incidence of pollution as observed by the macrobenthic species in station 1 could be addressed by adopting best management practices (BMP) for the reservoir.

Keywords: macrobenthic, assemblages, bivalvia, taxa, oligochaete, annelid, insecta

 
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