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Abstract
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Article Information:
The Distribution, Abundance and Seasonality of Benthic Macro Invertebrate in Okpoka Creek Sediments, Niger Delta, Nigeria
A.D.I. George, J.F.N. Abowei, and J.F. Alfred-Ockiya
Corresponding Author: Abowei Jasper
Submitted: 2009 August, 03
Accepted: 2009 August, 19
Published: 2010 January, 05 |
Abstract:
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The distribution, abundance and seasonality of benthic macro invertebrates in Okpoka creek
sediments were studied for a period of one year (January-December 2006). Polychaeta was highest and
constituted 82.8%. The others were Bivalvia (4.6%), Crustacea (4.5%) and Oligochaeta (3.9%), Gastropoda
(2.1%) and Insecta (2.0%). From nineteen (19) species encountered in the area, all the species of the class
(Polychaeta) with the exception of Nereis virens occurred in all the stations. The species found were relatively
more abundant in stations 5 and 6. However, Ophidonais serpentina occurred only in stations 1 and 2 but more
abundant (91.4% ) in station 1. Clibernarius cooci and Iphinoe tripanosa were absent in station 2. Iphinoe
tripanosa was more abundant (35.9%) in station 1 than the rest of the stations. Stations 1, 2 and 4 had seventeen
(17) species each. Eighteen (18) species each were recorded in stations 3, 5 and 6. There was seasonal variation
in the abundance of only Ophidonais serpentine (20.0 ± 14.6 dry, 115.24±25.49 wet); Eunice harassi (26.88
± 3.53 dry, 47.78 ± 5.45 wet); and Nereis pelegica, (21.92 ± 4.14 dry, 40.96 ±8.32 wet). There were no
significant seasonal differences in the other species encountered. The Shannon-Weaver and Margalef diversity
values calculated generally show a high species diversity. The calculated values of Shannon-Weaver and
Margalef diversity was maximum in November with H= 1.44, M=5.64 and J=0.911 and H= 1.136, M= 5.082
and J = 0.923 respectively. The lowest values (H = 0.87, M = 3.852, J= 0.806) were observed in August.
Pielou’s index of relative density or evenness (J=0.911; 0.923) revealed that the species w ere evenly distributed
in the study area in February, October and November. The lowest evenness occurred in July.
Key words: Abundance and seasonality, benthic invertebrate, distribution, Okpoka Creek Sediments, Niger Delta, Nigeria,
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Cite this Reference:
A.D.I. George, J.F.N. Abowei, and J.F. Alfred-Ockiya, . The Distribution, Abundance and Seasonality of Benthic Macro Invertebrate in Okpoka Creek Sediments, Niger Delta, Nigeria. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology, (1): Page No: 11-18.
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ISSN (Online): 2040-7467
ISSN (Print): 2040-7459 |
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