Seasonal Variations in Physicochemical Parameters and Benthic Microinvertebrates Diversities of Ntawogba water Quality Port Harcourt

Abstract

The study determined the seasonal variation of Ntawogba creekƒ??s water quality on some physical-chemical parameters and the diversity of benthic microinvertebrates as bioindicators of the river for twelve months .Based on ecological niche of the system and anthropogenic activities in the area, three sampling stations and their coordinates were established along the stretch of the stream. The physicochemical parameters studied include temperature, pH, conductivity, salinity, turbidity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen and biochemical oxygen demand according to standard methods as described by APHA, 1988. Sediment particle size was determined during wet and dry seasons by hydrometer method. Replicate samples of benthic microinvertebrates were collected for each month randomly with Eckmanƒ??s grab, and their diversity determined using Shannon-Wiener index equitability species. Physicochemical data from the monthly collections were subjected to 2-way analysis of variance and the difference among means was separated by Turkey-honest significance difference at 95% of probability. Percentage occurrence and relative numerical abundance of microinvertebrates were calculated using excel descriptive statistical tools. The results of the physical ƒ?? chemical variables revealed that the following parameters; temperature, conductivity, total dissolved solids, salinity were higher in dry season than in wet season, while turbidity and dissolved oxygen were higher in wet season due to increased water runoff. pH values alternated between slightly acidic and slightly alkalinity. The diversity and taxa richness were higher in wet season (1.914; 3.960) than dry season (0.877; 2.425). The seasonal variation compares favorably with those of similar environment in the Niger Delta,Nigeria.

Keywords

Benthic Dry Microinvertebrates. Parameters Seasonal Wet

  • Research Identity (RIN)

  • License

    Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

  • Language & Pages

    English, 1-20

  • Classification

    J.2