| Abstrakt: |
Macroinvertebrates are bioindicators of sediment quality and serve as a reference for the status of a given ecosystem. However, unregulated anthropogenic activities affect macroinvertebrates and their ecological functions. This study aims to evaluate the sediment characteristics and effect of human-induced stressors on macroinvertebrates community structure in Chanomi Creek, Niger Delta. Sediment and macroinvertebrate samples were collected monthly between March 2020 and August 2021 using a Van Veen grab. The samples were preserved for further analyses in the laboratory following standard procedures. Among the sediment characteristics analysed, only pH, acidity, sediment texture and BTEX showed significant differences (P < 0.05) across seasons. Despite PAH and BTEX levels being below the Department of Petroleum Resources’ recommended limits, sediment pH ranged from 4.07 to 5.67, indicating acidity. Sandy-clay particles dominated the sediment, potentially causing lower nutrient and organic matter concentrations. The study recorded 968 individuals represented by 27 species, 23 genera, 18 families, 14 orders, 7 classes and 4 phyla. The phylum Mollusca recorded 77.5%, Arthropoda 19.6%, Annelida 2.5% and Echinodermata 0.4% of the fauna composition with Tympanotonos fuscatus as the dominant species (32.5%). The macroinvertebrate assemblage recorded low diversity while AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index and Bentix Index indicated that the macroinvertebrate assemblage in the creek is slightly disturbed. These benthic indices revealed an overall perturbed ecosystem from various environmental stressors. These results provide comprehensive understanding of the overall health, diversity and functioning of the macroinvertebrate community within the creek. Implementation of effective measures to address anthropogenic stressors in brackish ecosystems is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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