No abstract

Ground water of the farm settlements in the bitumen deposit area of Western Nigeria were tested for pH, conductivity, turbidity, total dissolved solid, sulphate, phosphate, nitrogen nitrate, chloride, alkalinity, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and total coliform in the dry season (March) and rainy season (August) of years 2008 and 2009 using atomic absorption spectrometer and standard analytical methods. Conductivity, pH, turbidity, phosphate ions and total coliform values obtained in some of the wells were out of the recommended range for drinking water. Water quality index analysis was carried out using information entropy method. Water quality index of the wells when compared with the permissible limits of international standards, ranked the bore hole as 'excellent' in the dry season of year 2009 and just 'good' in the rainy season of the same year. Ground water sampling stations were ranked extremely poor at least once out of the four seasons considered. Water quality index ranking also showed that the quality of the wells declined over the years. The correlation coefficient matrix (p \ 0.05) of water quality index and the parameters showed significant relationships between water quality index and total coliform (0.99), total dissolved solids and conductivity (0.96), hardness and Ca 2? (0.68), hardness and Mg 2?(0.75). Water quality index also showed moderate significant relationship with total dissolved solid, conductivity and N-NO 3 -. High concentration of total coliform in most of the shallow wells in the environment, due to bitumen deposit, renders them unfit for human consumption unless properly treated.

We report the first occurrence of Sargassum Weed Fish Histrio histrio at Bonga Field in Nigeria Outer Continental Shelf approximately 120 km south-east of Delta State in February 2014. At high tides and under difficulty, we sampled some seaweeds in the epi-pelagic realm using a secured standard plankton net to the environmental research vessel that was cruising at a dead speed (≤4 knots). Upon examination of the weeds we collected, one adult Sargassum Weed Fish along with two gelatinous fingerlings were realised. This finding suggests the probable occurrence of more population of Sargassum Weed Fish in their macro-habitat (the Sargassum seaweeds) which are abundantly bound in the Gulf of Guinea deep waters. The specimen was photographed on-board and preserved immediately in 10 % formalin solution for a 24-h period and was thereafter reprocessed, and permanently preserved with 70 % ethanol. We recommend a major study of the marine seaweeds and their colonisers amongst Gulf of Guinea member states.