Macroinvertebrates’ Pollution Tolerance Index in Calabar River, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was undertaken to determine the macroinvertebrates pollution tolerance index (PTI) in Calabar River, Cross River state, Nigeria. Five sampling stations were chosen along the river course: Ikot Okon Abasi, Tinapa, Unicem, Marina resort and Nsidung beach which were labeled stations 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Physico-chemical parameters; surface water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total dissolved solids (TDS) and total suspended solids (TSS) were measured using their respective meters while macroinvertebrates were sampled using a Van Veen grab, stained with Rose Bengal solution and identified under microscope. Macroinvertebrates pollution tolerance index was obtained using online software designed by Northern Kentucky Univeristy and Leaf Pack Network Biotic and Water Quality Calculator. The results obtained for physicochemical parameters showed the highest temperature as 29.90C in station five while the lowest was 26.40C in station one. pH was highest (6.60) in station five and lowest (5.52) in station one. DO was highest (4.4mg/L) in station four and lowest (3.0 mg/L) in station five while BOD was highest (3.2 mg/L) in station three and lowest (0.3 mg/L) in station one. An average total of 5366 macroinvertebrate individuals were encountered belonging to nine families and eleven species. Tubificidae had the lowest occurrence with 18 individuals which made up 0.3% of the total macroinvertebrates while Penaeidae had the highest occurrence with 2,455 individuals constituting 45.8% of the total count. Pollution tolerance index was highest (21) in station five and lowest (9) in station four with the water quality being generally poor. Hence, it is suggested that anthropogenic activities should be regulated and continuous monitoring of the river course should be carried out.

Heavy metals pollution and ecological risk assessment around artisanal gold mines in Zamfara, Nigeria

“…Each gold mining site was divided into quadrants where sample locations were carefully chosen based on the size of the site after a pre–sampling survey, sampling spots were cleaned of debris while composite topsoil with depth from 0 to 15 centimeters were collected from different selected locations using soil auger so as to provide representative coverage of each mining site and the control area according to [ 27 , 28 ]. There were 12 sampling spots in Kwali, 8 in Maraba, 7 in Duke and 8 in Kadauri from where the collected soil samples were homogenized and transferred into clean polythene bags which were immediately transported to the laboratory for heavy metals analyses, this was done monthly for a period of 12 months.…”

Heavy Metals and Petroleum Hydrocarbon Concentration in water and Periwinkles (Tympanotonus fuscatus L.) obtained from Calabar River, Cross River State, Nigeria

“…Several studies reported signs of pollution from untreated industrial effluents, municipal wastewater, run-off from agricultural chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as well as spillage of petroleum products in Calabar River [9] hence this study was conducted to assess the levels of heavy metals and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in water and tissues of periwinkles (Tympanotonus fuscatus L.) obtained from the River in order to determine their suitability for human consumption.…”