Water Quality of Perturbed Egbokodo River, Delta State, Nigeria.
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Purpose: An aquatic ecological survey was carried out across the stretch of Egbokodo River;
located in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. Biomonitoring survey of
the river was carried out around important sections along the river.
Methodology: 10 samples of surface water were collected at 10 sub-stations; marked using the
Global Positioning System device (GPS); randomly around each station (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) from
November, 2014 to February, 2016 (16 months). The pH of water was taken and recorded in-situ
using a WTW water sampler probe. All samples were transported immediately to the laboratory
for analysis of the physico-chemical variables. The mean and standard error values of 10 samples
collected from each station were subjected to a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to analyse
the differences across the stations and the months; using SPSS version 19.2 at probability level of
0.05. Duncan Multiple Range test (DMR) to ascertain the actual locations of the significant
differences across the stations and among the months.
Results: Results show that anthropogenic activities around the river are of higher impacts on the
ecological equilibrium than most neighbouring rivers. Data assures the suitability of the river for
aquatic life, agriculture and domestic use. However, need for amelioration of the anthropogenic
perturbations cannot be overemphasised. High conductivity in the dry season was coeval with high
salinity; indicating a substantial contribution of the dissolved salts to the conductivity of the river.
The high values of BOD observed at Station 2 was accompanied by low dissolved oxygen (DO).
This can be attributed to disposal of organic wastes at this section of the river. The DO at Station
3 was significantly higher than other stations throughout the study period (P < 0.05). This can be
attributed to the surface turbulence by dredging agitation and high standing aquatic macrophytes.
The levels of the essential primary productivity nutrients such as nitrate, phosphate and sulphate
in the river indicate that the river is oligotrophic.
Conclusion and Recommendations: The study has provided a proof of trophic stratification by
anthropogenic perturbations. The study has also provided a general picture of the aquatic
environment over an extended period of time; a database useful for reference in subsequent studies
aimed at protecting the ecological integrity Egbokodo River.
Keywords
QH Natural history, QH301 Biology, SH Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling