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Spatiotemporal variation of macroinvertebrates in relation to canopy cover and other environmental factors in Eriora River, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 184, pages 6449–6461 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Canopy cover is well known to influence the distribution of macroinvertebrates in temperate streams. Very little is known about how this factor influences stream communities in Afrotropical streams. The effects and possible interactions of environmental factors and canopy cover on macroinvertebrate community structure (abundance, richness, and diversity) were examined in four stations in Eriora River, southern Nigeria bimonthly from May to November 2010. The river supported diverse macroinvertebrates in which the upstream sampling stations with dense canopy cover were dominated by Decapoda, Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Gastropoda, Trichoptera, and Coleoptera while Diptera and Coleoptera were the benthic organisms found predominant at downstream stations with less canopy cover. Some caddisfly species such as Agapetus agilis, Trichosetodes species and the stonefly Neoperla species were present upstream and were found to be potential bioindicators for a clean ecosystem. The blood worm Chironomus species and Tabanus sp. were abundant at the downstream of the river and are considered potential bioindicators for an organically degrading ecosystem. Some environmental factors varied temporally with significantly higher macroinvertebrate abundance and richness in May. We found out that canopy cover and environmental factors affected macroinvertebrates abundance, diversity, and richness and that the individual taxon had varying responses to these factors. These results help identify the mechanisms underlying the effects of canopy cover and other environmental factors on Afrotropical stream invertebrate communities.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the International Foundation for Science, Stockholm, Sweden, through a research grant to F.O. Arimoro A/4934-1. Thanks to Professor R.B. Ikomi for the valuable comments that greatly improved the manuscript.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Delta State University, P.M.B. 1, Abraka, Nigeria

    Francis O. Arimoro

  2. Department of Botany, Delta State University, P.M.B 1, Abraka, Nigeria

    Grace E. Obi-Iyeke & Prince J. O. Obukeni

Authors
  1. Francis O. Arimoro
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  2. Grace E. Obi-Iyeke
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  3. Prince J. O. Obukeni
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Correspondence to Francis O. Arimoro.

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Arimoro, F.O., Obi-Iyeke, G.E. & Obukeni, P.J.O. Spatiotemporal variation of macroinvertebrates in relation to canopy cover and other environmental factors in Eriora River, Niger Delta, Nigeria. Environ Monit Assess 184, 6449–6461 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2432-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2432-9

Keywords

  • Canopy cover
  • Macroinvertebrate assemblages
  • Physical and chemical parameters
  • Evenness
  • Diversity indices