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Searching for indicator macroinvertebrate traits in an Afrotropical riverine system: implication for ecosystem biomonitoring and sustainability

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Abstract

In the past three decades, macroinvertebrate traits have been explored and employed in the biomonitoring of riverine systems globally, but much attention has not been given to the trait-based approach (TBA) in Nigeria. Therefore, in this study, the distribution patterns of macroinvertebrate traits in selected stations exposed to varying degrees of perturbation in River Hadejia, north-western Nigeria, were explored to assess the ecological health of the river. Three stations were selected, representing an increasing gradient of pollution: station 1 > station 2 and station 3, and were used to search for potential indicator traits. Four traits, including body size, respiratory, mobility, and body shape, were selected and classified into 12 trait attributes. The RLQ analysis revealed macroinvertebrates possessing medium and large body sizes, climbing and crawling, tegumental, gills, and aerial: lungs respiratory traits, and streamlined body shape were associated with station 1. Conversely, macroinvertebrates possessing very small and small body sizes, aerial: spiracle and aerial/vegetation, sprawling, swimming, and skating, flattened, spherical, cylindrical, and rhomboidal were mainly associated with stations 2 and 3. In searching for potential indicator macroinvertebrate traits aside from the RLQ analysis conducted, a fourth-corner analysis was further performed, which showed traits including medium and large body sizes, tegumental, and aerial: lung respiratory traits to be sensitive to pollution. Equally, aerial/vegetation, flattened body shape, and very small body size were found to be tolerant of pollution. A more robust trait-based biomonitoring study using more trait classes such as feeding mechanism, food preferences, voltinism, and attachment mechanism is recommended for future study in this region. The study would be helpful in biomonitoring of ecosystem health and enhance the sustainability prowess of the TBA in the studied region.

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Data availability

Datasets used in the present study will be made available by the corresponding author upon request without any hesitation.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) of Nigeria for the institutional-based research (IBR) grant awarded to the first author. Special thanks go to the honours students of the first author: Fatima Garba, Abdulhamid Abbas Adam, and Muazam Ibrahim for their assistance during the field and laboratory exercise. We also acknowledge Mrs. Edegbene Ovie, Tega Treasure, for her technical and field assistance.

Funding

This work was supported by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) of Nigeria institutional based research (IBR) grant awarded to the first author at Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa, Nigeria, with TETFUND letter referenced: TETFUND/DESS/UNIV/KAFIN HAUSA/2016/RP/VOL.1) and Sule Lamido University letter referenced: SLU/TIC/IBR/10/VOL.1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, Makhanda (Grahamstown) 6140, South Africa

    Augustine Ovie Edegbene & Frank Chukwuzuoke Akamagwuna

  2. Department of Biology and Forensic Science, Admiralty University of Nigeria, Ibusa, Nigeria

    Augustine Ovie Edegbene

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Sule Lamdio University, Kafin Hausa, Nigeria

    Maryam Babangidda Adam

  4. Department of Foundation Courses and Remedial Studies, Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic, Hadejia, Nigeria

    Jibrin Gambo

  5. Department of Zoology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria

    Augustine Ovie Edegbene & Ekikhalo Catherine Osimen

  6. Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

    Robert Bamigho Ikomi

  7. Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Technology, Delta State School of Marine Technology, Burutu, Nigeria

    Efe Ogidiaka

  8. Environment Assessment Department, Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja, Nigeria

    Gift Ochonogor Omovoh

  9. Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Makhanda (Grahamstown), 6140, South Africa

    Frank Chukwuzuoke Akamagwuna

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  1. Augustine Ovie Edegbene
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Contributions

Edegbene, A.O.: project conceptualisation and design, funding acquisition, methodology, supervision of the project, physico-chemical variables and macroinvertebrates collection, formal data analyses, writing the original draft of the manuscript, manuscript review, editing, and finalisation. Adam, M.B.: physico-chemical variables and macroinvertebrates collection, data analyses, and writing the original draft of the manuscript. Gambo, J.: writing the original draft of the manuscript. Akamagwuna, F.C.: methodology, writing the original draft of the manuscript, manuscript review and editing, and study area map creation. Osimen, E.C., Ikomi, R.B., Ogidiaka, E., Omovoh, G.O.: manuscript review and editing.

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Correspondence to Augustine Ovie Edegbene.

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Edegbene, A.O., Adam, M.B., Gambo, J. et al. Searching for indicator macroinvertebrate traits in an Afrotropical riverine system: implication for ecosystem biomonitoring and sustainability. Environ Monit Assess 193, 711 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09450-y

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