The Ecology of Macro-Invertebrate Fauna of Ogbei Stream in Nkpologwu, Aguata
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University of Nigeria Research Publications IBEMENUGA, Keziah Nwamaka Author PG/M.Sc/00/28091 The Ecology of Macro-Invertebrate Fauna of Ogbei Stream in Nkpologwu, Aguata Title Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. Physical Sciences Faculty Zoology Department March, 2005. Date Signature Signature THE ECOLOGY OF MACRO-INVERTEBRATE FAUNA OF OGBEI STREAM IN NKPOLOGWU, AGUATA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA IBEMENUGA KEZIAH NWAMAKA M.Sc. ZOOLOGY (HYDROBIOLOGY) MARCH 2005 THE ECOLOGY OF MACRO-INVERTEBRATE FAUNA OF OGBEI STREAM IN NKPOLOGWU, AGUATA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA. IBEMENUGA KEZIAH NWAMAKA PG/M.Sc.100/28091 A PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HYDROBIOLOGY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA. DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA MARCH 2005 TITLE PAGE THE ECOLOGY OF MACRO-INVERTEBRATE FAUNA OF OGBEI STREAM IN NKPOLOGWU, AGUATA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA CERTIFICATION Miss Ibemenuga, K. N., a postgraduate student of Department of Zoology with Registration Number PG/M.Sc./00/28091,has satisfactorily completed the requirements for course and research work for the degree of Master of Science in Zoology (Hydrobiology). The work embodied in this project report is original and has not been submitted in part or full for other diploma or degree of this or any other university. ........................... Supervisor Head of Department (Dr. N M lnyan (Dr. H.M.G. Ezenwaji) Department of Zoology Department of Zoology University of Nigeria University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria DEDICATION To my personal Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am highly indebted to my supervisor, Dr. N. M. Inyang, for his fatherly advice and constructive comments, which have contributed in no small measure to the successful completion of this study. He desires more gratitude from me than I can express here. I would like to thank Dr, H. M. G. Ezenwaji, Dr. P. C. Ofojekwu and Mr. A. Ujah for their immense help in identifying the specimens collected and N. S. Oluah for laboratory chemical analyses. I thank my relatives for their moral and financial support, which contributed to the success of this project. My thanks also go to the Head of Department of Zoology, the lecturers and technical staff of the Department of Zoology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who made available the relevant equipment I needed for my project. Finally, I wish to express my gratitude to Mr. A. 0. Ozioko (rtd) of the Department of Botany for identifying the plant specimens collected during the fieldwork Ibemenuga, K. N Department of Zoology University of Nigeria Nsukka. TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE CERTIFICATION DEDICATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv TABLE OF CONTENTS v LIST OF TABLES vii .. LIST OF FIGURES Vlll ABSTRACT ix CHAPTER ONE:INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Justification of the study 1.2 Aims and objectives 1.3 Literature review CHAPTER TWO: MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1 The study area 2.2 Sample coIIections 2.3 Determination of physico-chemical parameters 2.4 Data analyses CHAPTER THREE: RESULTS 3.1 Physico-chemical parameters 3.2 Faunal composition, distribution and abundance 3. 2. 1. Variations in relation to stations 3. 2. 2. Monthly variations of macro-invertebrate population 3.2. 3. Seasonal variations of macro-invertebrate population 3. 2.4. Faunal diversity and dominance 3.2. 5. Faunal similarity of study stations 3.2.6. Relationship between macro-invertebrate fauna and physico-chemical parameters CHAPTER FOUR: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION 4.0 Discussion and conclusion REFERENCES APPENDIX vii LIST OF TABLES Table la: Mean monthly changes in the physical and chemical characteristics of Ogbei stream. Table I b: Mean values of physical and chemical characteristics of the study stations. Table 2: Mean of rainy and dry season values of physical and chemical characteristics of Ogbei stream. Table 3: Composition and abundance of macro-invertebrates in Ogbei stream. Table 4: Abundance of macro-invertebrates in relation to the study stations. Table 5: Monthly variations of macro-invertebrates in Ogbei stream. Table 6: Seasonal variations of macro-invertebrates in Ogbei stream. Table7: Diversity of macro-invertebrates in the study stations. Table 8: Test of significance of general diversity index (H) between pairs of stations. 80 Table 9: Similarity coefficients of pairs of study stations. 82 Table 10: Pearson's correlation coefficient between total macro-invertebrate abundance and physical and chemical parameters of Ogbei stream. 84 ... Vlll LIST OF FIGURES Fig. 1: Map of the study area showing Ogbei stream. Fig. 2: Sampling equipment used for the study. Fig. 3. Monthly variations in water temperature in the study stations. Fig. 4: Percentage abundance of macro-invertebrates at the study stations. 47 ABSTRACT The macro-invertebrate fauna of Ogbei stream in Nkpologwu, Aguata local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria was studied between May 2002 and April 2003. six stations were selected for the study of physico-chemical and biological factors in relation to depth, human activities and land influence in the different stations. Analyses of the physico-chemical parameters indicated that water temperature fluctuated between 24.8' C and 28.7' C with an annual mean o f 2 7.47k0.79.Dissolved o xygen ranged from 3.8 mg/l in March to 6.5 mg/l in August with an annual mean of 5.14*0.69. Depth ranged from 0.38 m in March to 0.72 m in August with an annual mean of 0.54*0.07. Water transparency varied between 16.3 cm in September and 33.9 cm in March with an annual mean of 26.73*3.59. Free carbon dioxide ranged from 4.0 mg/l to 39.2 mg/l in August and February respectively. The annual mean was 11 -60k6.49. Alkalinity fluctuated from 24.3 mgA CaC03 to 55.0 mg/l CaC03 in August and October respectively with an annual mean of 33.25k6.53. A total of 11420 macro-invertebrates belonging to 4 classes, 13 orders, 29 families and 51 species were collected. Insecta (11225, 98.29%) was the most abundant class, followed by Arachnids (92, 0.81%), Oligochaeta (75, 0.66%) and Crustacea (28, 0.25%). Diptera was the most abundant order with a percentage composition of 42.62%, followed by Odonata (36.89%), Coleoptera (9.76%), Hemiptera (8.22%) and Plesiopora (0.66%). Composition and distribution of macro-invertebrates indicated that station 3 had the highest percentage composition and abundance of 28.56% (3262), followed by station 2 with 19.54% (2232). Station 5 had the least value of 9.39% (1072). There was a positive correlation between macro-invertebrate abundance and air temperature (r = 0.428), water temperature (r = 0.590), transparency (r = 0.422) and free carbon dioxide (r = 0.305). The effects of the physico- chemical parameters on the aquatic macro-invertebrate population in the stream were discussed. CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION AND LITERAURE REVIEW 1.0 INTRODUCTION The home of the ancient man was the waterside. The spring stops his thirst. The bogs afforded his dependable supply of animal food. Water-hunting and fur- bearing animals provided his clothing. The rivers were his routes. Water sports were a large part of his relaxation, and the scenery of the shores was the food of his simple soul. Although conditions of present life have greatly removed mankind from the waterside, and common needs have found other sources of supply, the ancient instincts still remain. Where invertebrates are abundant, and s warms o f may-flies hover, there we find life very interesting. The long-legged pond skater, Gerris sp. moving elegantly with great ease on the surface of the water attracts the attention of even the most casual observer (Olaniyan, 1978). The school boy stands on the border of a stream or even the pool, watching the caddis worms haul their lumbering cases about on the bottom, and the planktologist plies his nets recording each season the wax and wane of aquatic organisms, and both are satisfactory observers. Aquatic bodies, be they marine, fresh water or estuary, and their flora and fauna have been a source of satisfaction to man. Freshwater habitats are broadly classified into two main groups of environment, namely standing water or lentic, and flowing water or lotic. The lentic environments, sometimes known as the standing - water series, include all forms of inland waters (lakes, reservoirs, ponds, bogs, swamps, and their intergrades) in which water motion is not that of continuous flow in a definite direction. ~ssentiallythe water is standing, although a certain amount of water movement may occur such as a wave action, internal currents or water flow in the vicinity of inlets and outlets. The lotic or running water series include all forms of inland waters whereby the entire body of water moves continuously in a definite direction. The lotic environment includes streams, rivers, springs and the heads of large impoundments where the lotic conditions of streams grade into the lentic (Lagler et al., 1977). The term invertebrates means "without or no backbone" (Cecie, 1975, Kimbal!, 1974). Parker (1984) went further to say that such an animal in addition to lacking a backbone also lacks internal skeleton. Aquatic invertebrates have been in existence since creation and several species inhabit fresh, marine and brackish waters. They can be classified according to their habitats - the benthos and pelagic, as well a s according to their size - m acro and micro-invertebrates. The benthic or benthonic invertebrates are found at the bottom of a body of water (Reid and Wood, 1976). They may live in or on (and may move slowly over) the substratum of water body (Olaniyan, 1978) and depend upon the decomposition cycle for most if not all their basic food supply (Brinkhurst, 1974).