Using benthic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic stressors on water quality and sediment properties of a West African lagoon

Taiwo Adekanmi Adesakin; Ehikhamele Isaac Erhomosele; Oluwaseun F Ogunrinola; Oyedibu Oyebayo Oloyede; Adebukola Adenike Adedeji; Phebian Temitope Odufuwa; Amowie Aimienoho; Adedeji Idowu Aduwo; Emmanuel Abiodun Adewumi

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19508

Using benthic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic stressors on water quality and sediment properties of a West African lagoon

Heliyon. 2023 Sep 3;9(9):e19508. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19508. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Authors

Taiwo Adekanmi Adesakin¹, Ehikhamele Isaac Erhomosele², Oluwaseun F Ogunrinola³, Oyedibu Oyebayo Oloyede⁴, Adebukola Adenike Adedeji², Phebian Temitope Odufuwa⁵, Amowie Aimienoho⁶, Adedeji Idowu Aduwo², Emmanuel Abiodun Adewumi⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
² Department of Zoology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
³ Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
⁴ Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, USA.
⁵ Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA.
⁶ Department of Ecotoxicology, University of Koblenz-Landau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
⁷ Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the impact of anthropogenic stressors (landfilling, navigation for transport of goods, cooling in fossil fuel, urbanization, industrial expansion, agriculture activities, and recreational activities) on environmental variables, microbiological quality, and sediment properties using benthic macroinvertebrates as a bioindicator within Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria. Four (4) sampling stations were established with respect to their importance/anthropogenic activities within the Lagos Lagoon. Surface water, bottom substrates, and benthic macroinvertebrate fauna samples were collected bimonthly from each sampling station for a year and analyzed using appropriate standard methods and procedures. The highest pH range of 7.96-8.01 (7.98 ± 2.35) was recorded at Site IV, while the lowest range of 6.41-7.01 (6.15 ± 1.14) was observed at Site II, and there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) among the pH mean values across the sites. High values of salinity, chloride, sodium, COD, BOD, manganese, nickel, cadmium, and nitrate were recorded among the surface water physicochemical parameters, which were above WHO (2011) permissible limits, while the high concentrations of toxic metals (Pb, Cr, Zn, and Cd) was recorded in sediment. A total of 26 species of benthic macroinvertebrates were recorded during this study, which belongs to eight (8) classes. Gastropoda recorded the highest percentage contribution of 39.12%, followed by polychaeta accounting for 30.34%, while malacostraca contributed 2.63%. The highest abundance of macroinvertebrates was recorded at Site I (256 Indiv/m²), followed by Site IV (252 Indiv/m²), and the least was observed at Site II (195 Indiv/m²). Based on the results of the physico-chemical, heavy metals, microbial quality, and macroinvertebrates assemblage obtained from this study revealed the adverse effect of anthropogenic activities on water quality degradation. It plays a significant role in the distribution and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in an aquatic environment.

Keywords: And aquatic environment; Anthropogenic stressors; Benthic macroinvertebrate; Bioindicator; Lagoon; Physicochemical; Sediment; Toxic metals.