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Nafagha-Lawal MO, Ojimelukwe AE, Lelei EK, Uche AO, Kika PE, Igbiri S, Babatunde BB, Sikoki FD. Nutrients dynamics in water and sediment of the Bonny Estuary, Niger Delta, Nigeria. Environ Monit Assess 2022; 194:510. [PMID: 35713722 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10148-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Surface water and sediment from Bonny Estuary, Nigeria, were assessed to determine the nutrient dynamics. Nutrients (nitrates, phosphates, and total organic carbon (TOC)) and some physicochemical parameters of water samples are collected from three sampling stations along the Bonny Estuary during wet seasons (April 2017, 2018, and 2019) and dry seasons (November 2017, 2018, and 2019). Physicochemical parameters analyses were conducted in situ using Horiba water checker (Model U-10). Surface water nitrate and phosphate were analysed by APHA 4500-NO3-B Colorimetric method, while sediment nitrates and phosphate by Chemical Analysis for Ecological Matter CAEM/APHA 4500-NO3-E Colorimetric method and TOC by CAEM-Wet-Oxidation Titration method. There was no significant seasonal variation in pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, conductivity, and turbidity nor across the sampling stations. TDS values showed significant seasonal variation with higher values in the wet seasons. Surface water nitrate and phosphate had higher concentrations in wet seasons though within recommended limits. Conversely, nitrate, phosphate, and TOC in the sediments were quite high, with higher values in wet seasons, especially the downstream of the estuary. The high levels of nutrients in the sediments as opposed to surface water could be a result of rapid deposition of nutrients which could lead to possible nutrient enrichment of the sediment. Nutrient levels in the sediment have increased fourfold over the study period. This suggests an influx of nutrients into the estuary, due to human activities. Nutrient enrichment could result in deterioration in aquatic water quality and pose a threat to the ecology of the estuary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalene Okeh Nafagha-Lawal
- National Center for Marine Pollution Monitoring, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
- National Co-Ordinating Centre Nigeria, IAEA Technical Co-Operation Project, University of Port Harcourt, , Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
| | - Agatha Ebicaelar Ojimelukwe
- National Co-Ordinating Centre Nigeria, IAEA Technical Co-Operation Project, University of Port Harcourt, , Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
- Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
| | - Elizabeth Kariye Lelei
- National Co-Ordinating Centre Nigeria, IAEA Technical Co-Operation Project, University of Port Harcourt, , Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
- National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR), PMB 6006, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria
| | - Arinze Onyekwelu Uche
- National Co-Ordinating Centre Nigeria, IAEA Technical Co-Operation Project, University of Port Harcourt, , Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
| | - Philomina Ehiedu Kika
- National Co-Ordinating Centre Nigeria, IAEA Technical Co-Operation Project, University of Port Harcourt, , Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
- Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
| | - Sorbari Igbiri
- World Bank African Centre of Excellence in Public Health and Toxicological Research, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
| | - Bolaji Bernard Babatunde
- National Co-Ordinating Centre Nigeria, IAEA Technical Co-Operation Project, University of Port Harcourt, , Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
- Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
| | - Francis David Sikoki
- National Co-Ordinating Centre Nigeria, IAEA Technical Co-Operation Project, University of Port Harcourt, , Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
- Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
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Nwipie GN, Hart AI, Zabbey N, Sam K, Prpich G, Kika PE. Recovery of infauna macrobenthic invertebrates in oil-polluted tropical soft-bottom tidal flats: 7 years post spill. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2019; 26:22407-22420. [PMID: 31154642 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05352-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Coastal oil spills constitute significant threat to biotic energy distribution, and biodiversity integrity amongst others. This study monitored the recovery of low-intertidal, soft-bottom infauna macrobenthic invertebrates in Bodo Creek intermittently over a 7-year period post oil spill. Samples were taken twice a month (spring and neap low tides) for 6 months (September 2015-February 2016) at sites previously studied (pre-spill baseline studies, 3-year and 5-year post-spill studies) for the effects of oil pollution using the same sampling methods used during initial studies of the same area. Comparatively, the initial studies reported Polychaeta as the dominant class against the dominant Crustacea reported in this 7-year post-spill study, indicating a change in the community structure of the study area. Infauna macro-invertebrate communities recorded showed an improvement (that is, increased species richness and number of individuals) over the initial 3-year and 5-year post-spill studies. However, relating the results to the initial baseline pre-spill studies, an annual average of 9.7% recovery rate was observed. Analysis of results showed that the total hydrocarbon content (THC) of the sediment remained high (90.08-12,184 mg/kg) but was markedly lower than levels observed during the initial post-spill study (6422-7186 mg/kg). Tidal flushing and biodegradation processes were deemed responsible for the reduction in THC. This study provides a rare dataset that describes the effects of oil pollution on a previously near-pristine estuarine environment in the tropics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goodluck Nakaima Nwipie
- Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, PMB 5323, East-West Road, Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
| | - Aduabobo Ibitoru Hart
- Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
| | - Nenibarini Zabbey
- Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, PMB 5323, East-West Road, Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
- Environment and Conservation Unit, Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, Legacy Centre, Abuja Lane, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
| | - Kabari Sam
- Environment and Conservation Unit, Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, Legacy Centre, Abuja Lane, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
- Department of Marine Environment and Pollution Control, Faculty of Environmental Management, Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
| | - George Prpich
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Philomina Ehiedu Kika
- Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
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