Factors Affecting Macrobenthic Fauna in a Tropical Hypersaline Coastal Lagoon in Ghana, West Africa

Abstract

The macrobenthic fauna in the large, hypersaline, shallow Keta lagoon in Ghana was sampled at 20 stations in the wet (September 2002) and dry seasons (March 2003) to elucidate the effects of abiotic factors on community patterns. The macrobenthic fauna was low in density and species diversity and numerically dominated by bivalves and capitellid polychaetes. These organisms appear able to withstand physical disturbance (when lagoon water levels become extremely low) and osmotic stress (when salinities are extremely high) and tend to redistribute along environmental gradients. Parallel seasonal differences in several environmental variables and the macrobenthic fauna indicate a highly dynamic system. Species richness and diversity were higher in the wet season than the dry season. Salinity, percent clay, pH, and turbidity in that order were the major significant variables structuring the macrobenthic faunal assemblage in Keta lagoon. The strong effect of seasonal salinity changes on macrobenthic faunal assemblages may have trophic consequences for higher organisms of commercial importance, such as fishes and shorebirds, in the Keta lagoon.

Characterization of macro-benthic fauna for ecological health status of the Fosu and Benya lagoons in coastal Ghana

“…The temperature range determined for the Fosu Lagoon was similar to results obtained by Lamptey and Armah (2008) for the Keta Lagoon. Aquatic plant species are dependent on growth conditions, particularly temperature, organic loading, oxygen status and nutrient availability.…”

“…Most importantly, the systems under study (Fosu and Benya) differ significantly in mouth status and salinity, which can also explain the obtained for the Keta Lagoon. However, this was not true of conductivity, which was much higher in this study compared to the results of Lamptey and Armah (2008). Although the Keta Lagoon is considered to be an open lagoon, it is effectively closed for most of the year and is therefore similar to the Fosu Lagoon.…”

“…The pH of the Fosu Lagoon is alkaline. pH affects metabolism and physiological processes of fish and also exerts considerable influence on the toxicity of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide, as well as the solubility of nutrients, and thereby water fertility (Lamptey and Armah 2008). The mean turbidity of both the Fosu and Benya lagoons were considerably lower than the results of Lamptey and Armah (2008) are high, S1, S5 and S8 are good in terms of benthic species diversity whereas S3 is poor (Table 5 and Fig.…”

Diversity of Fauna in Crimean Hypersaline Water Bodies

“…The animal abundance in the hypersaline lakes of the Crimea can be high (Table 3), which means that animal species play an important role in the trophic chains of these waters (Balushkina et al, 2009). In other regions, similar observations have been made (Kokkinn, Williams, 1988;Wurtsbaugh, 1992;Lamptey, Armah, 2008;Amarouayache et al, 2012;Carrasco, Perissinotto, 2012 (Khomenko, 2003;Khomenko, Shadrin, 2009). Zagorodnyaya et Kolesnikova et al, 2008;Kolesnikova et al, 2017 Artemia spp.…”

Influence of physico-chemical parameters and pCO2 concentration on mangroves-associated polychaetes at Pichavaram, southeast coast of India

“…Similarly, the correlation made between environmental parameters against diversity components revealed that the parameters such as, wind speed, pH, salinity, DO, carbonate, DOC and silt had significant positive correlation with diversity, while other parameters were showing weak correlation with evenness (J) and richness (d). True to this, earlier reports by Lamptey and Armah [70]; Sivaraj et al [71]; Murugesan et al [14] proven that stable environmental parameters like increased pH, temperature, salinity, DO and high intensity of light penetration during summer are responsible for its positive relationship with diversity. Further, CCA results clearly indicated the significant association of the polychaete species with many environmental parameters.…”