Phytoplankton community of the Isaka-Bundu waterway in Rivers State, Nigeria; A polluted tidal mangrove wetland

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the composition, abundance, distribution, and diversity of the phytoplankton community of the Isaka-Bundu waterway in Rivers state, which is a polluted tidal mangrove wetland. Phytoplankton was collected bimonthly from July to December 2021 at high tide from four stations according to APHA methods. The species diversity was calculated using standard indices. The total composition of 334 individual phytoplankton was identified in the 3 stations and control. The total composition of 220 species from 5 Phylum was recorded. This observed decrease in the species diversity and richness could also be attributed to changes in environmental variables due to pollution resulting from industrial effluent discharge into the river which has adversely affected the aquatic biota. Based on these activities, there is an urgent need to carry out a regular study on the phytoplankton community that supports its fisheries in this aquatic environment. The results of this study indicate the characteristic species and compositions of phytoplankton in the Isaka-Bundu waterway in Rivers state. The species abundance and distribution are a confirmation while the composition, and diversity gave an insight into the adverse effect of these cumulative activities. The result showed that the Isaka-Bundu waterway had been extremely polluted.