BLESSING J. ORIBHABOR AND ANITIONY E. OGBEIBU
Abstract
A survey of the microbiothic invertebrates of Buguma Creek, Niger Delta, Nigeria was carried out to evaluate the ecological impact of anthropogenic activities at five stations between November, 2004 and October, 2006. Sixty-eight taxa comprising 365 individuals were recorded during the study, with Arthropoda being the most important phylum in stations 1, 2 and 3, contributing 76%, 65% and 47% respectively. Nematoda (47%) was the most important in station 4 and Annelida (55%) in station 5. Correlation analysis between some environmental factors and macrobenthic invertebrates indicated that salinity could affect their distribution. The overall community of the creek reflects a true brackish water environment, characterized by both fresh water, brackish water and marine species. The higher taxa and densities of stations 1 and 2 were a reflection of less anthropogenic influence, unlike stations 3 to 5 in which the benthic composition had been adversely altered.