Department of Marine Sciences, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria; Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
Chukwu, L.O., Department of Marine Sciences, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria; Nwachukwu, S.C.U., Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
Water quality characteristics, benthic macro-invertebrates and microbial communities of three first order streams in South West Nigeria were investigated to assess the effects of refined petroleum five months after spillage. All physical and chemical conditions except temperature and pH were significantly different (P<0.01) at the upstream control stations and impacted stations reflecting the perturbational stress. The benthic macro-invertebrate fauna were dominated by arthropods, but the faunal spectrum was dissimilar at all the stations studied. Sampling stations at the epicentre of the spill showed considerable reduction in faunal compositions and relative abundance. Generally, the microbial density and diversity were highest in both soil and water samples from impacted sites than in control sites. There was a significantly higher proportion (P < 0.05) of hydrocarbon utilizers in soil than in water samples in all stations except in samples from stations (P<0.05).
hydrocarbon; petroleum; petroleum; water quality; aquatic environment; arthropod; article; benthos; controlled study; environmental impact assessment; fauna; macroinvertebrate; microbial diversity; microflora; Nigeria; nonhuman; oil spill; physical chemistry; soil; stream (river); tropics; water quality; water sampling; Animals; Bacteria; Biodiversity; Disasters; Environmental Monitoring; Hydrocarbons; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Invertebrates; Iron; Nigeria; Petroleum; Population Dynamics; Seawater; Soil Microbiology; Sulfur; Temperature; Water Microbiology; Africa; Eastern Hemisphere; Nigeria; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa; World; Arthropoda; Invertebrata