Temporal and Spatial Variability in Water and Sediment Characteristics of Abule Agege, Abule Eledu, Ogbe, Creeks Adjoining Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria | Chapter 06 | Current Perspectives to Environment and Climate Change Vol. 3
Lagos lagoon is known to contain a vast
number of anthropogenic stressors that resulted from the influx of human
activities due to the increase in human population, industries and incursion of
contaminants from adjoining thus making the ecosystem highly contaminated. The
degree of this contamination can be affected by the seasonal variations in time
and space. The spatial and temporal variations in the hydrochemistry and
sediments characteristics of three (3) Lagos lagoon’s creeks were investigated
for six months (June, 2016 to November, 2016). Sub-surface water and sediments
were collected with a 1 dm3 water sampler and Van-veen grab,
respectively and analyzed. Water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and
conductivity of the water samples and pH, nutrients (nitrate and phosphate), total
organic matter (TOM) and total organic content (TOC), alkalinity, acidity and
particle size of the sediment samples were analyzed. The physico-chemical
parameters in the water and sediment from the sampled creeks showed none
significant differences (P>0.05). The study showed an increasing level of
parameters’ rates analyzed, indicating increased contaminants in Abule Eledu
and Ogbe creeks. Water temperature maintained a relatively uniform temperature
with dissolved oxygen values range of 1.6 to 3.1 mg/L. Conductivity was higher
in June to August while high prevalence of nutrients was observed in October
and November. Abule Agege and Abule Eledu recorded TOM and TOC that were above
15 mg/kg in June to August while alkalinity and acidity were high in October
(6.63 mg/kg) and November (7.72 mg/kg) in the study creeks. The sediment
particles size of the creeks ranged from clay, muddy and sandy substratum
signifying that they were macro benthic specific. The increase of the
parameters’ concentration indicates that the three creeks are highly impacted
by anthropogenic stressors, dependent on the source of pollution occurring at
the sites as well as controlled by seasonal variations. Continuous monitoring
and concerted efforts are needed to be done to prevent future heavy metal
pollution, total degradation thereby formulating appropriate protective and
conservation measures in the water’s quality of the Lagos lagoon’s creeks.
Author(s) Details
A. P. Onyena
Department of Marine
Environment and Pollution Control, Faculty of Marine Environmental Management,
Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, Nigeria.
C. A. Okoro
Department of Marine
Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Comments
Post a Comment