Abstract:
The assemblage of benthic macroinvertebrates in relation to some selected environmental variables of the two headwater streams of Aiba Reservoir was studied from May 2013 to March 2014. This was with a view to assessing the health status and water quality of the streams, and comparing their taxa richness with similar studies on the reservoir and its out‐flowing stream. A total of 23 taxa were recorded in the study. and showed indirect relationships (P < 0.05) with bioindicators of good water quality, while dissolved oxygen (DO) showed indirect relationship (P < 0.05) with bioindicators of poor water quality. The streams were of poor biological water quality, and diversity indices revealed that they were polluted and unstable in habitat structure. Anthropogenic impacts at the upper reaches need to be mitigated and regular biomonitoring of the streams is of the essence, in order to conserve the integrity of the downstream reservoir.
Keywords:
Biodiversity, Conservation, Environmental variables, Headwaters, Macroinvertebrates, Reservoir, Stream, Water quality
Citation:
Akindele, E.O., Olutona, G.O., 2015. Environmental variables and benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage in the headwater streams of an Afro-tropical reservoir. Water and Environment Journal 29(4): 541-548.
Link:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/wej.12117