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Vol.1 , No. 3, Publication Date: Sep. 14, 2014, Page: 113-123
, biological oxygen demand (BOD), pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), chlorides, magnesium, hardness, total organic carbon (TOC), total organic matter (TOM), calcium, alkalinity and nutrients (ammonia, nitrate, phosphate and sulphate). Data analyses were done using analysis of variance (ANOVA), Duncan multiple range (DMR) and descriptive statistics using statistical analysis system (SAS). Tide demonstrated significant influence on the measured physico-chemical variables: temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity, pH, DO, BOD, TDS, calcium and hardness (P<0.05). The values of the measured physico-chemical parameters and nutrients were higher or lower at low tide for some parameters and vice versa. The recorded range of TOC concentrations at both tides was above the 1 to 30 mg/L for natural aquatic bodies. Phosphate and ammonia exceeded FEPA and USEPA acceptable levels of 0.01 mg/L for natural water bodies. Nitrate and phosphate had significant tidal variations (P<0.05). Increasing anthropogenic wastes especially dredged materials, slaughter effluents and raw human faeces lead to high organic loads. Concerted environmental management strategies to conserve the abiotic resources in order to maintain the biological integrity and fish resources of Okpoka Creek are recommended.&picture=http://www.aascit.org/aascit/decorators/img/journal/903.jpg)
| [1] | Davies Onome Augustina, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu-Oroworukwu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. |
Okpoka Creek is a tidal creek, rich in fish resources and numerous human’s activities are going on within and around it. This study assessed the effects of low and high tides on the physico-chemical characteristics of Okpoka Creek. Surface water samples were collected between May 2004 and April 2006 at both tides according to APHA methods. These were analysed for temperature, pH, transparency, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), chlorides, magnesium, hardness, total organic carbon (TOC), total organic matter (TOM), calcium, alkalinity and nutrients (ammonia, nitrate, phosphate and sulphate). Data analyses were done using analysis of variance (ANOVA), Duncan multiple range (DMR) and descriptive statistics using statistical analysis system (SAS). Tide demonstrated significant influence on the measured physico-chemical variables: temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity, pH, DO, BOD, TDS, calcium and hardness (P<0.05). The values of the measured physico-chemical parameters and nutrients were higher or lower at low tide for some parameters and vice versa. The recorded range of TOC concentrations at both tides was above the 1 to 30 mg/L for natural aquatic bodies. Phosphate and ammonia exceeded FEPA and USEPA acceptable levels of 0.01 mg/L for natural water bodies. Nitrate and phosphate had significant tidal variations (P<0.05). Increasing anthropogenic wastes especially dredged materials, slaughter effluents and raw human faeces lead to high organic loads. Concerted environmental management strategies to conserve the abiotic resources in order to maintain the biological integrity and fish resources of Okpoka Creek are recommended.
Keywords
Low Tide, High Tide, Water Quality Parameters, Municipal Effluents, Okpoka Creek
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