
	Ecologia
	Year: 2012 \| Volume: 2 \| Issue: 1 \| Page No.: 12-22 DOI: 10.3923/ecologia.2012.12.22

Effect of Water Quality and Bottom Soil Properties on the Diversity and Abundance of Macrobenthic Fauna in Some Tropical Grow-out Earthen Fish Ponds

C.B. Ndome, I.U. Udo, I.I. Akpan and C. Udom

Abstract: Macrobenthic communities can be used in the assessment of environmental quality of earthen fish ponds. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of water quality and bottom soil properties on the diversity and abundance of macrobenthic fauna in some tropical grow-out earthen fish ponds. The aim was to enhance the proper management of soil and water qualities in relation to various groups of benthic organisms found in ponds. Physico-chemical parameters, bottom soil properties and benthic community assemblages were studied in three selected commercial fish farms in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Results revealed that macrobenthic assemblages were influenced by both the physico-chemical parameters and bottom soil properties in each of the farms. The macrobenthic faunal patterns in earthen fish ponds under investigation showed to be influenced by changes in abiotic parameters. This was caused by seasonality and fish production. Oligochaetes were generally dominant 31(50.82); 21(27.27); 22(31.88) in Aqua Vista farm, UNICAL farm and Akai Efa farm, respectively. From the biotic indicators that show a differential response to organic input in fish earthen ponds, the abundance of Aulophorus spp. (41.99%; 14.29%) in Aqua Vista and UNICAL farms, respectively as well as the diversity (Shannon-Wiener and Margalef species richness), seem to be the best indicators to be used in monitoring studies in similar systems. In general, Farms with optimum physicochemical parameters, high sand and low clay content had the highest assemblages of macrobenthic organisms. Farm managers should pay particular attention to the physico-chemical parameters and soil properties as they are determinant factors of macrobenthic assemblage within the fish ponds. These will enhance high productivity of the grow-out fish ponds since they form the major bulk of fish food.

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How to cite this article:

C.B. Ndome, I.U. Udo, I.I. Akpan and C. Udom, 2012. Effect of Water Quality and Bottom Soil Properties on the Diversity and Abundance of Macrobenthic Fauna in Some Tropical Grow-out Earthen Fish Ponds. Ecologia, 2: 12-22.

DOI: 10.3923/ecologia.2012.12.22

URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ecologia.2012.12.22

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