AASCIT Journal of Environment 2017; 2(1): 14-22 http://www.aascit.org/journal/environment ISSN: 2381-1331 (Print); ISSN: 2381-134X (Online) Keywords Physico-chemical Parameters, Identification, Aquatic Macrophytes, Southeastern Nigeria Received: February 24, 2017 Accepted: March 23, 2017 Published: June 6, 2017 Physico-Chemical Parameters and Identification of Aquatic Macrophytes in Three Tropical Rivers of Southeastern Nigeria: Implication for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystem Policy Uneke Bilikis Iyabo * , Epepe Ifesinachi, Ucheji Ngozi Deborah, Iteshi Philomina Oluchi Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria Email address [email protected] (U. B. Iyabo) * Corresponding author Citation Uneke Bilikis Iyabo, Epepe Ifesinachi, Ucheji Ngozi Deborah, Iteshi Philomina Oluchi. Physico- Chemical Parameters and Identification of Aquatic Macrophytes in Three Tropical Rivers of Southeastern Nigeria: Implication for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystem Policy. AASCIT Journal of Environment. Vol. 2, No. 1, 2017, pp. 14-22. Abstract The physico-chemical parameters and identification of aquatic macrophytes in the three Rivers (Ochokwu Inyimagu River, Oferekpe River and Ndiegu Igbudu River) in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State were determined. Monthly changes in physical and chemical parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, total dissolved solid, and conductivity were analyzed for a period of four months from August to November with the following results: Temperature ranged from 26.4 to 33.5°C, dissolved oxygen was between 2.5 and 6.0 mg/L), pH (5.6-8.9), electrical conductivity (26-92 µs/cm) and total dissolved solid (12-114 mg/L). All parameters were within the permissible limits and the result indicates that the rivers are non-polluted and pH value also suggest that the rivers can be used for domestic, irrigation, fisheries and other purposes since it ranges from less acidic, less alkaline tending to neutral point. The identification was done by visually observing and assessing the aquatic macrophytes growth of the rivers and the most identified plants are from the families of Salviniaceae (3.1-3.3%), Polygonaceae (3.3%), Leguminosae (6.67%) (Leguminosae mimosoideae (3.1-3.3%), Leguminosae papilionoideae), (3.1-3.3%), Onagraceae (6.7-10%), Pontederiaceae (3.3-9.4%), Nymphaeceae (3.3-6.3%), Convolulanceae (3.1-3.3%), Hydrophyllaceae (3.1%), Cyperaceae (28.1-33.3%), Attyriaceae (3.1-3.3%), Amaranthaceae (3.1-3.3%), Asteraceae (3.1-3.3%), Poaceae (18.8-30.0%) and the family Melastomataceae (3.1-3.3%). The species of aquatic macrophytes found in the rivers indicate that both aquatic plants and animals will be conducive living in the river. It is also understood from the result that cultivation of some aquatic macrophytes will actually help to increase other aquatic organism like fish into the river and therefore balancing the aquatic ecosystem. 1. Introduction Aquatic plants are plants that have adapted to living in aquatic environment (fresh
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AASCIT Journal of Environment
2017; 2(1): 14-22
http://www.aascit.org/journal/environment
ISSN: 2381-1331 (Print); ISSN: 2381-134X (Online)
Keywords Physico-chemical Parameters,
Identification,
Aquatic Macrophytes,
Southeastern Nigeria
Received: February 24, 2017
Accepted: March 23, 2017
Published: June 6, 2017
Physico-Chemical Parameters and Identification of Aquatic Macrophytes in Three Tropical Rivers of Southeastern Nigeria: Implication for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystem Policy
Leguminosae, Hydrophyllaceae and Asteraceae have the
lowest species abundance (Table 2). Highest percentage
(33.3%) of abundance of aquatic Macrophytes (Cyperaceae)
was recorded in Ndiegu Igbudu River with lowest percentage
abundance of 3.3% in nine families. Ochokwu Inyimagu River
ranked lowest with 28.1% in abundance of Cyperaceae and
3.1% in nine families however in the latter, percentage
abundance of the family Nymphaaceae was highest (6.3%)
(Figure 1, 2 and 3).
Table 1. The Physico-chemical parameters of the three river flood systems.
Ndiegu Igbudu River Month DO (mg/l) pH TDS (mg/l) Temperature (°C) Conductivity(µS/cm)
October 3.2 8.9 12 33.5 28
November 4.0 8.7 15 32.0 34
December 6.0 8.2 24 28.8 51
January 4.4 7.7 27 26.4 60
Oferekpe River
October 3.1 7.4 16 22.1 26
November 2.5 7.7 20 24.5 42
December 4.0 8.4 26 28.7 60
January 5.0 7.1 38 30.0 85
Ochokwu Inyimagu River
August 3.5 7.1 58 27.5 39
September 3.1 6.5 24 28.2 39
October 4.2 5.6 114 28.4 229
November 3.5 5.8 60 29.9 110
Table 2. Diversity of aquatic macrophytesin the three river flood systems.
River Family Species Abundance
Ndiegu Igbudu River Poaceae
Paspalum scrobiculatum +++
Panicium laxum +++
Sacciolepis Africana +++
Ischaemum rugosum +
Oryza longistaminata ++
Oryza barthii +++
Acroceras zizanioides +++
Total 7
Athyriaceae Diplazium Sammatii ++
Total 1
Convolvulaceae Ipmoea aquatic +++
Total 1
Cyperaceae
Cyperus thaspan +++
Kyllinga erectaschumah +++
Mariscus longibacteatus +
Rhynchospora corymbosa ++
Scleria verrucosa willd +++
Pycreus lanceolatis ++
Fimbristylis littoralis +
18 Uneke Bilikis Iyabo et al.: Physico-Chemical Parameters and Identification of Aquatic Macrophytes in Three Tropical
Rivers of Southeastern Nigeria: Implication for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystem Policy
River Family Species Abundance
Fimbristylis ferruginea +++
Fimbristylis ferruginea ++
Cyperus difformis +++
Total 10
Salviniaceae Salvinia nymphellula Desu ++
Total 1
Pontederiaceae Helerantheranihera callifolia ++
Total 1
Polygonaceae Polygoum salicifolium +++
Total 1
Onagraceae Ludwigia hyssopifolia
Ludwigia decurrens
++
+++
Total 2
Nymphaeaceae Nymphaea lotus ++
Total 1
Melastomataceae Hetertis rotundifolia +
Total 1
Leguminosae Aeschynomene indica +++
Neptunia oleracea ++
Total 2
Asteraceae Eclipta alba +
Total 1
Amaranthaceae Alternanthera sessilis ++
Total 1
Ochokwu Inyimagu River Salviniaceae Salvinia symphelllula +
Total 1
Leguminosae Pipiliooideae Aeschynomene indica ++
Total 1
Onagraceae
Ludwigia hyssopitohia +
Ludwigia abyssinica ++
Ludwigia decurrens +++
Total 3
Pontederiaceae
Heteranthera callitolia +
Eichhornia natans ++
Eichhornia crassipes +++
Total 3
Nymphaeaceae Nymphaea lotus +++
Nymphaea maculata +
Total 2
Convolvulaceae Ipomaea aquatica +
Total 1
Hydrophyllaceae Hydrolea palustris +
Total 1
Cyperaceae
Cyperus hasspan ++
Scleria verrucosa +++
Pyecerus lanceolatus ++
Finbristylis littoralis +
Cyperus difformis +++
Fimbristylis ferruginea ++
Killinga erect schumah +++
Mariscus longibracteatus ++
Rhynchospora corymbosa +
Total 9
Athyriaceae Diplazium sammatii +
Total 1
Asteraceae Eclipta alba +++
Total 1
Amaranthaceae Alternanthera sessilis +++
Total 1
Poaceae
Panicum laxum +++
Elytrophorns spicatus ++
Sacciolepia africana +++
AASCIT Journal of Environment 2017; 2(1): 14-22 19
River Family Species Abundance
Ischaemum rugosum ++
Echinochola staginina +++
Oryza longistaminata +++
Total 6
Leguminosae Minosoideae Neptunia oleracea ++
Total 1
Melastomataceae Heterotis rotunditolia +
Total 1
Pontederiaceae Eichhornia crassipes +
Total 1
Ipomaceae Ipomea aquatica F. +
Total 1
Oferekpe river Athyriaceae Diplazium sammatii +
Total 1
Poaceae
Oryza barthii +++
Echinochola staginina +++
Acroceras zizanioides +++
Elytrophorus spicatus
Sacciolepis africana.
++
+++
Paspalum scrobiculatum +++
Panicum laxum +++
Ischaemum rugosum ++
Oryza longistaminata +++
Total 9
Cyperaceae
Fimbristylis littoralis ++
Scleria verrucosa +++
Pycreus lanceolatus +
Fimbristylis ferruginea ++
Cyperus difformis +++
Killinga erect schumah +++
Rhynchospora corymbosa +
Mariscus longibracteatus ++
Cyperus haspan +++
Total 9
Nymphaeaceae Nymphaea lotus +
Total 1
Onagraceae
Ludwigia abyssinica ++
Ludwigia hyssopifolia +
Ludwigia decurrens ++
Total 3
Melastomataceae Heterotis rotundifolia +
Total 1
Leguminosae mimosoideae Neptunia oleracea ++
Total 1
Leguminosea papilionoideae Aeschynomene indica +
Total 1
Asteraceae Eclipta alba ++
Total 1
Amaranthaceae Alternanthera sessilis +++
Total 1
Salviniaceae Salvinia nymphellula +
Total 1
Pentederiaceae Heteranthera callifolia +
Total 1
Keys: + Present, ++ Abundance, +++ More Abundance.
20 Uneke Bilikis Iyabo et al.: Physico-Chemical Parameters and Identification of Aquatic Macrophytes in Three Tropical
Rivers of Southeastern Nigeria: Implication for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystem Policy
Figure 1. The aquatic macrophytes by family collected in Ndiegu Igbudu River.
Figure 2. Percentage abundance of aquatic macrophytes of Ochokwu Inyimagu River.
Figure 3. Percentage abundance of aquatic macrophytes of Oferekpe River.
AASCIT Journal of Environment 2017; 2(1): 14-22 21
4. Discussion
Dissolved Oxygen: The value of dissolved oxygen (DO) of
Ndiegu Igbudu River ranges from 3.2mg/l to 6.0mg/l with
maximum value (6.0mg/l) recorded in the month of
December and minimum value (3.2mg/l) in the month of
October. The high dissolved oxygen is accelerating
photosynthesis by phytoplankton, utilizing carbon (iv) oxide
(CO2) and giving of oxygen. This possibly accounts for the
greater quality recorded during the warmest month (summer).
The dissolved oxygen value in Oferekpe River fluctuates
from 2.5mg/l to 5.0mg/l. The maximum value was recorded
in January and the minimum value in November. The high
DO in January is due increase in temperature and duration of
bright sunlight has influenced on the percent of soluble gases.
This sunlight tends to accelerate photosynthesis by
phytoplankton, utilizing CO2 and giving off Oxygen. The
dissolved oxygen value in Ochokwu Inyimagu River
fluctuates from 3.1mg/L to 4.2mg/L. The maximum value
was recorded in October and the minimum value in
September. The high dissolved oxygen in October is due to
increase in temperature and duration of bright sunlight has
influenced on the percent of soluble gases. This sunlight
tends to accelerate photosynthesis by phytoplankton, utilizing
CO2 and giving off oxygen [16].
Total Dissolved Solids (T.D.S): The total dissolved solids
of Ndiegu Igbudu River fluctuate from 12mg/l to 27mg/l the
maximum value (27mg/l) was recorded in the month of
January. The total dissolved solids of Oferekpe River ranges
from 16mg/l to 38mg/l with the maximum value (38mg/l)
recorded in January and the minimum value (16mg/l) in the
month of October. The total dissolved solids of Ochokwu
Inyimagu River ranges from 24 mg/L to 114 mg/L with the
maximum value 114 mg/L) in the month of September. These
maximum values were recorded in the dry season.
pH value in Ndiegu Igbudu River was alkaline values
ranging from 8.9 to 7.7 with the maximum pH value (8.9)
was recorded in the month of October. Most of the bio-
chemical and chemical reactions are influenced by the pH.
The reduced rate of photosynthetic activities reduces the
assimilation of carbon dioxide and bicarbonates which are
ultimately responsible for increase in pH, the lower the
oxygen values coincided with high temperature warmest
season on the month. The pH value for Oferekpe River
shows alkalinity from 7.1 to 8.4. The minimum pH value
(7.1) was recorded in the month of January and the maximum
(8.4) in the month of December. This was due to bio-
chemical and chemical reactions that take place within the
months. In Ochokwu Inyimagu River, the pH value shows
alkalinity of 7.1 in the month of August, and an acidity of 5.6
to 6.5 in the month of October and September. This shows
that the river/water has little acid content. The high alkalinity
of the river in the month of August may be due to
biochemical and chemical reactions that take place within the
month. This higher in pH value observed suggests that
carbon dioxide, carbonate-bicarbonate equilibrium is affected
more due to change in the physico-chemical condition [3].
Water Temperature: The temperature of the water sample
in Ndiegu Igbudu River decreases as the dry season gets
warmer. This is as of the air that enters the river during the
harmattan period. The value of temperature ranges from
33.5oc to 26.4
oc with the maximum value (33.5
oc) was
recorded in October. In Oferekpe River, the water
temperature plays a vital factor which influences the
chemical, bio-chemical characteristics of water body. The
temperature value fluctuates from 28.7°C to 32.5°C with the
maximum temperature of 32.5°C recorded in November and
a minimum of 28.7°C recorded in the month of December. In
Ochokwu Inyimagu River, the water temperature plays an
important role which influences the chemical, biochemical
characteristics of water body. The temperature value
fluctuates from 27.5°C to 29.9°C with the maximum
temperature of 29.9°C recorded in November and a minimum
of 27.5°C recorded in the month of August; due to the heavy
rainfall observe during the month.
Conductivity: The Conductivity in Ndiegu Igbudu River
fluctuates from 60 to 28. The minimum value (28) was
recorded in October. The conductivity of Oferekpe River
ranges from 26 to 85. The maximum value of conductivity
(85) was recorded in January and the minimum (26) recorded
in the month of October. These actually suggest that at
January the conductivity level of Oferekpe River was high.
The conductivity of Ochokwu Inyimagu River ranges from
39 to 229. The maximum value of conductivity (229) was
recorded in October and the minimum (39) recorded in the
month of August and September. These actually suggest that
at October, the conductivity level of Ochokwu Inyimagu
River was high.
The aquatic macrophytes in fresh water ecosystem and
identification of the forces driving their abundance and
distribution from water quality degradation of the world fresh
water ecosystem over the past years has led to extensive
decrease in areas occupied by aquatic macrophytes as well as
the species loss promoting the step in macrophytes has
become a critical step in the restoration and rehabilitation of
these degraded aquatic ecosystem [2]. From the above results
gotten from the three rivers which showed the presence of
high TDS values gave room for favoring most of the aquatic
macrophytes and the pH value also suggest that the rivers can
be used for irrigational, domestic and other purposes since it
is less alkaline tending to neutral point. It is also understood
from the results that cultivation of some aquatic macrophytes
will actually help in the increase of other aquatic organisms
in the rivers, therefore balancing these aquatic ecosystems
[11], [24] and [25].
5. Conclusion
The three riversare not acidic and therefore can be used for
both domestic, irrigational and fishery purpose and can be
well used in culturing aquatic macrophytes especially the
families of Poaceae, Nymphaeceaeand Leguminosaeceae
22 Uneke Bilikis Iyabo et al.: Physico-Chemical Parameters and Identification of Aquatic Macrophytes in Three Tropical
Rivers of Southeastern Nigeria: Implication for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystem Policy
should be encouraged in the river since it does not increase
the amount of total dissolved solids, pH, ordecrease the
amount of dissolved oxygen present in these rivers.
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