%0 Journal Article
%T Phytoplankton Community of Taylor Creek in the Niger Delta Using Diversity Indices - Phytoplankton Community of Taylor Creek in the Niger Delta Using Diversity Indices - Open Access Pub
%A Embelemi Edure Charles
%A Emmanuel Nwabueze Ogamba
%A Sylvester Chibueze Izah
%J OAP | Home | Journal of Plant and Animal Ecology | Open Access Pub
%D 2018
%X This study evaluated the phytoplankton community of Taylor creek from Polaku to Agbia between November 2013 and July 2014. Sampling was carried out in 12 locations along the stretch of the creek following standard protocol. The phytoplankton enumeration was done and identified accordingly. In all the 12 locations, 100 species of phytoplankton belonging to 14 taxonomic groups including Bacillariophyta (31 species), Chlorophyta (25 species), Pyrrophyta (4 species), Cyanophyta (17 species), Spermatophyta (9 species), Euglenophyta (3 species), Phaeophyta (1 species), Heterokontophyta (2 species), Myxophyta (1 species), Xanthophyta (1 species), Chrysophyta (2 species), Lycopodiophyta (1 species), Cryptophyta (1 species), Dinophyta (2 species). Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta and Spermatophyta with occurrence rate of 36%, 34%, 10% and 10%, respectively were the predominant phytoplankton in the study area occurring in all the locations across the period of the study. The various species have some distinct environmental condition that enable them thrive in their niche, and this determines the structure of the phytoplankton in the study area. The diversity indices provided information about the distribution and health condition of the creek. The study showed significant relationships between Shannon-Wiener, Menhinick, Margalef, equitability and Fisher-alpha indices. The ecosystem showed moderate to heavy pollution based on Shannon Wiener index. There is the need for improved method of waste disposal and other anthropogenic activities being carried in and/ or within the creek. DOI10.14302/issn.2637-6075.jpae-19-2803 Plankton are aquatic organisms that drift with water movement and possesses no locomotive organs 1. Phytoplankton rely on sunlight for photosynthesis to produce their own food. Phytoplankton are among the major organisms that make up the aquatic food chains, and play essential role in the aquatic food web. Phytoplankton are food to smaller organisms such as fish in the aquatic ecosystem. These phytoplankton consist of microscopic algae, such as diatoms, and dinoflagellates. As such they are among the primary producers in the aquatic ecosystem 2. Phytoplankton are among the organisms that are used for the assessment of pollution in aquatic ecosystem 3. The distribution, abundance and composition of the phytoplankton is essential in surface water quality assessment 4. Phytoplankton also provide vital information about the nutrient level in an aquatic ecosystem. Basically in the aquatic ecosystem, pollution could influence green pigment of many
%U https://www.openaccesspub.org/jpae/article/1083