Multivariate analysis of the relationship between the zooplankton community and environmental parameters in Lekki Lagoon, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted between January and December, 2016 in Lekki lagoon Nigeria to establish the relationship between environmental parameters and zooplankton distribution and abundance. The study area was divided into nine (9) sampling stations while samples were collected in triplicates at each station. Data collected were analysed using PAST and PRIMERV7 softwares. 3,864 individuals of 24 species from nine classes were recorded in total with lower abundance in the wet season compared to the dry season. The classes and their relative abundances were Cercozoa (46.739%), Arthropoda (43.478%), Ciliophora (4.348%), Rotifera (2.71%), Amoebozoa, Ochrophyta, Euglenophyta, Nematoda and Gastrotrichia (0.544% each). Higher indices of diversity and dominance were recorded in Station 4 (River Mosafejo) while the minimum was recorded in Station 1 (Brushpark area); however, there were no significant difference (p>0.05) in the indices of community structure used during the study. There were no significant difference (p>0.05) in the mean values of surface water temperature, sulfate, alkalinity, nitrate, total suspended solid and biological oxygen demand across all stations in the lagoon. Significant differences (p<0.05) were recorded for pH, depth, transparency, electrical conductivity, phosphate, dissolved oxygen, salinity and total dissolved solids. Multivariate analysis showed positive correlation of zooplankton distribution with surface water temperature and salinity, while the temperature, depth, electrical conductivity, sulphate, salinity and total suspended solids in combination showed high reliability (r2= 98.5%) in explaining the pattern of distribution and abundance of zooplankton in the lagoon. The study therefore shows that the abundance and distribution of the zooplankton community in Lekki lagoon is significantly influenced by environmental parameters.

Key words: Zooplankton, Lagoon, multidimensional scaling, aquatic ecosystem,