The Macrobenthos And The Fishes Of A Tropical Estuarine Creek In Lagos, South-Western Nigeria

The physico - chemical parameters, macrobenthos and the fishes of Abule Agege creek were examined between January and July 2004. The creek exhibited the usual alkaline properties with pH values ranging between 7.30 and 9.20.The physical and chemical and sediment parameters exhibited known ranges and regimes for a tropical estuarine system. Five species belonging to the phyla mollusca and annelida were recorded. The species richness or evenness for the macrobenthos was highest in July (0.73) and the least value was recorded in April (0.38). Furthermore, Margalef's species richness was highest in January (1.12) and lowest in May and June (0.54). Likewise, the species diversity was highest in January (1.11) and lowest in April (0.61). The most abundant fin fish was Sarotherodon melanotheron (70.34%) and the least occurring were Clarias gariepinus, Parachanna obscura, Citharus linguatula and Liza falcipinnus which all recorded 0.13% each. The most abundant shell fish was Callinectes amnicola (4.82 %) and the lowest occurred was Penaeus notialis (1.27%) of the overall catch. The effect of anthropogenic induced stressors had resulted in an unstable physically controlled environment characterized by a low density of species for both macrobenthos and fish species. (Report and Opinion. 2010;2(1):6-13). (ISSN: 1553- 9873).