%0 Journal Article
%T Ecological Assessment of a Tropical River Using Aquatic Insects Assemblage and Water Quality as Indicators
%A Amusan Babatunde Omokunle
%J Entomology and Applied Science Letters
%@ 2349-2864
%D 2023
%V 10
%N 3
%R 10.51847/BdyuwBQT5v
%P 1-9
%X Ara River is the largest waterbody in Ara, Southwestern Nigeria. The ecological status of the river was investigated using aquatic insect assemblage and some environmental variables as indicators. This was done to determine the suitability of the river to carry out the important ecological and axillary functions which it performs. Aquatic insects were sampled once monthly from January – June 2021 using long handle D frame net (500µm mesh) and hand-picking methods where appropriate. Environmental variables such as air and water temperature, water depth, flow rate, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), and Conductivity were also investigated using appropriate standard procedures. A total of 344 aquatic insects which comprised 13 genera, 10 families, and 6 orders were collected in Ara River during the study. Odonata was the dominant order while Libellula sp was the dominant taxa. Values obtained for DO were relatively low while Conductivity was high. The equitability index indicated that the collected taxa were well distributed in the sampling points. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that many of the recorded taxa were closely associated with low values of DO and high flow rates. The dominance of pollution-tolerant species, low DO, and high conductivity indicate that Ara was slightly polluted at the time this study was carried out. Efforts should be made to address the source of pollutants in the water body to preserve the biodiversity there-in and ensure that the river can sustain the important functions which it performs.
%U https://easletters.com/article/ecological-assessment-of-a-tropical-river-using-aquatic-insects-assemblage-and-water-quality-as-indi-hbqm3mw4qxpy6tr