E.T. Akange , J.A. Chaha , J.I. Odo

University of Agriculture Makurdi, PMB 2373, Benue State, Nigeria
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Aquaculture, 2016, Vol. 6, No. 22   doi: 10.5376/ija.2016.06.0022
Received: 27 Oct., 2016    Accepted: 16 Nov., 2016    Published: 30 Nov., 2016

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Akange E.T., Chaha J.A., and Odo J.I., 2016, Impact of wurukum abattoir effluent on river Benue Nigeria, using macroinvertebrates as bioindicators, International Journal of Aquaculture, 6(22): 1-11 (doi: 10.5376/ija.2016.06.0022)

The pollution status of Wurukum Abattoir was assessed using macroinvertebrates as bioindicators for a period of four months (November, 2015 - February, 2016). Abundance-Biomass comparison was used to evaluate the number (abundance) and weight (biomass) of macroinvetebrates so as to determine their tolerance or otherwise to the abattoir effluent. Four stations were selected along the River Benue with station B as the point of discharge. Water samples and bottom sediments were collected for the measurement of water physico-chemistry and macroinvertebrates. An assessment of the macroinvertebrates showed the percentage abundance of pollution-tolerant species such as Chiromonus larvae (3.4%), Eristalis tennax (17.93), Tubifex tubifex (52.45%) and Macrobdella decora (3.54%) in stations B was attributable to the effect of the abattoir waste discharged into River Benue. The ABC curve also indicated showed the abundance curve laying above the biomass curve at station B. The water quality parameters recorded higher concentrations at station B than other stations for EC (496.50 ± 6.38 µs/cm); TDS (247.70 ± 3.17 Mg/L); BOD (0.91 ± 0.08 Mg/L) while DO (4.23 ± 0.06 Mg/l) was lower at the point of discharge (station B). It was concluded from these results that the abattoir effluents had an impact on the water quality and macroinvertebrates composition, abundance and biomass at the assessed stations. The abattoir effluent could be effectively recycled into arable crop usage due to the high nutrient value.

Water quality; Macroinvertebrates; Wurukum abattoir; Abundance-Biomass comparison