European Journal of Biotechnology and Bioscience

Authors
George Ubong, Inyang-Etoh Aniema, Ikot Ndueso

Abstract
Bio-monitoring and Diversity of Phytoplankton in a Tropical Estuarine Mangrove Swamp in Akwa Ibom State, South-South, Nigeria were conducted between May 2015 and April 2016. Water and plankton samples were collected monthly in three stations and analyzed using standard procedures. WQI value computed from the obtain parameters during the study indicated that the water quality from Qua Iboe River Estuary is unsuitable for domestic usages. A total of 5,279 (2,411 and 2,868 for wet and dry season respectively) phytoplankton individuals which was made up of 38 species and belonging to 5 taxa were encountered through‑out the study. Bacillariophyceae constituted the bulk of the phytoplankton group during the study. This followed the pattern: Bacillariophycea>Cyanophyceae>Dinophycea‑e>Chlorophyceae>xanthophyceae. Species dominance ranged between 0.07 and 0.50, Shannon-wiener index ranged between 0.69 – 2.70 while Simpson index ranged between 0.50 – 0.93 and species evenness ranged between 0.88 – 0.99 indicating that the phytoplankton were evenly distributed throughout the study. Multivariate analytical technique using PCA yielded 5 components. Relationships of physico-chemical parameters and phytoplankton taxa were observed in PC₁ which suggest that environmental factors plays vital role in phytoplankton dynamics. Based on findings, this study further vindicates the call for proper monitoring and management of our indigenous water bodies.