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Epifauna diversity and ecology on intertidal flats in the tropical Niger Delta, with remarks on the gastropod species Haminoea orbignyana

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2011

Nenibarini Zabbey  and
Manuel António E. Malaquias
Nenibarini Zabbey*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, PMB 5323, East-West Road, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria
Manuel António E. Malaquias
Affiliation:
Phylogenetic Systematics and Evolution Research Group, The Natural History Collections, Bergen Museum, University of Bergen, PB 7800, 5020-Bergen, Norway
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: N. Zabbey, Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, PMB 5323, East-West Road, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Here we report novel data on the ecology and diversity of West African estuarine biological communities, with emphasis on the opisthobranch gastropod, Haminoea orbignyana. Macrofaunal samples were obtained from five intertidal flats within Bodo Creek in the lower Niger Delta during two years (May 2006–April 2008) to investigate diversity and community assemblages of epimacrofauna. A total of 601 individuals belonging to 18 species were recorded, with density varying between 4 ind.m−2 and 660 ind.m−2. Gastropods (predominantly Pachymelania aurita and H. orbignyana) accounted for 92.3% of the community abundance, followed by malacostraca crustaceans (7.7%). Diversity varied (P < 0.05) between locations, with the mangrove swamp station having higher richness, diversity and evenness values than the open intertidal flat locations. The species H. orbignyana was only found on downstream sampling sites reaching a maximum density of 52 ind.m−2. The species seems to recruit during November/December and likely attains a maximum life span of about 18 months.

Keywords

AfricaNigeriacoastal communitiesepizoobenthosbiodiversitymanagement
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 93 , Issue 1 , February 2013 , pp. 249 - 257
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2011

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