TITLE:
Free-Living Nematodes as Pollution Indicator in Incomati River Estuary, Mozambique
AUTHORS:
Mthobisi Innocent Soko, Thomas Kwadwo Gyedu-Ababio
KEYWORDS:
Estuary, Nematodes, Chlorophyll-a, Metals, Organic Matter, Pollution
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ecology,
Vol.9 No.5,
May
15,
2019
ABSTRACT: Four sites following the salinity
gradient of the Incomati River Estuary E1 (0-3NST), E2 (3-5NST), E3 (6-18NST)
and E4 (19-27NST) were selected for the study. The aim of the study was to use
free-living marine nematodes as pollution indicators in an area strongly
affected by anthropogenic activities. Multivariate statistical analyses were
used to determine the relationship between
different environmental factors and with free-living marine nematodes. Metals
such Cadmium, Colbat, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Manganese,
Nickel, Vadium, Zinc and Aluminium influenced the diversity
and density of free-living nematodes. Shannon-Wiener Diversity, Maturity Index
and colonize-persisters percentage (c% - p%) were found to be good tools for use as pollution indicators in the
study. Nematode genera such as Terschellingia, Theristus and Halalaimus were
found to be dominant at a site strongly impacted by both metals concentration
and organic matters. The three genera are believed to be good indicators of
pollution in the Incomati River Estuary. It is recommended that further studies
are done along the Mozambican Coast to identify nematodes that can be used as
pollution indicators.