Bioaccumulated trace metal profiles of <i>Tympanotonus fuscatus, Periophthalmus barbarous and Guinearma (Sesarma)</i> alberti collected from a perturbed freshwater mangrove swamp in Warri, Nigeria

Abstract

Bio –concentrated levels of trace metals; Fe, Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb in three (3) freshwater mangrove fauna; Tympanotonus fuscatus (periwinkle), Periophthalmus barbarous (mudskipper) and Guinearma (Sesarma) alberti (West African Sesarmid Crab) was investigated utilizng atomic absorbance spectrophotometery. Faunal sampling was conducted at five (5) sites in the Falcorp wetland area of Warri, Delta State, once monthly for an eighteen (18) month period. Maximal mean Fe and Zn values; 349.7 9 µg/g, dried wt ±15.64 and 16.92 µg/g, dried wt ±1.65 were recorded for the respective mudskipper and crab samples while minimal mean Fe and Zn values; 124.14 µg/g, dried wt ±7.85 and 7.71 µg/g, dried wt ± 0.96 were documented for the digested periwinkle tissues. The differences in the mean Fe, Zn, Cu and Cd values was siginificantly different at different levels (P<0.001, P <0.01 and P<0.05). The detection of significant  bioconcentration of these metals especially Cd, is a possible indication of the wide reaching deletrious ecological effects of  anthropogenic activities in the affected area.

Keywords: Falcorp mangrove swamp, Bioaccumulation, Trace metal, benthic bio-indicator