Environmental DNA, Water Quality, and Plankton Community Dynamics in the Niger Delta: A Critical Review of Molecular Approaches for Biodiversity Monitoring and Ecosystem Management
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1018-5353Keywords:
Environmental DNA, Water Quality, Biodiversity Monitoring, Plankton Dynamics, Niger Delta, Aquatic EcosystemsAbstract
The Niger Delta is home to a variety of freshwater, estuarine and coastal ecosystems that provide fisheries, biodiversity and other critical ecosystem services. But the area has been significantly changed by increasing anthropogenic impacts such as petroleum activities, industrial effluents, agricultural pollutants, urbanization and climate change. These disturbances have been associated with a loss of biodiversity and altered plankton community structure which affects the functioning of the ecosystem and its monitoring. This review critically assesses the interrelationships between water quality, biodiversity, plankton dynamics and environmental DNA (eDNA) based monitoring in the Niger Delta. Specific attention is paid to the impacts of physicochemical conditions on plankton communities, and the utility of molecular tools for the assessment of plankton biodiversity. There is evidence that environmental degradation causes a shift in community composition and degradation of the eDNA detection.Environmental degradation has been shown to have complex ecological and physicochemical effects on aquatic community composition and on eDNA detection. Although the use of eDNA in the region holds great promise, there are certain limitations in their application such as limited validation studies, limited reference databases, and methodological inconsistencies. The combination of traditional ecological surveys and eDNA can provide a comprehensive approach to the conservation of biodiversity and monitoring pollution and the management of aquatic ecosystems in the Niger Delta in a sustainable way.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Emuesiri Akpomughe, Uwana Sonny Fombo, Kingsley Ovie Awhefeada, Bishop Lamiengha Seikorowei
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