Aquatic Macrophyte Diversity, Distribution and Community Structure Along River Ethiope, Delta State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1008-5367Keywords:
Aquatic macrophytes, biodiversity, diversity indices, Community structure, River Ethiope, spatial distribution.Abstract
Aquatic macrophytes are important components of freshwater ecosystems, contributing to biodiversity conservation, habitat provision, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem functioning. This study assessed the diversity, distribution, and community structure of aquatic macrophytes along River Ethiope, Delta State, Nigeria. Ten sampling stations were surveyed using a 0.5 × 0.5 m quadrat, supplemented with snorkelling and free-diving observations to document submerged vegetation. Physicochemical parameters were measured in situ, aquatic macrophyte abundance was estimated using diversity indices. About 22 taxa were identified across the study area. The genus Nymphaea was the most represented group, while Nymphaea lotus (Maroon Morph) was the most widely distributed taxon, occurring at all sampling stations (100%). Species richness varied from 2 taxa at Sapele to 17 taxa at Oria. Shannon diversity (H’) ranged from 0.524 at Sapele to 2.595 at Oria, while Simpson diversity (1 − D) ranged from 0.340 to 0.938. Evenness values were generally high (0.755–1.000), indicating relatively balanced species distributions across most stations. Stations within the Abraka axis and Oria supported the highest diversity and vegetation cover, whereas Sapele exhibited reduced richness and diversity. Variations in macrophyte distribution and diversity appeared to correspond with differences in habitat characteristics, hydrological conditions, and levels of anthropogenic disturbance, including dredging, agriculture, waste disposal, and recreational activities. The findings demonstrate that River Ethiope supports a relatively diverse aquatic macrophyte community with considerable spatial variation in composition and distribution. This study provides baseline ecological information that will be useful for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem management and monitoring.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Esther Kadiene, Daniel Biaoku, Favour Akponine, Precious Nwachukwu
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