Abstract :
The benthic macro invertebrate fauna and physico-chemical parameters in Okpoka creek sediments was studied for a period of one year. A total of nineteen (19) species(Ophidonais serpentina, Arenicola marina, Eunice harassi, Marphysa sanguinea, Capitella capitata, Notomastus latrella, Notomastus tenuis, Glycera capitata, Glycera convoluta, Nereis diversicolor, Nereis pelagica, Nereis virens, Nephthys hombergi, Nototropis swamidami, Cliberanus cooci, Iphinoe tripanosa, Chironomus ablabiesmia, Tellina nymphalis andTympanotonus fuscatus) of benthic invertebratesʹ fauna belonging four (4) phyla (Annelida, Amphipoda, Arthropodaand Mollusca), six (6) classes (Oligochaeta Polychaeta Crustacea Insecta Bivalvia and Gastropoda) and twelve (12) families (Naididae Arenicolidae Eunicidae Capitellidae Glyceridae Nereidae Nephthyldae Gammaridae Callianassidae Chironomidae Tellidae) were found in the Okpoka creek during the study. Polychaeta with six (6) families and twelve (12) species and percentage composition of 63.2% occurred most; followed by Crustacean with six (2) families and twelve (3) species and percentage composition of 15.8%. The rest families (Oligochaeta, Insecta, Bivalvia, Gastropoda) each with a family and specie occurred least. pH had a positive relationship with Ophidonais serpentine, Arenicola marina, Nereis diversicolor, Nereis pelagea, Nereis Virens, Nephthys hombergi, Iphinoe tripanosa and Tellina nymphalis, whereas temperature was strongly related with Arenicola marina, Notomastus latreila, Notomastus tenius, Marphysa sanguinea, Glycera convoluta, , Nereis diversicolor, Nereis pelagea, Nereis Virens, Nephthys hombergi, Iphinoe tripanosa and Tellina nymphalis, and Cliberanus cooci. A positive relationship exists between salinity and Notomastus latreila, Glycera convoluta Nototropis swamidami, Cliberanus cooci, Iphinoe tripanosa and Tellina nymphalis. Similarly, dissolved Oxygen and Notomastus latreila, Notomastus tenius , Eunice harassi, Marphysa sanguinea, Marphysa sanguinea, Nereis diversicolor, Nephthys hombergi, Clibernarius cooci, Iphinoe tripanosa and Tellina nymphalis. Strongly related. Biochemical Oxygen demand exhibited positive relationship with Ophidonais_serpentine, Eunice harassi, Glycera capitata, Nereis diversicolor, Nereis pelagea, Nephthys hombergi, Nototropis swamidami and Tellina nymphalis. Conductivity related strongly with Ophidonais serpentine, Notomastus latreila, Marphysa sanguinea, Glycera convoluta, Nereis diversicolor, Nereis pelagea, Clibernarius cooci, Iphinoe tripanosa and Tympanotonus fuscatus.
