Eco-Morphology of Some Decapod Crustaceans in a Tropical Coastal Marine Waters

Abstract

The relationship among the morphology, population of crustaceans and water quality of the coastal marine waters of Ondo State, Nigeria, was assessed in order to accentuate the sustainability of biodiversity in the coasts. Standard methods were employed to identify and examine the effect of the environment on the crustaceans. The DO (7.58 mg/l), temperature (29.53°C), pH (6.69), turbidity (44.03NTU), salinity (16.48‰), hardness (85.88 mg/l), biochemical oxygen demand (21.22 mg/l) and conductivity (41.55 μS cm−1). The population structure of decapod crustaceans follows the order Nematopalaemon hastatus > Farfantepenaeus notialis > Holthuispenaeopsis atlantica > Macrobrachium macrobrachion > Sanquerus validus > Ocypode africana > Callinectes marginatus. The sampled organisms (F. notialis, M. macrobrachion, N. hastatus and Holthuispenaeopsis atlantica) had mean total length (cm) (9.41 ± 1.62, 7.14 ± 0.77, 6.69 ± 0.81 and 11.78 ± 0.60) and body weight (g) of (3.21 ± 1.63, 2.37 ± 0.79, 1.34 ± 0.56 and 6.72 ± 0.47 g), respectively. C. marginatus, Ocypode africana and Sanquerus validus had a mean carapace length (cm) of 5.50 ± 0.71, 4.83 ± 1.27 and 8.31 ± 3.50, respectively, and mean body weight (g) of 4.69 ± 0.95, 3.41 ± 4.72 and 66.21 ± 50.45, respectively. PCA revealed strong correlation among BOD, DO and the morphological parameters of each species. Also, Single Factor and Comprehensive Pollution Indices revealed a slightly and moderately polluted aquatic ecosystem, respectively. Thus, adequate control of all activities in the ecosystem for healthy growth and survival of aquatic species is essential.