ICHTHYOFAUNA DIVERSITY OF OKWII AND IKWO RIVERS ISHIAGU, EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA
Main Article Content
Abstract
Okwii River which is of economic importance to the inhabitants of Ishaigu is suspected to be disturbed by mining wastes from an active mining pit with deposits of lead and zinc. However, there is a dearth of information on the ichthyofauna of Okwii River which could serve as indicators of water quality. Fish samples were caught biweekly using gillnets from 3 different stations for 3 months and identified using standard guides. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Shannon-Wiener’s species diversity (H'). A total of 194 fish samples belonging to four families and six species were collected. The four (4) families identified were: Clariidae, Cichlidae, Hepsetidae and Clarotidae amongst which Cichlidae exhibited the highest relative abundance (71.65%), contrasting with Clarotidae's lowest (3.09%). Amongst the species identified, Oreochromis niloticus (38.66%) and Pelmatolapia mariae (31.44%) were the most abundant while Clarias gariepinus (3.61%), Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (3.09%), and Coptodon zilli (1.55%) were the least abundant. Station 2 (Downstream Okwii River) showed the highest diversity (H'=1.145), while Station 3 (Ikwo River) had the lowest (H'=0.685). The research findings show a wide contrast in species composition in comparison with other studies in the surrounding water bodies, an expression of the ecological stress in Okwii River. The low fish diversity and abundance suggests that the capacity of the river to support a healthy fish population has been considerably diminished. Therefore, there is an urgent need for regular pollution control measures, and natural habitat restoration works to conserve the biodiversity of the river
Article Details
How to Cite
Olaoti, K. S., Emerue, E. P., & Oyediran, A. G. (2026). ICHTHYOFAUNA DIVERSITY OF OKWII AND IKWO RIVERS ISHIAGU, EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA. The Bioscientist Journal, 13(2), 84-90. https://doi.org/10.54117/the_bioscientist.v13i2.194
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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chemical parameters and heavy metal
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521-525.
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2225-0948 (Online) 11 (2)
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(2020). Assessment of Environmental
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Ishiagu Area, Lower Benue Trough,
Southeastern Nigeria. Earth Science
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the Physico-chemical Characteristics and
Heavy Metals in Pond Water at Quarry
Site in Ngwogwo, Ebonyi State,
Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of
Environmental Sciences and Technology
(NIJEST), 4(2): 237-252.
Ogamba, E. N., Ebere, N and Izah, S. C.
(2017). Heavy metal concentration in
water, sediment, and tissues of Eichhornia
crassipes from Kolo Creek, Niger Delta.
Greener Journal of Environmental
Management Public Safety, 6(1): 1-5.
Ogueri, C., Adebayo E. T. and Nwaiwu, V.
N. C. (2018). Assessment of heavy metals
in fish species and some physico-chemical
parameters of Oguta Lake, Oguta, Imo
State, Nigeria. International Journal of
Hydrology, 2(2): 121–124.
Omaka, O. N. and Nwabue, F. I. and
Itumoh, E. J. and Oroke, E. C. and Igwe,
D. O., (2014). Physicochemical parameters
and nutrients variations of streams and
rivers in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Global Nest Journal, 16(1): 114-123
Olaosebikan, B.D. and Raji, A. (2013).
Field Guide to Nigerian Freshwater
Fishes. New Bussa: Federal College of
Freshwater Fisheries Technology.
Osayande, A. D. and Opoke, S. U. (2018).
Evaluation of heavy metals in stream
sediments from Abakaliki Pb-Zn ore
mining areas of Ebonyi state, Nigeria.
Journal of Applied Science and
Environmental Management 22(5): 811-
816
Oyediran, A. G., Uche, F. O., Olaoti, K. S.,
Oke. R. C., Uman, D. I., Udofia, C. T. and
Nwafor, S. E. (2021) Occurrence and
composition of foragers and carnivore
fishes in Ivo River southeast Nigeria.
Nigerian Journal of Fisheries 18(1): 2199-
2203
Ozibo-Igwe, B. and Anike, L.O. (2024).
Assessment of Heavy Metals
Contamination in Surface Soil of Ishiagu,
Southeastern Nigeria. International
Journal of Research and Innovation in
Applied Science, IX(VI): 23–29.
doi:https://doi.org/10.51584/ijrias.2024.90
6003. Accessed 23 rd May 2024
Ozibo-Igwe, B. and Anike, L.O. (2024).
Assessment of Heavy Metals
Contamination in Surface Soil of Ishiagu,
Southeastern Nigeria. International
Journal of Research and Innovation in
Applied Science, IX(VI): 23–29.
doi:https://doi.org/10.51584/ijrias.2024.90
6003.
Sha’Ato, R., Benibo, A.G., Itodo, A.U.,
and Wuana, R.A. (2020). Evaluation of
8
Olaoti et al., 2026
Bottom Sediment Qualities in Ihetutu
Minefield, Ishiagu, Nigeria. Journal of
Geoscience and Environment Protection,
08(04): 125–142.
doi:https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2020.8400
9.
Uche, F.O; Ebeniro, L.A; Oyediran, A.G.
and Eluu, E. E. (2017). Ichthyofauna
diversity of Ivo River Ebonyi State
Nigeria. In: Proceeding of the 51st Annual
conference of the Agricultural Society of
Nigeria Abuja 2017. 911-917.
Uddin, M. J. and Jeong, Y. K. (2021).
Urban river pollution in Bangladesh during
last 40 years: potential public health and
ecological risk, present policy, and future
prospects toward smart water
management. Heliyon, [online] 7(2):
p.e06107.
doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.
e06107. Accessed 22 nd March 2025
Yan, L. (2024). The fascinating world of
fish: Diversity, ecology, and importance.
Journal of Aquaculture Engineering and
Fisheries Research. 10(9). DOI:
10.3153/JAEFR.10.09.86
Yem, I. Y., Bwala, R. L., Bankole, N. O.,
Oluwasegun, M. O. and Yaji, A. (2011).
Analysis of ichthyofauna diversity and
peculiarities of some lakes in Nigeria.
Journal of fisheries International, 6(1):
26-30.
Zhao, S., Feng, W., Quan, X., Chen, J.,
Niu, J. and Shen, Z (2012). Role of living
environments in the accumulation
characteristics of heavy metals in fishes
and crabs in the Yantze River Estuary,
China. Marine Pollution Bulletin 64(6):
1163-1171
(2012). Distribution and habitations of
African pike Hepsetus akawo (Bloch,
1794), in Oba Reservoir, Ogbomosho,
Nigeria (Actinopterygii: Hepsetidae)
Munis Entomology and Zoology 7(2):708-
714
Alamba, S. R., Okayi, G. R., & Anunne,
A. (2016). Fish Species Abundance and
Diversity of River Uke, Nasarawa State,
Nigeria. Banat's Journal of
Biotechnology, 7(14): 73-80.
Akubugwo, E.I., Ude, V.C., Uhuegbu, F.O.
and O. Ugbogu (2012). Physicochemical
properties and heavy metal content of
selected water sources in Ishiagu, Ebonyi
State - Nigeria. Journal of Biodiversity and
Environmental Sciences (JBES), 2(2):
21–27.
Asiegbu, V. O., Oyediran, A.G. and
Ezekwe, I.C. (2019). Preliminary
investigation of the Distribution and
relative abundance of plankton and fish
species in Ivo River Basin Southeastern
Nigeria. Acta Scientific Microbiology
Journal, 2(4):8-15
Ayodele, O. P., Fafioye, O. O. and
Oladunjoye, R. Y. (2019). Physico-
chemical parameters and heavy metal
composition of water, sediment and fish
species of Oyan Lake, Nigeria. Acta
Scientific Agriculture, 3(6):190-195
Briffa, J., Sinagra, E. and Blundell, R.
(2020). Heavy Metal Pollution in the
Environment and Their Toxicological
Effects on Humans. Heliyon, [online] 6(9),
p.e04691.
doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.
e04691. Accessed 22 nd March 2025
Fishbase (2024). Fishbase [online].
Available at
https://fishbase.mnhn.fr/search.php?c_cod
e=120&c_code_onclick=120 Accessed 24
May 2024
Hena, J. S., Magaji, J. I., and Kulawe, D.
(2022). Distribution of heavy metal and
phytoplankton in Calabar River Port
Terminals, Calabar, Cross River State,
Nigeria. Science World Journal, 17(4):
521-525.
Hogstrand, C. (2012). Homostatis and
toxicology of essential metal. Fish
Physiology 31: 135-201
Ipeaiyeda, A. R and Onianwa, P. C.
(2018). Monitoring and assessment of
sediment contamination with toxic heavy
metals: case study of industrial effluent
dispersion in Alaro River, Nigeria. Applied
Water Science 8(161).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-018-0815-6
Itumoh, E.J., Uraku, A.J., Omaka, O.N.
and Nwabue, F.I., (2013). Trace metal
toxicity in our environment: Case studies
of influx of metals in soils, crops, waters
and air in Ebonyi State. Global Journal of
Bioscience and Technology, 2: 33-36.
Iyi C., Onyekwelu I.L., Emenaha O.T.,
(2021). Pollution Status Evaluation and
Hydrogeochemical Facies Characterization
of Surface and Groundwater Resources in
Ishiagu Mining District, Southeastern
Nigeria. Journal of Environment and Earth
Science. ISSN 2224-3216 (Paper) ISSN
2225-0948 (Online) 11 (2)
Matern, S., Klefoth, Wolter, C. and
Arlinghaus (2021) environmental
determinants of fish abundance in the
littoral zone of gravel pit lakes.
Hydrobiologia 848:2449-2471
Meinam, M., Singh, Y.J., Bharati, H. and
Meinam, T., (2023). Importance of fish
biodiversity conservation and
management. International Journal of
Science and Research Archive, 9(2): 387-
391.
Moreira, F. W. A., Leite, M. G. P., Fujaco,
M. A. G., Mendonça, F. B. C., Campos, L.
P and Anna, E. M. E. (2016). Assessing
the impacts of mining activities on
7
Olaoti et al., 2026
zooplankton functional diversity. Acta
Limnologica Brasiliensia. 28(107): 1-19.
Nnabo, P.N., (2015). Assessment of heavy
metal contamination of water sources from
Enyigba Pb-Zn District, South Eastern
Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific
and Technology Research, 4(9): 2277-
6616.
Nwankwoala, H.O., Youdeowei, P.O. and
Daka, E.R., (2016). Physico-Chemical,
Heavy Metal and Microbiological
Concentrations in Soil and Water Samples
around Veritas University Campus,
Obehie, Southeastern
Nigeria. International Journal of Earth &
Environmental Sciences, 1: 1-6.
Obiyor, I. K., Nwani, C. D., Odo, G. E.,
Madu, J. C. and Ndudim, D.U. (2017).
Benthic Fish Fauna and Physicochemical
Parameters of Otamiri River, Imo State,
Nigeria. Fisheries and Aquaculture
Journal, 8(2): 199-208.
Odika, P.O., Anike, O.L., Onwuemesi,
A.G., Odika, N.F. and Ejeckam, R.B.,
(2020). Assessment of Environmental
Geochemistry of Lead-Zinc Mining at
Ishiagu Area, Lower Benue Trough,
Southeastern Nigeria. Earth Science
Research, 9(1): 31.
doi:https://doi.org/10.5539/esr.v9n1p31.
Ogbonna, P.C.I., Ukpai, N.P., Obasi, K.O.
and Umezuruike, S.O., (2020). Appraising
the Physico-chemical Characteristics and
Heavy Metals in Pond Water at Quarry
Site in Ngwogwo, Ebonyi State,
Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of
Environmental Sciences and Technology
(NIJEST), 4(2): 237-252.
Ogamba, E. N., Ebere, N and Izah, S. C.
(2017). Heavy metal concentration in
water, sediment, and tissues of Eichhornia
crassipes from Kolo Creek, Niger Delta.
Greener Journal of Environmental
Management Public Safety, 6(1): 1-5.
Ogueri, C., Adebayo E. T. and Nwaiwu, V.
N. C. (2018). Assessment of heavy metals
in fish species and some physico-chemical
parameters of Oguta Lake, Oguta, Imo
State, Nigeria. International Journal of
Hydrology, 2(2): 121–124.
Omaka, O. N. and Nwabue, F. I. and
Itumoh, E. J. and Oroke, E. C. and Igwe,
D. O., (2014). Physicochemical parameters
and nutrients variations of streams and
rivers in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Global Nest Journal, 16(1): 114-123
Olaosebikan, B.D. and Raji, A. (2013).
Field Guide to Nigerian Freshwater
Fishes. New Bussa: Federal College of
Freshwater Fisheries Technology.
Osayande, A. D. and Opoke, S. U. (2018).
Evaluation of heavy metals in stream
sediments from Abakaliki Pb-Zn ore
mining areas of Ebonyi state, Nigeria.
Journal of Applied Science and
Environmental Management 22(5): 811-
816
Oyediran, A. G., Uche, F. O., Olaoti, K. S.,
Oke. R. C., Uman, D. I., Udofia, C. T. and
Nwafor, S. E. (2021) Occurrence and
composition of foragers and carnivore
fishes in Ivo River southeast Nigeria.
Nigerian Journal of Fisheries 18(1): 2199-
2203
Ozibo-Igwe, B. and Anike, L.O. (2024).
Assessment of Heavy Metals
Contamination in Surface Soil of Ishiagu,
Southeastern Nigeria. International
Journal of Research and Innovation in
Applied Science, IX(VI): 23–29.
doi:https://doi.org/10.51584/ijrias.2024.90
6003. Accessed 23 rd May 2024
Ozibo-Igwe, B. and Anike, L.O. (2024).
Assessment of Heavy Metals
Contamination in Surface Soil of Ishiagu,
Southeastern Nigeria. International
Journal of Research and Innovation in
Applied Science, IX(VI): 23–29.
doi:https://doi.org/10.51584/ijrias.2024.90
6003.
Sha’Ato, R., Benibo, A.G., Itodo, A.U.,
and Wuana, R.A. (2020). Evaluation of
8
Olaoti et al., 2026
Bottom Sediment Qualities in Ihetutu
Minefield, Ishiagu, Nigeria. Journal of
Geoscience and Environment Protection,
08(04): 125–142.
doi:https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2020.8400
9.
Uche, F.O; Ebeniro, L.A; Oyediran, A.G.
and Eluu, E. E. (2017). Ichthyofauna
diversity of Ivo River Ebonyi State
Nigeria. In: Proceeding of the 51st Annual
conference of the Agricultural Society of
Nigeria Abuja 2017. 911-917.
Uddin, M. J. and Jeong, Y. K. (2021).
Urban river pollution in Bangladesh during
last 40 years: potential public health and
ecological risk, present policy, and future
prospects toward smart water
management. Heliyon, [online] 7(2):
p.e06107.
doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.
e06107. Accessed 22 nd March 2025
Yan, L. (2024). The fascinating world of
fish: Diversity, ecology, and importance.
Journal of Aquaculture Engineering and
Fisheries Research. 10(9). DOI:
10.3153/JAEFR.10.09.86
Yem, I. Y., Bwala, R. L., Bankole, N. O.,
Oluwasegun, M. O. and Yaji, A. (2011).
Analysis of ichthyofauna diversity and
peculiarities of some lakes in Nigeria.
Journal of fisheries International, 6(1):
26-30.
Zhao, S., Feng, W., Quan, X., Chen, J.,
Niu, J. and Shen, Z (2012). Role of living
environments in the accumulation
characteristics of heavy metals in fishes
and crabs in the Yantze River Estuary,
China. Marine Pollution Bulletin 64(6):
1163-1171