Environmental effect of resort centres on the distribution of aquatic insect fauna in Ethiope River, Delta State, Nigeria

Aquatic insects are macroinvertebrates that live on or associated with bottom of freshwater bodies[1]. Their pivotal role in nutrients circulation cannot be over emphasized in aquatic environment. Aquatic invertebrates are the link between unobtainable nutrients in detritus and protein materials in fishes[1,2]. Their role in fasttracking the breakdown of putrefying organic material into smaller inorganic forms such as nitrate and phosphate is also well documented[3]. These nutrients are usually utilized by aquatic plants in the ecosystem. Aquatic insects commonly used as biological indicator have been effective in monitoring environmental pollution and water quality[4,5]. The sensitivity and forbearance to environmental perturbation exhibited by aquatic insects vary considerably among orders and species. The composition and distribution of aquatic insect at any given point in a water course is a reflection of its water quality[5]. This makes aquatic insect a valuable tool in pollution and water quality assessment. Species richness of aquatic insects can be influenced by physicochemical parameters [temperature, dissolve oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and turbidity] of water. The structural composition of insect communities has been the focus of many researches on aquatic system. The mere presence or absence of an individual of a species provides little information of ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT