Aquatic macroinvertebrates play significant roles in the benthic zone of the aquatic ecosystem and they have different tolerance level to pollution. Globally, macroinvertebrates are usedas bioindicators in determining the ecological health and water quality status of aquatic ecosystem. Therefore, this study focused on the community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates in River Ugbalo, south-south Nigeria. Macroinvertebrates and physicochemical parameters were sampled in three marked out stations between March 2018 and February 2020. Physicochemical parameters were analyzed following standard procedures, while macroinvertebrates were collected with Kick net and Van Veen grab. Physicochemical parameters showed that the water quality of the three stations sampled were fair considering the values of pH, turbidity, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate, DO, BOD, and EC which were within the World Health Organization and Federal Environmental Protection Agency of Nigeria. Cluster analysis based on Bray- Curtis similarity showed that macroinvertebrates were clustered by stations rather than seasons. A total of 5,580 macroinvertebrates individuals were recorded showing high biodiversity in the river. Diptera was the most abundant Order with 2,488 individuals followed by Odonata with 697 individuals. The least represented Order was Lepidoptera with 13 individuals. The diversity indices showed that Margalef index (5.93), Simpson diversity (0.95), Evenness (0.63), and Shannon-Weiner index (3.30) were highest in Station 1. This research work showed that the water quality of the studied stations was fair and station 3 was the most perturbed station.  We recommend the enactment and enforcement of policies that will lead to aquatic ecosystem restoration.

International audience | The biomonitoring of metallic contamination in marine ecosystems is often focused on animal species of commercial interest and in lesser extent on non-model marine invertebrates. The aim of this study was to compare the metal concentrations (Li, Al, Ti, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Ag, Cd, Hg, Pb) in seven marine sponges with a particular interest in the homoscleromorph sponge Oscarella lobularis at different sites of the Bay of Marseille, France. Inter-species variabilities suggest that the seven sponge species studied accumulate metals differently. In O. lobularis, a multi-site analysis shows different bioaccumulation between the eight sampled populations. These inter-site differences may reflect differences in the hydrodynamic features and in past and present industrial activities. Because Oscarella lobularis shows a homogeneous metal accumulation pattern in comparison with the other tested species, it appears to be suitable for metal contamination biomonitoring in Mediterranean coastal waters, in particular of the coralligenous communities.

International audience | The biomonitoring of metallic contamination in marine ecosystems is often focused on animal species of commercial interest and in lesser extent on non-model marine invertebrates. The aim of this study was to compare the metal concentrations (Li, Al, Ti, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Ag, Cd, Hg, Pb) in seven marine sponges with a particular interest in the homoscleromorph sponge Oscarella lobularis at different sites of the Bay of Marseille, France. Inter-species variabilities suggest that the seven sponge species studied accumulate metals differently. In O. lobularis, a multi-site analysis shows different bioaccumulation between the eight sampled populations. These inter-site differences may reflect differences in the hydrodynamic features and in past and present industrial activities. Because Oscarella lobularis shows a homogeneous metal accumulation pattern in comparison with the other tested species, it appears to be suitable for metal contamination biomonitoring in Mediterranean coastal waters, in particular of the coralligenous communities.

This study aimed to conduct a systematic review to analyze heavy metals seasonal concentrations in Uttarakhand tourist hotspot cities (Almora, Nainital, Ranikhet, Mussoorie, and Dhanaulti). A total of 45 samples of liverwort Dumotiera hirsuta were collected from five different cities during winter (Dry deposition) and monsoon (Wet deposition) in the year 2021. The concentrations of Zn, As, Cd, and Pb due to anthropogenic pollution load in the selected locations were analyzed by active biomonitoring using Inductive Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Concentration loading of zinc, arsenic, cadmium, and lead was observed to be 79%, 71%, 48%, and 33%, respectively, higher during the dry (winter) season when compared with the monsoon dataset. Multivariant data were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with three components explaining maximum variation in data by factor loading through varimax rotation. The rapid growth and development have connected tourists to the mountain of the western Himalayas. Thus, a monitoring program is needed in these areas for further assessment. So that necessary action can be taken to conserve the eco-sensitive zones of Uttarakhand.