Distribution of 26 Metals in the Waters of the Aquatic Ecosystems of the Cotonou Channel and Lake Nokoué, Benin

Metallic elements have various origins: natural and anthropogenic sources as geochemical, marine and atmospheric sources resulting from the fallout of pollutants emitted or dust raised and which are transported by water and air currents. Thus marine, brackish and fresh continental waters may have high metal concentrations. In addition, some essential metals can become toxic above certain concentration values in aquatic environments. The aquatic ecosystems of Cotonou channel and lake Nokoué receive the pollutants charges from the town cities of Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi and town hall of So Ava. The aim of this study is to analyze waters from Eighteen (18) stations identified in the two ecosystems (nine by ecosystem). The concentrations of magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), cadmium (Cd), beryllium (Be), aluminum (Al), strontium (Sr), molybdenum (Mo), silver (Ag), tin (Sn), barium (Ba), platinum (Pt), mercury (Hg), thallium (Tl), lead (Pb), thorium (Th) and uranium (U) were measured after acid digestion of the water samples using the inductively coupled plasma source mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The results of the analyses indicate an unequal distribution of metals in the different ecosystems. However, atypical concentrations were observed at some stations of the lake and the channel. Magnesium, calcium and manganese have very high values in Lake Nokoué respectively at Ganvié market station GAN_M (2990 ± 105 mg/L), Ganvié center, station GAN_C (4991 ± 177 mg/L) and Lake middle station MLak4 (10662 ± 17.03 μg/L). On the other hand, iron, aluminum and strontium have very high concentrations in the Cotonou Channel respectively at Agbato station AGB (5236 ± 103 and 8289 ± 519 μg/L) and at the estuary station EST (6118 ± 68 μg/L). The concentrations were compared to wells and cborehole waters in sixth neighborhood of Cotonou. We have used statistical analyzers such as MANOVA which have made it possible to classify the waters and metals in the ecosystems studied compared to groundwater and Well water waters. We use hierarchical clustering on principal components to identify similarities between stations based on metal concentration with R software packages “FactoMineR” and “factoextra”. In general, we can conclude that most of the metals have an anthropogenic source except strontium and major elements (Ca and Mg) which could respectively provide from marine waters and geochemical sources.

Assessment of the Recent Hydromorphological Features of Nokoue Lake and Its Channels (South-East Benin)

Based on 2022 and 2023 hydrometric data and satellite images (Sentinel 2022, SPOT 2010), this study aims to present the Nokoué Lake and its channels’ re-cent hydromorphological characteristics. Integrating flow, tributary morphology, and topography data determined specific power values along the axes studied. The values obtained range from 2.69 to 12.92 W/m2 for Ouémé River and 2.46 to 10.99 W/m2 for Sô River. The resulting water erosion on banks and bottoms is of linear, areolar, or gully and claw types. Lake bathymetry varies from -0.5 to -2.6 m (low flow period) and -1 to -4 m;in the Ouémé, Sô, and Totchè rivers, it varies from -5 m to -7 m, reaching -10 m at the Cotonou channel entrance (flood period). Bathymetric profiles reveal varied “U”, “V” and “Intermediate” bottom morphologies, influenced by erosion/sedimentation processes and human activities. The flow facies identified are lentic in the northern tributaries and lotic in the Cotonou and Totchè canals. Spatial analysis identified nine (09) thematic classes. In 2022, the surface area of the water body has increased from 274 km2 at low water to 280 km2 at high water, whereas in 2010 (a recent year of exceptional flooding), the surface area was 270 km2 at low water and 277 km2 at high water. Significant changes in land use are observed between 2010 and 2022. The floodplain area decreased slightly, from 421 km2 in 2010 (year of exceptional flooding) to 419 km2 in 2022. The evolution of land use shows a progressive expansion of the urban environment to the detriment of the natural environment. In the medium to long term, this trend could threaten the hydromorphological balance and even the existence of this important lagoon ecosystem.

Fluctuating Asymmetry of Elopes lacerta (Valenciennes, 1847) Otoliths in the Western African Waters

The importance of this study lies in the in-depth exploration of the ecological diversity of otoliths in Elopes lacerta, based on the analysis of data from 260 individuals collected from various sites, including the Porto Novo lagoon, the Cotonou lagoon, Lake Nokou, and the Atlantic coast in southern Benin. The results highlight significant variations in otolith morphology, establishing relevant links with the biological parameters of the fish at each site. Exploration of the asymmetry between the right and left sides reveals notable distinctions between these two aspects. Analysis of otolith shape thus emerges as a valuable tool for discriminating between stocks and providing a better understanding of ecological variations. The local diversity observed highlights the crucial importance of implementing adaptive management strategies to ensure effective conservation of the species and its habitat.

Analysis of Otolith Shape as a Tool for Discriminating Stocks of Cassava Croaker (Pseudotolithus senegalensis) in Beninese Waters

This study examined the right and left otoliths of 174 individuals of Pseudotolithus senegalensis from the Porto-Novo lagoon, Lake Nokoué and the Atlantic coast. The results show a significant variation in the population according to geographic location. Mixed-effects linear analysis showed no significant variation by site, side or sex (p > 0.05). Analysis of otolith shape using ANOVA showed significant differences for length, width and area (p 0.05). Canonical discriminant analysis revealed significant differences between sites (p < 0.05). Finally, shape analyses showed significant differences between sites (p = 0.0001) and between right and left sides (p = 0.007), but no difference by sex (p = 0.395). The study of otolith morphology is therefore proving to be a valuable tool for differentiating stocks and understanding ecological variations.

Assessment of the Physico-Chemical Pollution of a Water Body in a Perspective of Integrated Water Resource Management: Case Study of NokouéLake

Nokoué Lake is the most important surface of brackish waters of Benin and one of the biggest West African lagoons, in point of view of its surface (about 150 km2), its productivity and exploitation. The aim of this study is to monitor the temporal and spatial variation of physico-chemical parameters of Nokoué lake water for its sustainable management. A total of twenty (20) points of sampling have been followed during a period of one year. The results of the monitoring reveal low dissolved oxygen and high concentration in phosphorus and chlorophyll a, sign of eutrophication. In addition, nutrient concentrations (nitrites, phosphates, nitrates) responsible for the phenomenon compared to water quality assessment grid of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, (OECD) used to classify the waters in the range of hyper-eutrophic waters characterized by the proliferation of aquatic plants. So some measures have been proposed to remediate to this pollution in order to an integrated management.

Structure and Composition of Macroinvertebrates during Flood Period of the Nokoue Lake, Benin

The Nokoue Lake is the largest lake of Benin Republic and it is also considered as one of the most productive lagoon ecosystems in West Africa. This productivity is decreasing and thus raises productivity issue for a better management and conservation. Macroinvertebrate can be useful for this purpose. A study was conducted to assess the spatial variation of macroinvertebrates during high flood period. A total of 3892 macroinvertebrates of fresh and brackish water were sampled during the survey. Structural analysis of the macroinvertebrate community revealed that it was made up of 16 orders, 48 families and 66 genera dominated by Insecta compared to Mollusca, Crustacea and the Annelida. Insects were dominated by Diptera (Chironomus sp. and Tanytarsus sp.), Coleoptera (Dystiscidae) and accounted for 57.1% of the sampled population. Mollusca, Crustacea, Annelida and Arachnida were the following most abundant and represented 23.9%, 10.7%, 8.1% and 0.2% of the total population, respectively. The Evenness index of Pielou was higher on the Station 8 (0.91 - 0.97), close to Oueme River. However, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed neither between station nor between month on the Shannon-Wiener index (2.06 - 4.31), Simpson index (0.04 - 0.40) and the taxa number (10 - 27). Macroinvertebrate assemblages and composition were primarily due to changes in water quality dependent on hydroclimatic changes and probably to anthropogenic actions. This suggests the need for real investigation of the macroinvertebrate biological capacity when formulating conservation strategies for the Nokoue Lake.

Can Macroinvertebrate Assemblage Changes Be Used as Biological Indicator of Water Quality of the Nokoue Lake (Benin)?

Investigations on biological capacity of water quality of macroinvertebrate community are very uncommon, and such as the amount of information available on the Nokoue Lake (the largest lake of Benin) is very limited. This information gap needs to be filled for better management of the Nokoue Lake. The goal of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using the macroinvertebrate community structures in Nokoue Lake and the environmental factors responsible for the maintenance of these structures. Nokoue Lake was studied over three months, during high flood period in which time subsurface water and macroinvertebrate samples were collected and analyzed. A study showed that the macroinvertebrate assemblages was done according to ecological gradients as pH, conductivity, TDS, salinity, chlorophyll a and probably to anthropogenic actions (nutriments). Better than the percentage of insects, the percentage of Chironomidae informed very well about macroinvertebrate assemblages. To assess the biological health of the environment, the Family Biotic Index (FBI) turns out to be more appropriate than diversity indices that do not take into account the intermediate pollution. Organic pollution revealed by the FBI probably affects the aquatic life.