Salinity-Driven Patterns in Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities: An Environmental Management Perspective for a Coastal Lagoon

Abstract This study investigated the response of benthic macroinvertebrate communities to salinity variations along the stretch of a coastal lagoon in Nigeria. 576 samples collected using a van Veen grab of 0.1 m 2 size from eight investigation stations were used for this study. Benthic macrofauna population of 177,120 m 2 from 45 species was recorded. Molluscs were the main group, making up 98.43% of the population, followed by anelids, arthropods, and several other macroinvertebrate groups. Although seasonal changes had a minor effect on fauna abundance, the richness, diversity, and evenness of species were not significantly impacted. Salinity gradients played a crucial role in determining the distribution and abundance of benthic macrofauna. Locations with elevated salinity levels (> 0.34‰) exhibited greater abundance.