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Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of crude oil pollution on the microbial population of Coastal Wetlands in Rivers State.A total of 288 soil samples were collected for a period of twelve (12) month from three crude oil polluted wetlands and subjected to microbiological analyses.In the wet season, total heterotrophic bacterial count (THBC) in the wetland soil, sediment and surface water ranged from 1.90x10 7 cfu/g (Eagle Island) to 10.45x10 7 cfu/g (Control); 2.89x10 7 cfu/g (Borokiri) to 9.86x10 7 cfu/g (control) and 2.57x10 7 cfu/ml (Borokiri) to 8.67x10 7 cfu/ml (Control) respectively.Dry season THBC in soil, sediment and surface water ranged from 2.43x10 7 cfu/g (Borokiri) to 18.5610 7 cfu/g (control); 4.28x10 7 cfu/g (Borokiri) to 15.45x10 7 cfu/g (Control) and 2.10x10 7 cfu/ml (Borokiri) to 7.34x10 7 cfu/ml (Control).There was a significant difference (p≤0.05) in the microbial population across the wetlands in both seasons.The Total petroleum hydrocarbon and Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations was higher in the crude oil polluted wetland than the control sample in both seasons.The study revealed a decrease in microbial population with increase in TPH and PAH content in the wetlands.