Population structure, biomass and production of the West African lucinid Keletistes rhizoecus (Bivalvia, Mollusca) in Sivibilagbara swamp at Bodo Creek, Niger Delta, Nigeria

The West African lucinid bivalve Keletistes rhizoecus (Oliver, Basteria 50:47–64, 1986 ) is only known from the Niger Delta in Nigeria. Due to inaccessibility of its habitat population biology, growth parameters, biomass, and annual secondary production are unknown. The danger of oil pollution threatens the localities where this species occurs. Hence, ecological characteristics of the species were investigated quantitatively from May 2007 to April 2008 at Sivibilagbara, a protected mangrove swamp at Bodo Creek in the lower Niger Delta. Density of this chemosymbiotic lucinid was significantly higher than data previously reported. Temporal size distribution of the population showed minor changes due chiefly to recruitment and growth increments. Recruits peaked in February and September. The species lifespan is estimated to be 1.2 years. The biomass and production values are relatively high, but comparable to those of other bivalve species, especially those from nearby Andoni intertidal flats.