Open AccessSTUDY OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND ZOOPLANKTON DIVERSITY OF OGUTA LAKE IN OGUTA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF IMO STATE
Author(s) -
Anyanwu J.C,
Onyedilefu U.G,
Nwobu E.A
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of engineering applied science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2455-2143
DOI - 10.33564/ijeast.2020.v04i10.060
Subject(s) - zooplankton , diversity (politics) , state (computer science) , environmental science , local government area , oceanography , geography , local government , political science , geology , mathematics , archaeology , law , algorithm
The study aimed at determining the physicochemical parameters of Oguta Lake and to assess the composition and abundance of zooplankton assemblage of the lake in order to determine the relationship between the physicochemical parameters and zooplankton abundance in the lake. Three sampling stations were established, and standard method was used in the collection and analysis of the water samples for physicochemical parameters and zooplankton identification and enumeration. The study was delineated into three sampling locations within the lake. They are: Njaba (Station A or SA); Orashi (Station B or SB) and Ossemotor (Station C or SC). Mean concentrations of the physicochemical parameters vary across the stations. The sampling was done in the morning before 8:00 am on weekly basis between the months of August to October, 2018. Pour-through method was used to collect the samples. An average of 43 species of zooplankton from the different stations were identified and ---individuals enumerated in this study. The dominant class in Njaba station was Protozoa with 10 individuals, followed by Rotifera with 7 individuals, Cladocera with 3 individuals was next, and others recorded 1 or 2 individuals. The dominant class in Orashi Station was Cladocera with 13 individuals, followed by copepoda and rotifera which both had 12 individuals. In Ossemottor Station, the class Cladocera dominated with 12 individuals, followed by the class Rotifera with 11 individuals while class Copepoda was next with 3 individuals. The individuals of class Rotifera, Protozoa and Cladocera were observed in all 3 sampling stations. This showed that zooplankton of class rotifer, protozoa and cladocera were more adapted to the environmental conditions in Oguta Lake.Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between the occurrence of some zooplankton species and some physicochemical parameters. As a result, it was concluded that physicochemical properties might significantly impact the zooplankton species in Oguta Lake and as such it was recommended that there should be legislation to discourage the discharge of wastes into the lake as the nutrient rich wastes can cause eutrophication which in the long run will affect the zooplankton composition