Physiochemical parameters and plankton diversity in River Idye within Makurdi, Benue State.
This study determined the physiochemical parameters and plankton diversity in River Idye within Makurdi, Benue State. A total of five Phytoplankton and four Zooplankton species with a total abundance of 64 were observed. The results indicated that the most abundant plankton species was the Ulothrix spp. with abundance of 19 representing 29.69%, Clostrium spp. 17 (26.56%), and the Glaucocysis spp, 10 (15.63%). The least observed species were the Euglena spp, Strongloides stercolaris, and Paramecium spp. representing 1.56% of the total abundance observed. It was further observed in this study that four Zooplankton species with a total abundance of 64 were examined across the sampling sites. Physiochemical properties of River Idye was also considered, physico-chemical parameters were recorded on site: temperature (T) in °C, conductivity and pH using a pocket tester field conductivity meter, model pH/TDS/salts. Other physicochemical parameters were analysed at the Department of Chemistry, Benue State University, Makurdi. The temperature observed was within the range of 28.3 – 29.8oc with a mean value of 29.02 + 0.54oc. The mean dissolved oxygen was 3.8 + 0.49mg/l, pH was 7.34+0.61, Electrical conductivity was observed to be 803.80+268.12 (us/cm), on the other hand, the total dissolved solid was 400.60+132.87, turbidity (26.41+9.86NTU) and Air temperature was 35.26+0.42oc with a range of 35.0 – 36.0oc respectively. The results revealed that the parameters are within safety boundaries for animal habitation and productivity.
Keywords: Phytoplankton, Zooplankton, plankton, Physiochemical properties and water
