Spatio-Temporal Assessment of Zooplankton of Wushishi (Wushishi) Lake, Niger State

Abstract

The trophic status of Wushishi Lake Niger State was determined using zooplankton and also to provide a baseline data of its composition. The lake was sampled monthly for two years (2013 to 2014) and the physico-chemical parameters and the zooplankton were studied using the techniques described by APHA 2010. Temperature, pH, Electrical conductivity, BOD and Nitrate, and Total Solids were higher in site 1 whereas Secchi disc transparency, Dissolved oxygen, Water hardness, Alkalinity Phosphate and Magnesium were highest in Site 3. Similarly the Temperature, pH, BOD, Hardness, Nitrate, Phosphate, Magnesium, Total dissolve oxygen were higher in the wet season while in the dry seasons, Electrical conductivity, Secchi transparency, dissolved oxygen and alkalinity were higher in the dry season. A total of 39 zooplankton species were recorded, with 14 species of the rotifers, 10 of the copepods and 15 species of the Cladoceran. The zooplankton population was in the following order of dominance, copepods > cladoceran > and the rotifers. The Shannon Wiener diversity index, mergalefs and the evenness have shown a fairly rich diversity of zooplankton supported by a nutrient status of the water body. 84 percent of the zooplankton is recorded in the wet season especially from august to September with site 2 having the highest.