ASSESSMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ZOOPLANKTON AND PHYSICO CHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN ESKU ORO RIVER,ORON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA,AKWA IBOM STATE.

Water quality and zooplankton assessment of Esuk Oro river in South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria was carried out between October 2022 to February 2023. Physico-chemical parameters and zooplankton samples were collected in three stations along the river cousre (upstream, midstream, downstream) of Esuk Oro River and were analysed according to standard methods following the procedures outlined by APHA (2012). 11 groups of zooplankton were identified and recorded including Arthropda, copepoda, rotifera,ciliophora, chaetognath, vertebrate fish eggs, sarcomastigophora, ctenophora, mollusca,crustaceans and cnidaria. Physico-chemical parameters examined were Temperature, PO3,NO,TDS,TSS,BOD,DO,PH,Acidity,Alkalinity,EC.Correlation matrix was used to establish the relationship of zooplankton to physico-chemical parameters. Its relationship revealed that the zooplankton interaction between physico-chemical parameters affects their abundance and also a strong correlation of some physico-chemical parameters which suggest that paramaeters are interconnected. Evidence from the findings of the present study revealed that the physico-chemical parameters has a crucial role to play in the abundance and distribution of zooplankton within the water and as such regular monitoring of aqautic ecosystem is highly recommended in order to avoid further discharge of wastes into the stream so as to prevent degradation of the area.