ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF ZOOPLANKTON IN KALTUNGO MINI DAM, KALTUNGO LGA GOMBE STATE

Water is one of the most critical natural resources essential for sustaining human life, biodiversity, and economic development. Globally, about 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, yet only a small fraction is available as freshwater suitable for human and ecological use (Moe & Rheingans, 2006). In recent decades, concerns over water quality have escalated due to anthropogenic pressures such as industrialization, agricultural intensification, and rapid urbanization (Ochieng et al., 2010). The findings of the study of the Abundance and distribution of Zooplankton assembled at Kaltungo mini Dam ,Zooplanktons were collected using plankton net attached with 50ml capacity bottle at base ,collection was done by howling the net through a distance of one to two meters ,Zooplankton findings shows that total of 165 individuals from 10 species were identified ,belonging to five(5)different taxa throughout the study period.Malacostraca constituting (40%),Actinopterygii constituting (20%),Hexanauplia with (20%),Polychaeta and Insecta constituting (10%) each. Some of the physico-chemical were measured using the various meters shows that the highest water temperature is 31°c in the month of September at site C,and the lowest is 28°c in the month of November at site A.The highest pH 8.6 in the month of September at site C and lowest 7.5 in the month of November at all the three sites (A,B&C) respectively .The highest turbidity 11.0cm in the month of November at site A and lowest 7.5cm in the month of October at site C .DO 2.70mg/l in October at site C and lowest 1.7mg/l in November at site C .Highest Nitrate 169.5 in the month of September at site A and the lowest in the month of October at site C.