ASSESSMENT OF PHYTOPLANKTON AND ZOOPLANKTON DIVERSITY IN SELECTED PONDS WITHIN MAKURDI METROPOLIS
Abstract
Plankton are important organisms which act as producers of the primary food supply in any aquatic
ecosystem. This study assessed the phytoplankton and zooplankton diversity in fish ponds within
Makurdi. Plankton samples were collected using plankton net and identified on the basis of their
morphological characteristics with the aid of standard identification keys of Plankton. A total of
225 plankton species were observed across three (3) locations (Wadata, Highlevel and Northbank)
in Makurdi. One hundred and seventy one (171) of these species were Phytoplanktons, while Fiftyfour (54) were zooplanktons. The most abundance plankton species observed was the Melosira sp.
with an abundance of 26 representing 11.56% of total number observed. This was followed by the
Spirogyra sp with abundance of 22 (9.77 %), Scenedemus incrassatulus bohlin, 18 (8.0%) as well
as Glaucocystis sp. and Synedra sp which had abundance of 17 “(7.55%) each. Melosira sp.,
Daphnia pulex and Strongeriodes stercolaris had 14 (5.49 %). While Closterium sp had 13 (5.77
%), Ulothrix sp and Copepod sp. had 12 (5.33) each, Cyclopoid copepod 11(48.88 %), Euglena
Sp, , Paramecium sp., Centrpyxis sp. and Busmina sp. were the least abundant species observed
each occurring once (1.18%). A significance statistical value was observed between the planktons
and locations sampled (P=0.000).The distribution of planktons in fish ponds across different
locations in Makurdi. The highest planktons abundance was observed in Wadata (71), followed by
North bank (44) and the least in High level (11).The highest phytoplankton abundance was
observed in Wadata (71), while that of zooplankton was North bank (26) and the least of
phytoplankton abundance was observed from North (44) and the zooplankton (11) at High level
respectively. This study recorded different species of phytoplankton and phytoplankton within fish
ponds sites examined. Un-harmful species of phytoplankton should be introduced in ponds or
allow to grow in ponds, since they play an important role in pond ecology and influence water
quality
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