STUDY ON WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND BENTHIC FAUNA DIVERSITY OF BAKALORI DAM IN MARADUN, ZAMFARA STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT The study on the physic-chemical parameters and benthic fauna diversity of Bakalori Dam, Nigeria was carried out from Monday to friday 2022. Water and benthic organisms samples were collected Weekly from three sampling stations along the Dam. Dissolved oxygen plastic bottles of 1000 ml were used to collect water samples which were fixed with wrinkle’s reagent at the sampling stations. Eckman grab, scoop net, hook and line, cast net, traps and dugout canoe with paddle were used to collect the benthic macro fauna for six months (Monday to friday). The results of the study yielded 229 benthic organisms belonging to 15 species and 14 families. In relation to stations, Station 3 had more species and higher abundance of benthic organisms than other sampled stations. In Station 1, only six species of benthic organisms were recorded while Station 2 had 11 species and Station 3, 13 species of benthic organisms. Majority of the sampled benthic organisms were localized and restricted to one sampled station which was Station 3. The abundance of benthic organisms in Bakalori Dam was dependent on season. More benthic organisms were recorded in dry season than in rainy season. The diversity indices yielded high diversity in Station 3 than the other two studied stations. More species dominated with high diversity index in dry season than in wet season in all the sampled stations. Mean values of surface water temperature 26.67±0.63 0C, depth 1.96±0.48 m, COD 25.11±0.24 mg/L, BOD 5.47±0.04 mg/L, DO 5.91±0.19 mg/L, Alkalinity 10.66±0.21 mg/L, pH 6.73±0.16, TDS 315.2±48.5 mg/L, Hardness 0.64±0.08 mg/L, Turbidity 4.52±0.16 NTU and TSS 8.68±0.75 mg/L were recorded.