EFFECT OF SOME PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS ON THE ABUNDANCE, DISTRIBUTION AND DIVERSITY OF AQUATIC MACROPHYTES IN RIVER NGADDA, MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE,NIGERIA.

¹Abbator A., ²Fatima. S.A., ³Bashir L.U.

ABSTRACT

The effects of some Physico-chemical parameters on aquatic Macrophyte abundance, distribution and diversity were investigated for a period of twelve (12) months from June 2021-May 2022 at downstream River Ngadda along Lagos Bridge in Maiduguri Metropolitan council, Borno State. Nigeria. Physico-chemical parameters are the major factors when considering the quality of water body in relation to the presence of Macrophyte in aquatic ecosystem. Aquatic Macrophyte and water sample were collected at four (4) sampling stations in the study area. Macrophytes were collected with the aid of shovel, rake and hand pulling. Physico-chemical parameters of the water sample were determined using specialized instruments (pH meter, TDS/EC meter, spectrophotometer, secchi discs and digital thermometer). The parameters show ranges of air temperature (22 – 29)^o C, water temperature (18-26)^o C, pH(7.4 – 8.5), Electrical Conductivity (119.8-129.7)µS/cm,  Total Dissolved Solids  (14.4-19.20)ppm, Dissolved Oxygen (5-7)mg/l, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (0.4-2.23)mg/l, Transparency (5.5-14.70)cm, Nitrate (0.3-2.23)ppm, Phosphate (0.5-1.0)ppm, Manganese (0.41-4.02)ppm, Iron (0.11-1.6)ppm and Copper (0.19-1.7)ppm. During the study period, thirteen (13) Macrophyte species that belonged to seven (7) families were identified, where a total of 227 aquatic Macrophyte were collected. Furthermore, a total of 22 Vossia cuspidata with a relative abundance of 9.7% in all stations, 18 Lemna minor (7.9%), 19 Lemna trisulca (8.4%) abundance, 15 Cyperus rotundus (6.6%), 28 Carex acuta (12.3%), 12 Scleria verrucosa (5.3%), 12 Cyperus iria (5.3%), 15 Potamogeton pasillus (6.6%), 19 Potamogeton Pectinatus (8.4%), 22 Echinochloa colona (9.7%), 15 Vallisnera spiralis (6.6%), 18 Alternathera sessilis (7.9%) and 12 Ruppia spiralis (5.3%) abundance was encountered during the study. The computation of Shannon-Wiener index of Macrophyte revealed that station1 had the highest species diversity (2.54), station 2 (2.40) and station 4 (2.36) recorded medium diversity while station 3 had the lowest diversity (1.27). The correlation co-efficient between Physico-chemical parameters and Macrophyte abundance during the wet season showed nine (9) significant correlation (P<0.05) in station 1 and 2, while station 3 and 4 had (10) significant correlation (p<0.05). In the dry season, station 1 had (7), station 2 and 4 have (8) correlation and station 3 had (9) significant correlation. All parameters analyzed were within permissible limits which indicate that the River is not polluted.

Keywords:  Abundance, Diversity, Physico-chemical, Macrophyte, River Ngadda