Phytoplankton as Bio-Indicators of Organic Pollution in Two Hand Dug Wells in Bakori District, Nigeria

Abstract

Two earthen water tanks situated in Dutsen reme lowcost, Bakori district were selected for the studies of phytoplanktons diversity and possibility of using it as bio monitors of organic pollution. Abi tank has a very low diversity with blooms from three classes of phytoplankton such as Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae and Cyanophyceae. These phytoplanktons occurred as regular blooms throughout the periods of the studies. Naalim tank supported class Pyrrophyceae and less polluted. The use of algae for bio monitoring of organic pollution indicated that Abi tank which regularly receives sewage was heavily polluted and Naalim tank was considered to be mesotrophic in nature due to mild anthropogenic activities. The result indicates that there was a significant difference between the tanks due to a drastic increase in anthropogenic activity in Abi tank as it is polluted planters respond quickly to the environmental changes and hence their standing crop and composition are more likely to indicate the quality of water mass in which they are found. They strongly influences the water quality such as pH, colour, taste, inorganic fertilizers and pesticides used by Agriculturalist and domestic wastes in these areas was ultimately what makes water Abi tank experienced an increasing pollution which is  the main influential factors for the high abundance of phytoplankton. Thus phytoplanktons have been used as indicators of water quality as some species thrive well in oligotropic as well as in eutrophic aquatic ecosystems.

Key Words: Phytoplankton, Eutrophic, Bakori, Tank