A Survey of Some Biological and Physico-Chemical Parameters of Gwaigwaye Reservoir, Funtua, Nigeria.

Abstract

The studies of fish fauna population in relation to physico-chemical parameters of Gwaigwaye Reservoir, Funtua were determined using standard methods and procedures. The result revealed that; Water temperature (25.02 ± 0.17⁰C), pH (7.54 ± 0.03), Alkalinity (3.69±0.09), Conductivity (129.43 ± 5.15μЅ/cm), Total Dissolved Solids (50.54 ± 0.57mg/L) Nitrate-nitrogen (0.21 ± 0.04mg/L), Water hardness (134.44 ± 3.06mg/LCaCO3), Dissolved Oxygen (3.98 ± 0.10mg/L), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (2.53 ± 0.08mg/L), Phosphate-phosphorus (0.19 ± 0.02mg/L), Chloride (5.09 ± 0.15mg/L), Sulphur-sulphate (0.21± 0.01) and Calcium (2.97±0.06mg/L) varied with months and seasons. Analysis of variance indicated significant difference between seasons (P < 0.05); but no significant difference in fish fauna distribution and abundance among the four stations (P>0.05). The result indicated percentage composition of fish were Tilapia zilli with the highest toal mean and percentage composition of: 271(17.32%), Clarias gariepinus: 253(16.17%), Oreochromis niloticus: 238(15.21%), Lates niloticus: 216 (13.80%). 202 (12.91%), Mormyrus senegalensis:155 (9.90%), Labeo senegalensis: 116 (7.41%) and the least were Synodontis clarias: 114 (7.28%). Water quality of the reservoir is influenced by fish food (i.e phytoplankton) as a result of certain anthropogenic activities; the reservoir water is suitable for irrigational and domestic purposes from the results of most of the physico-chemical and biological parameters obtained. Hence, there is need for an effective anthropogenic inputs control programme in the reservoir.

Keywords: Fish, Physico-Chemical, Reservoir, Anthropogenic, Gwaigwaye