Assessment of Physicochemical Attributes and Zooplankton Composition of Agulu Lake in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

An assessment of physicochemical conditions and zooplankton diversity in Agulu Lake was conducted for a period of eight months from February 2023-September 2023. Water samples were collected every month in sterilized containers from three of the six arms of the lake which constituted the three sampling stations of the study. The study stations were designated as S1, S2, S3 (Dry Season) and S4, S5, and S6 (Rainy Season). The samples were analysed for both physicochemical attributes and zooplankton diversity. Zooplankton species were determined following standard procedures. The physicochemical properties of the lake were investigated by measuring the degree of correlation with the plankton diversity. The zooplankton diversity of the Lake correlated significantly (p<0.05) with physicochemical parameters. A total of 112 species of zooplankton were encountered during the Dry season, consisting of 47 species of Rotifera, 32 species of Cladocera and 33 species of Copepoda. While during the Rainy season, a total of 74 species of zooplankton were encountered, consisting of 29 species of Rotifera, 22 species of Cladocera and 23 species of Copepoda. The result revealed that Rotifera was the most dominant group in both the Dry and Rainy seasons, while Cladocera was the least encountered in both seasons. There were more zooplankton species encountered during the dry season than during the rainy season. This was attributed to the high photosynthetic activity during the dry season that provides the food for zooplankton. Rotifera was the most dominant group in both the Dry and Rainy seasons, while Cladocera was the least encountered in both seasons. Human activities around the catchment of the Lake should be monitored since they have significant effect on the water quality as revealed by the variations in physicochemical characteristics and zooplankton d

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