Assessment of Physico-chemical And Biological Parameters of Imaboro River at Ankpa, Kogi State, Nigeria
Assessment of Physico-chemical And Biological Parameters of Imaboro River at Ankpa, Kogi State, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
This study was set to determine the seasonal variations in the physical and chemical parameters of Imaboro River as well as the plankton, periphytic algae and macro benthic invertebrate community structure and dynamics of the river. Sample collection was done monthly from October, 2012 to September, 2013 (one year). The physico-chemical and biological parameters were analysed according to standard methods.
Water temperature, pH and electrical conductivity were determined on the field. Dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), TDS, TSS and TS were determined at Chemistry Laboratory, Kogi State College of E ducation, Ankpa. Other analyses were done at Department of Biological Sciences Hydrobiology Laboratory, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The study showed that temperature ranged between 23.24±0.39 and 28.36±0.190C, transparency between 39.80±9.16 and 59.30±9.41cm, TSS between 100.00±68.24 and 300.00±0.00 mg/l, TDS between 40.00±24.49 and 820.00±335.26 mg/l, velocity between 0.17±0.05 and 0.17±0.05 m/s. pH ranges between 5.75±0.11 and 6.19±0.17, EC between 17.80±3.54 and 34.60±10.27 µS/cm, DO between 2.96±0.17 and 4.62±0.45 mg/l, total hardness between 18.40±2.40 and 48.00±8.10 mg/l, alkalinity between 4.75±0.95 and 13.20±3.18 mg/l, NO3-N between 7.200±73 and 24.80±1.39 mg/l and PO4-P between 1.00±0.07 and 2.34±0.04 mg/l.
The study revealed that the physico-chemical parameters vary significantly between stations and months of study. The community structure of the biological parameters studied showed no significant difference between stations and months. The canonical correspondent analysis (CCA) of the biological parameters showed a strong positive correlation between the species and the physico-chemical parameters.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover page……………………………………………………………………….……..i
Title page…………………………..…………………………………………..………ii
Declaration………………………….………………………………………..……….iii
Approval page……………………………………………………………..….………iv
Acknowledgement………………………………………………………………………v
Dedication…………………………………………………………………………….vi
Abstract………………………………………………………………………..……..vii
Contents…………………………………………………..……………………..…..viii
List of Tables……………………………….…………….………………………….xiii
List of Figures……………………………………….……………………………….xiv
List of plates…………………………………………………………………….……xvi
List of Appendices………………………………………………….….……………xvii
1.0 INTRODUCTION………………………………..…………….…………………..1
1.1 Background of the study………………………….………………………..……..1
1.2 Statement of Research Problem………………….………………..………………5
1.3 Justification..…………………………………………………….…………….…..6
1.4 Aim of the Study…………………………………………………………..………6
1.5 Objectives of the Study………………………………………………..……..…..6
1.6 Research Hypotheses………………………………………………………………7
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………..…………….…….…8
2.1 River Monitoring………………………………………………………………..8
2.2 Physico-chemical Parameters of Water..……………..……………..………….9
2.2.1Water temperature………………..…………………….……….…….……………..9
2.2.2 Water transparency……….………………….…………………………….……10
2.2.3 Total solids……………………………………..……………………………….10
2.2.4 Total suspended solids ………………………….……………………………..11
2.2.5 Total dissolved solids………………………………..……………….……..….12
2.2.6 Water depth………………………………………….……………………….…12
2.2.7 Water velocity …………………………………………………………..……13
2.2.8 Water pH………………………….…………………………………………….14
2.2.9 Total hardness……………………………………………….……………….…15
2.2.10 Electrical conductivity………………………………………….………….….16
2.2.11 Nitrate-Nitrogen……………………………………………….………….……17
2.2.12 Phosphate- phosphorus………………………………………………………..17
2.2.13 Water alkalinity………………………..………………..………..…..….…….19
2.2.14 Dissolved oxygen………………………………….……………………….….19
2.3 Biological Monitoring of Water………………………………………..…….…20
2.3.1 Phytoplankton……………………………………….……………….…….…..…21
2.3.2 Zooplankton…………………………………………………………..…………21
2.3.3 Macro benthic fauna………………………………….………………….………22
2.3.4 Periphyton………………………………….……………………………….…..23
3.0 MATERIALS AND METHOD…………..……….….……………….…………25
3.1 Study Area……………………………………………………………………..…25
3.2 Sampling Stations………………………………………..……………….….….25
3.3 Sampling Procedure…………………………………………………………..…27
3.4 Physical and Chemical Parameters Determinations.…….……..……………..27
3.4.1 Water temperature…………………..………….………….……………………27
3.4.2 Water transparency………………………………………….…………………..28
3.4.3 Water velocity…………………………..……………..……..…………………28
3.4.4 Water depth……………………..……………………………….………………28
3.4.5 Water width………………………..…………………………….………………29
3.4.6 Water pH………………………………….……………………….……………29
3.4.7 Electrical conductivity (EC)………………………….……………………..….29
3.4.8 Total dissolved solids (TDS)…………………………..……….…………….…29
3.4.9 Total suspended solids (TSS)…………………………..………………………30
3.4.10 Total solids (T S)……………………………………………….……………..30
3.4.11 Nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N)………………………………………………………30
3.4.12 Phosphate-phosphorus (PO4-P) …………………………..…………………..31
3.4.13 Total hardness……………………………………………..……..…………….31
3.4.14 Total alkalinity……………………………………………..…….……………….31
3.4.15 Dissolved oxygen (DO)…. ………………………………….………..………32
3.4.16 Biological oxygen demand (BOD)…………………………………………….33
3.5 Biological Parameters……………………………………………..…………….33
3.5.1 Plankton sampling and analysis………………………………….………..……33
3.5.2 Periphyton………………………………………………………….……….….34
3.5.3 Macrobenthic fauna…………………………….……………….….……….….34
3.6 Statistical Analysis of Data………..………………………………..……….….35
4.0 RESULTS…………………………………………….………………………….37
4.1 Water Temperature…………………….………………………..……………..37
4.2 Water Transparency…………………………..……………..………………….42
4.3 Total Suspended Solids (TSS)………………………………………..…………42
4.4 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)………………………………………..…………..42
4.5 Total Solids (TS)…………………………………………………………..…..….45
4.6 Water Depth………………………………………………….…………..…….….45
4.7 Water Width………………………………………………………….……….….49
4.8 Water Velocity………….……………………………………………….…….….49
4.9 Water pH…………………….……………………………….……..….…………51
4.10 Electrical Conductivity……………………………..…….…………..………..54
4.11 Dissolved Oxygen (DO)…………………………………..………….………….54
4.12 Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)…………………………………..…….…57
4.13 Total Hardness…………………………..………………………………………57
4.14 Total Alkalinity…………………………………………………….….…….….60
4.15 Nitrate-Nitrogen (NO3-N)………………………………………………………60
4.16 Phosphate-Phosphorus (PO4-P)……………………………………….………63
4.17 Macrobenthic Fauna..……………………………………………….…………63
4.18 Phytoplankton……………………………………………………….….…..….66
4.19 Zooplankton…………………………………………………………………….73
4.20 Non–Diatom. Periphytic Algae…………………………………………..…….77
4.21 Periphytic Diatom……………………………………….…………..…………80
5.0 DISCUSSION…………………………………………………..………………..93
5.1 Physico-chemical Parameters…………………………………………..….…….93
5.2 Biological Parameters…………………………………………………..………..96
6.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION……..…………102
6.1 Summary…………………………..…………………….………….…………..102
6.2 Conclusion……………………………..………………………………..………103
6.3 Recommendations………………………..…..…………………….…..…..….103
REFERENCES………………………………..………………………….………..104
APPENDICES………………………………….………………………….………111
INTRODUCTION
Access to safe water is a fundamental need and basic human right (WHO, 2000). Water is an indispensable component of the human body. Water also plays an important role in many industries (cosmetics, food, pharmaceutical). It is also a good solvent and the main transporter of a wide variety of chemical substances in aquatic ecosystems. Unfortunately, these properties heighten water’s exposure to various kinds of pollution.
It is therefore important to constantly protect and control the quality of water, particularly in regions with a deficiency of freshwater; for example, in Africa and Nigeria, where freshwater quality is a major concern (WHO, 2000, Chia et al., 2009, Lobanga et al., 2009, Chigor, 2012). Even when water is in abundance, it is reasonable to verify the quality of drinking water, due to its impact on the health of aquatic ecosystems and humans as well.
Surface water bodies which are the most important sources of water for human activities has unfortunately been under severe environmental stress and are being threatened as a consequence of human developmental activities (Yogendra and Puttaiah, 2008). Availability of safe and reliable sources of water is an essential prerequisite for sustained development (Adakole et al., 2008).
This availability of safe and reliable sources of water has in recent times, been affected by climate change which results from global warming. Climate change directly affects the water cycle. It also affects the quantity and quality of water resources available to meet human and environmental demands. It can lead to both floods and drought. Rising sea levels have a serious effect on coastal aquifers, a major source of urban and regional water supply 2 systems, and higher water temperatures can exacerbate many forms of water pollution (UNESCO-WWAP, 2009).
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