Taxonomy, Distribution and Diversity of Phytoplankton in Some Water Bodies in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Three different river microenvironments were analysed over a period of six months for phytoplankton communities and underlying water parameters. Running water, alluvial based, agriculturally impacted sample station (NDA - Nigerian Defence Academy stream, Afaka ),  running water, rocky based, domestic activity impacted station (GTC - Government Technical College stream, Malali) and an impounded lake, veterinary impacted station (ABU - school of agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University  dam, Mando) in Kaduna were studied with the aim of identifying, classifying and exploring the diversity and distribution of the algal species in the study areas. The result showed that station NDA had the highest value of species richness making up 38.24% (65 species) of overall observed species in the studied areas. Station GTC recorded 43 species making up to 25.29% and Station ABU contained 36.47% of the sample with 62 species. A total of 170 species of phytoplankton in general and seven taxonomic groups were collected. Of this total, the Chlorophyta had the highest number of species (90 species), followed by Bacillariophyta with 46 species and are showed in this order: Chlorophyta > Bacillariophyta > Cyanophyta > Euglenophyta > Rhodophyta > Dinophyta & Chrysophyta. There were remarkable variations of physico – chemical parameters and significant difference in the sampling sites (p < 0.05).

Keywords: Phytoplankton, Communities, Aquatic Environments, Kaduna, Nigeria.