Assessment of the Ecology of Diatoms in Relation to Enviromental Variables in Landzu Rivers Bida Niger State Nigeria

Abstract

Diatoms are widely utilised as excellent environmental indicators due to their ability to react to a wide range of physical, chentical, and biological changes that take place in the aquatic environment. This study was carried out to investignte some aspects of the ecology of diatoms in relation to environmental variables in Landzu River Bida, Niger state Nigeria. Samples were collected from five (5) sampling station and analysed using standard methods and procedures. The results show water temperature (23.63±2.18-25.75±0.25℃C), Water depth (23.76±4.87-36.32±3.21cm), Flow velocity ranged (0.011±0.00-0.182±0.01), Wnter pH (7.28±0.37-7.48±0.35), Transparency (20.50±0.15- 22.01±0.31cm), Electrical conductivity (118.95±0.21-144.6±0.23 μS/cm). Dissolved oxygen concentration (6.4±0.50-7.70±0.19 mg/l), the Biochemical oxygen demand (2.14±0.23-2.55±0.26mg/l),total hardness (30.5±3.19-31.26±2.8.33mg/l), alkalinity (13.83±0.74-14.00±0.71mg/l), Nitrate (0.014±0.00-0.035±0.00mg/l), Phosphate(0.028±0.0to0.03±0.00mg/l) the total dissolved solids (111.86±1.49to 131.18±1.90), Mngnesium (0.018±0.01-0.053±0.00mg/,) Zinc (12.02±9.00- 23.45±3.00mg/l),Nickel (4.90±0.45-5.51±0.52mg/l),Lead(0.44±0.07-1.84±0.04mg/l) and Manganese (12.58±1.30-19.43±2.70 mg/l). All the physicochemical variables measured show no significant (p>5difference between the sampling stations except depth, flow velocity, dissolved oxygen,phosphate and total dissolved solids which differ significantly(p<0.05) among the sampling stations thile all the henvy metal differs significantly(p<0.05) between the sampling stations except magnesium and nickel. A total of 2499 individual organisms from 25 species were identified. Station 2 had the highest number of individuals with 561 organisms, followed by station 5 with 511 organisms while station 4 had 505 organisms. Station 1 had 481 organisms, while station 3 had the lowest with 441organisms. The study shows diatom assemblage is influenced by human activities.