LIMNOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF A FRESHWATER IMPOUNDMENT – IKPOBA RESERVOIR – IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE
TENUMAH J. AND AKOMA O. C.
ABSTRACT
The water quality assessment of the Ikpoba Reservoir was carried out between April and August, 2012. Water samples were collected for physical and chemical analysis coupled with phytoplankton collection by towing a 55µm mesh size plankton net, and periphyton were obtained from submerged aquatic macrophytes, after which they were preserved with 4% formalin. The Ikpoba Reservoir is oligotrophic and acidic to neutral (6.0 – 7.27) in pH. From the physico – chemical parameters analyzed, it can be inferred that the Ikpoba Reservoir is fit for domestic and other human uses. The phytoplankton/periphyton flora of the Ikpoba Reservoir consisted of 27 taxa belonging to 3 divisions, 5 orders, 11 families and 11 genera.
Chlorophyta accounted for 77.8% (mostly dominated by desmids) followed by Bacillariophyta 18.5% and Euglenophyta 3.7%. Station 2 had the highest species composition, followed by station 3. The divisions, Cyanophyta and Rhodophyta were not represented during the study period.