LAJANS Vol 3(1): 53-59 RESEARCH PAPER Water Quality and Algal Biodiversity of River Gbako Badeggi, Niger State, Nigeria N.J. Dadi-Mamud Department of Biology, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Nigeria ABSTRACT Algae are significant component of biological monitoring programs for assessing water quality. They are eligible to water quality assessment due to their nutrients requirements, rapid reproduction rate, and very short life cycle. The physico-chemical and algal characteristics of River Gbako, Badeggi, Niger State Nigeria were studied in three stations over a period of six months from May to October 2017. Standard methods were used to determine the physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, depth, transparency, pH, [Electrical conductivity (EC), Total dissolved solids (TDS), Biological oxygen demand (BOD5), Dissolved oxygen (DO), phosphate and nitrate, while published keys were used to identify the algal distribution. The mean values of all the physicochemical parameters determined for the three sampling stations differ significantly (P ≤ 0.05) except for BOD5, TDS and water temperatures which were not significantly different between the stations sampled Algal abundance showed the following decreasing order: Heterokontophyta>Cyanophyta>>Chlorophyta>Euglenophyta>Cryptophyta. The algal frequency of occurence for the three sampled stations were Sp1 of 327 (individuals/ml), Sp2 of 563 (individuals/ml) and Sp3 335 (individuals/ml with the total algal density of 1215 individuls/ml. The surface water in the six sampling stations studied revealed the fluctuations of the investigated parameters along the sampling stations, which could be attributed to both anthropogenic and natural activities, consequently the diverse algal distribution. Cyanophyta have detrimental effects on various uses of water, hence there is the need to prevent River Gbako, natural water supplies from being taken over by the Cyanophyta. Keywords: River Gbako, Algae, biodiversity INTRODUCTION Rivers as water bodies are important in supply in the world (Dadi-Mamud, etal.,2012). maintaining a balance in the ecosystem Rivers are equally useful in generating through supporting diverse plankton electricity, fisheries, irrigation and for (phytoplankton and zooplankton) and other domestic animals (Zakariyaet al., 2011). River organisms in the food chain. Recently, there Gbako is the major source of water to Badeggi has been a growing necessity for the community, as a source drinking and other conservation of natural resources, especially purposes. However, anthropogenic activities water due to, increasing populations, that include bathing, washing, indiscriminate progressive industrialization and series of disposal of wastes and refuse in the river, agricultural practices leading to increased fishing and farming using pesticides and pollution of our surface waters (Mohammad herbicides around the river can all serve as and Saminu, 2012). Sufficient and safe water sources of pollution. In addition, domestic supply is a pre-requisite for significant socio- animals such as cattle come around to drink economic development of any community water, which also could lead to faecal (Chenoweth, 2008. Unfortunately, in many contamination, hence posing health concern to areas of the world, especially developing countries including Nigeria, it is difficult to Received 17 June, 2018 obtain a steady source of clean water for Accepted 22 July, 2018 drinking and for agricultural uses. Rivers Address Correspondence to: constitute one of the major sources of water [email protected] Dadi-Mamud, 2018 54 the people of the community. The assessment Algal abundance can be affected by turbidity and continuous monitoring of the quality of levels, and other physicochemical factors High water sourced from rivers can be used to turbidity affects primary productivity, as it define existing conditions, detect trend and or reduces the amount of light penetration which establish sources of pollution. The quality of in turn reduces photosynthesis and hence water is often affected by rocks, soil and primary productivity (APHA, 2005). Nutrient surface through which it flows and limitation is important in the regulation of anthropogenic e.g. Industrial, agricultural and algal abundance (Hirose et al., 2003). mining activities (Ibeto and Onianwa, 2011). Therefore, evaluating the physico-chemical and algal constituents of surface waters is Several studies revealed that these activities essential in appraising their quality and coupled with atmospheric factors affect the suitability for various purposes (Nweze, 2009). suitability of water for all purposes (Hulyal et. al., 2008). Algae are eligible to water quality METHODOLOGY assessment due to their nutrients requirements, Study Area rapid reproduction rate and very short life cycle. They are important indicators to Badeggi is in Katcha Local Government area environmental situation since they respond of Niger State, Nigeria, with its’ headquarter immediately to both qualitative and in Bida. It coordinates are 9° 3’ 0'' North and quantitative composition of species in wide 6° 9’0'' East. River Gbako is located in range of water situation due to alters in water Badeggi area and has the characteristic tropical chemistry (Gokce, 2016). climate of two distinct seasons, a dry season (November to April) and a wet season (May to October). Figure 1: Showing Map of Badeggi in Katcha LGA of Niger State Nigeria, the sampling area Sampling Stations Samples for analyses of the physico-chemical Sampling position (Sp1) experiences and algal diversity were collected once in a anthropogenic activities which include month for six (6)] months during wet season collection of sand for construction, occasional (May to October) from three (3) sampling bathing and washing of clothes. (Sp2) station along the course of River Gbako. The experiences no anthropogenic activities, and it sampling points were; along the bridge, is shaded by bridge, designated as control, conflict of Egba stream and River Gbako while (Sp3) experiences moderate labeled as SP1, SP2 and SP3 respectively. anthropogenic activities; but exposed to ISSN: 2616-0986 LAJANS 3(1):53 - 59 Dadi-Mamud, 2018 55 sunlight due to no shading by vegetation and has a tributary. There are also farmlands along the banks where cassava, garden egg, pepper RESULTS and maize are cultivated. Physico-chemical parameters Samples Collection Monthly variations of the physico-chemical Water samples for physico-chemical analyses parameters of sp1 are presented in Table 1. were collected with two liter plastic bottles for The mean water temperature value were higher laboratory analyses. Sample for algal studies in station 1 than the other two stations, while were collected in bottle (0.75litre volume) the mean depth of the three sampling stations from the side of river after the methods of were highest in station one followed by station Nweze (2009). Physico-chemical analyses 2 and station 3 had the least depth. The mean were carried out using the methods described transparency highest values were recorded in by the America Public Health Association station 1 while the least in station 2. The mean (APHA, 2005) as modified by Dadi-Mamud pH values were 6.92±0.24, 6.70±0.13 and (2014). Subsurface samples for phytoplankton 6.00±0.46 for Sp1, Sp2 and Sp3 respectively. studies were collected using 1000 ml container River Gbako mean values for total dissolved filled to 800 ml mark. Algae from mud or solids (TDS) for the three sampling sites were water sediment for photo -benthos were highest in station 3 followed by station 1 and collected by scooping mud from the river bed sampling station 2 had the lowest value into transparent plastic container and The recorded in this study. The electrical algae attached on base of river and on stones conductivity (EC) mean values for Sp1, Sp2 were brushed into 1 L of container. Samples and Sp3 were recorded in the values of for algal analyses were preserved with 2.4 ml 130.00±0.24, 120.06±5.01 and 140.00±4.56 Lugol’s iodine in 800 ml of sample and the respectively. Biochemical Oxygen Demand samples were kept in the dark(APHA, 2005) (BOD5) mean values for Sp1, Sp2 and Sp3 All samples collected were transported to the were lowest in station 2 and highest in station Biology laboratory Ibrahim Badamasi 1, while the Dissolved oxygen (DO) mean Babangida University Lapai in a plastic values were lowest in station 1 and highest in container. Identification was carried out using station 2, with high values of the DO when the the dichotomous key of Bellinger and Sigee, BOD5 is low and high values of BOD5 when (2010), in addition, standard texts used by the DO is low, as determined in the study. The Huynh and Serediak (2006). Algal macronutrients of Phosphate (PO4-P) and enumeration was done using “Drop count Nitrate (NO3-N) mean values were recorded to method” as described by Ramanchandra and be 1.45±0.02mg/l, 1.23±0.04mg/l and Solanki (2007). 3.75±0.01mg/l and 116.36±2.31mg/l, 85.45±4.21mg/l and 74.55±2.01mg/l Statistical Analysis respectively. All the mean values of the physicochemical parameters determined for Paleontological Statistics (PAST) version 3.01 the three sampling stations differ significantly was used for the Analysis of Variance (P>0.05) except for BOD5, TDS and Water (ANOVA), and post hoc test diversity for the temperatures which are not significantly physico-chemical characteristics and different within the stations sampled as determination of the diversity of the algal revealed by post hoc test. species in each Sampling stations. ISSN: 2616-0986 LAJANS 3(1):53 - 59 Dadi-Mamud, 2018 56 Table1: Monthly Mean variations in physico-chemical parameters of River Gbako from May to October August for the three sampled stations Physicochemical Sp1 Sp2 Sp3 Properties Mean SED pH 6.92±0.24b 6.70±0.13ab 6.00±0.46 a Phosphate (mg/l) 1.45±0.02 b 1.23±0.04 a 3.75±0.01 c Nitrate (mg/l) 116.36±2.31b 85.45±4.21 c 74.55±2.01 c D.O (mg/l) 0.06±0.01a 1.04±0.01 b 0.08±0.01 c BOD5 (mg/l) 0.10±0.00a 0.01±0.02 a 0.06±0.01 a TDS (mg/l) 85.80±0.34c 79.2±2.04 c 92.4±4.57 c E.C.