PRODUCTIVITY STATUS OF DADIN KOWA RIVER CONTINUUM, GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Assessment of Physico-chemical parameters, occurrence and distribution of Aquatic biota
in Dadin-Kowa River Contiuum Gombe State were carried out for a period of Eighteen
month. Three sampling stations were chosen and standard methods and identification
guide were used to determine physicochemical and biological parameters. Result of
Physicochemical parameters showed that Temperature, pH, Alkalinity, Transparency and
Conductivity ranged between 21 - 27oC, 6.3-7.8, 28.1-46.2mg/L, 48.5-76.7cm, 54.0-
397.5μs/cm respectively, while Dissolved oxygen concentration, Biochemical Oxygen
Demand, Calcium, Magnesium, Hardness, Iron, Nitrate-Nitrogen, Phosphate-Phosphorus
ranged between l.l-3.4mg/L, 2.2-39mg/L, 11.3-23.2mg/L, 4.5-8.9mg/L, 40.0-88.5mg/L,
0.1-3.3mg/L, 0.3-1.5mg/L, 0.3-2.0mg/L respectively. A total of sixteen (16)
phytoplankton species were recorded of which four classes of algae were identified. These
are chlorophyta (25.9%), cyanophyta (23.9%), bacillariophyta. (48.9%) and dinophyta
(15. 7%).Three major classes of zooplankton were recorded rotifera (36.9%) cladocera
(35.5%) and copepoda (27.4%). Distribution of planktons varied with the variation in the
physico-chemical parameters. The findings of the study revealed that the water body of
Dadin-Kowa was moderately polluted.