PLANKTONIC COMPOSITION OF DADIN KOWA DAM, GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Planktons are small plants or animals that float, drift, or weakly swim in the water column. The
organisms that constitutes this group are; phytoplanktons and zooplanktons. This paper
presents the results of the variability in species composition and abundance of plankton in
Dadin-Kowa Reservoir, Gombe State, Nigeria. Plankton was collected from three sites; sites
A, B and C, these sites were water entry point, middle of the reservoir and the exiting point
respectively, this was done to reduce bias in sampling. At each site a well labeled plastic bottles
of 750 ml with full details of site of the sample and date of collection. Identification and
counting of the phytoplankton and zooplankton sample was done using a compound
microscope. The results showed a total of 16 species of phytoplankton belonging to four (4)
different groups or classes which are Chlorophyceae, Cyanophycea, Bacillaroophycea, and
Desmidiacea. The results showed a total of 10 species of zooplankton belonging to four (4)
different groups or classes which are Protozoa, Rotifers, Copepodac and Cladorerans. In
conclusion, the following phytoplanktons; Spirogyra Spp and Cyclotella Spp, and
zooplanktons; Copepod Spp, Chlamydemonas Spp, Phacus Spp and Bosmina Spp were found
to be dominant in Dadin-Kowa Dam.