Assessment of Water Quality Parameters on the Macroinvertebrate Community of Lake Kita in Donga Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

Physicochemical parameters of water were assessed on the macroinvertebrates of Lake Kita at Donga, Taraba State. Macroinvertebrates were collected using Van Veen Grabber along with water samples and analyzed using standard methods from four stations in the lake course. Samples were collected bimonthly between June 2018 and August 2018. A total of 1410 macroinvertebrates, consisting of 27 families, were identified from four sampling stations in the Lake. There were no significant differences (P> 0.05) in the mean values of all the physicochemical parameters recorded in all stations except for transparency in station D (5.00±0.38). Sampling stations with the highest number of macroinvertebrates were stations C and A, with 33.69% and 22.41% macroinvertebrates, whereas stations D and B had 21.63% and 22.27% macroinvertebrates, respectively. A high diversity of invertebrates was recorded in Station D, consisting of 23 families, followed by Station A, consisting of 22 families, then Station C with 20 families, and the least number of families was recorded in Station B with 16 families. There were positive correlations between Dissolved Oxygen among the members of Physidae and Gyrinidae. Gerridae, Corydalidae, Hirudidae, Planorbidae, and Elmidae families (p>0.05). pH had negative correlations with all families present, apart from Chironomidae. It was concluded that the inflow of effluents from the surrounding environment influenced the values of the physicochemical parameters of the water, which in turn had an influence on the macroinvertebrate community of the lake. It is recommended that the populace should be educated on the impact of their activities on the water body, as it affects fish production.