PHYTOPLANKTON COMPOSITION IN TWO WATER BODIES OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AKURE, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

The phytoplanktons found in the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) was studied from April to August 2017 which spanned for 5 months which took place in two sampling sites, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology Research Farm pond (FAT pond) was the first sampling station while Crop Science and Pest Management water body was the second sampling water body where samples were collected at different sampling depths ranging between 16-30cm. A hundred and fifty (150cl) of FUTA water samples were collected in each month throughout the study period.

Fourteen (14) species of phytoplanktons were identified as aggregate in the two sampling sites, consisting of Bacillariophyta (10), Chlorophyta (2), Dinophyta (1), Mediophyta (1). The total phytoplankton density in the Crop Science and Pest Management water body increased from a total population of 44 in the fourth month to a total population of 50 in the fifth month while in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology (F.A.T) pond the increment started in the third month with a total population of 41 to 61 in the fifth month. Temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen and conductivity ranged from 23.84°c to 29.40°c; 6.61 to 7.14, 3.08 to 5.35 mg/L and 106.18 to 195.78 µscm respectively. 

Navicular sp was the most dominant phytoplankton specie with a total of 120 observations followed by Coscinodiscus and Ceratia which occurred with 113 and 68 respectively while the species with the least number of appearances were Liemophora and Pinnularia with 4 and 3 occurrences respectively. 

Changes in temperature, conductivity, pH and dissolve oxygen had an effect on phytoplankton abundance resulting in an increase and decrease in the number of phytoplankton species. However, the result found cannot necessarily deduce the long-term biological events and processes of the water bodies. Since the study was done in a period of five months which is not sufficient for concluding the results.

TABLE OF CONTENTSCover Page           iTitle page          iiCertification         iiiDedication         ivAcknowledgement         vTable of Contents         viList of Tables        viiList of Figures       viiiAbstract         ixCHAPTER ONE1.0 General Introduction of water bodies in Nigeria           11.1 Experimental site           6

1.2 Justification           91.3 Aims   and   Objectives   of   the   Study9CHAPTER TWO2.0 Literature Review                                                                                                               102.1 Oxygen production         112.2 Growth strategy                 122.3 Phytoplankton Occurrence and Distribution         13CHAPTER THREE3.0 Materials and Method             153.1 Study Duration         153.2  Bottle Sampling Method         153.3  Sample preservation and handling         163.4 Labelling              163.5 Equipments used         173.6 Supplies used for identification         173.7        Analytical Procedure         18

3.7.1  Water Analysis         183.7.2 Identification of phytoplankton                                 183.8  Statistical Analysis         19CHAPTER FOUR4.0  Results         214.1  Diversity and Abundance of Phytoplankton Species in FUTA environs         214.2 Classification of phytoplankton in FUTA environs         244.2.1   Abundance   of   (no.   of   individuals)   phytoplanktons   in   Fisheries   &   AquacultureTechnology research pond         274.2.2 Abundance   of   (no.   of   individuals)   phytoplanktons   in   Crop   Science   &   PestManagement research farm water body         284.3 Abundance of Phytoplankton in Both Water Sources for 5 Months         304.4 Diversity indices of FUTA Environs Water Body         334.5 Abundance of phytoplankton in both water sources for 5 months         354.6  Influence of water factors on Phytoplankton Species Abundance         374.6.1 The relationship between pH and phytoplankton species abundance         384.6.2 The relationship between water, pH and phytoplankton species abundance            394.6.3 The relationship between D.O and phytoplankton species abundance         40

4.6.4 The relationship between temperature and phytoplankton species abundance        414.7 Water parameters for the Waterbodies of FUTA Environs During the Study                   424.8 Physico-chemical variables of each water parameter and concentration in the waterbodiesof FUTA environs during the study            44CHAPTER FIVE5.0 Discussion          465.1  Abundance of Phytoplankton species         465.2  Environmental factors relationship with phytoplankton abundance         475.3 Diversity and Abundance of phytoplankton species         485.4  Conclusion          505.5  Contribution to knowledge          50REFERENCEAPPENDIX 

LIST OF TABLETable   1:   Major   inland   water   resources   of   Nigeria3Table 2: Distribution and extent of Nigerian fresh waterbodies                           4Table4.1: Occurrence of phytoplankton in sampling stations for each month in environs                                       22Table 4.2: Showing classification of all phytoplankton species found          25Table   4.2.1:   Abundance   of   (no.   Of   individuals)   phytoplanktons   in   fisheries   &   aquaculturetechnology research pond         27Table   4.2.2:   Abundance   of   (no.   Of   individuals)   phytoplanktons   in   crop   science   &   pestmanagement research farm water body                                    28Table 4.3: Abundance of phytoplankton in both water sources for months           31Table 4.4: Diversity indices of Futa environs water body                     34Table 4.6: Summary for regression analysis of variance for phytoplankton abundance          37Table 4.7: Water parameters for the waterbodies of futa environs during the study         42

List of figureFigure 1: Hydrological map of Nigeria showing the major inland waters                       5Figure 2: Abundance of phytoplankton in both water sources for 5 months         36Figure 3: The relationship between conductivity and phytoplankton species abundance 38Figure 4: The relationship between water ph and phytoplankton species    abundance                                                                                                    39Figure 5:  The relationship between dissolved oxygen and phytoplankton species abundance    40Figure 6: The relationship between temperature and phytoplankton species abundance              41Figure 7: Water parameters for the waterbodies of Futa environs during the study         43Figure 8: Physico-chemical variables and concentration in the water bodies in futa environs during the study               45