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ABSTRACT
The study investigated copepod diversity in Owan River, Edo State, Nigeria, considering various physicochemical parameters. Water samples were collected in June and July 2023 from three sampling stations using standard procedures. Results showed a range of values for parameters such as water temperature (26.7-28.5°C), air temperature (21-28°C), flowrate (0.70-0.91), depth (5.00-8.95 meters), turbidity (14-54), pH (6.40-6.80), dissolved oxygen (0-3 mg/l), BOD (0.60-3.10), sulfate (6-24), and nitrate (2.50-12.91).Over three years, water temperature showed seasonal trends: highest in June-July 2023 (wet season), elevated in Nov-Feb 2021 (dry season), and lowest in Jul-Sep 2022 (wet season). pH was slightly acidic to neutral (6.40-6.80), consistent with Nigerian inland water bodies. Dissolved oxygen fluctuated (1.25-3.00 mg/l), affected by pollution from agriculture and other human activities. Wet seasons had higher dissolved oxygen (1.25-7.14 mg/l) than dry seasons (Nov-Feb 2021), impacting copepod reproduction and the aquatic food chain. A total of eleven (11) species belonging to one (1) family which iscalanidae were recorded in this study. The total number of species in relation to sampling stations was highest instation 1 with 7 species, followed by station 2 with 3 species and lowest in station 3 having only 1 species.Identification] and counting of copepod were done with a compound microscope. The distribution ofcopepod community within the river system and revealed that there were nosignificant differences in copepod species composition and abundance among the sampledsites. Theseasonalfluctuationsdeterminedthatthesechangeswerestatisticallynotsignificant(P>0.05)indicating that the composition of copepods in the river did not undergo substantial shift throughout the samplingperiod. This research provides essential data for understanding the stability of copepod communities in riverecosystems and underscores the need for continued studies to safeguard the ecological health of these crucialaquaticsystems.
