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ABSTRACT
The diversity of zooplankton of Oke River, in Ikoha community in Ugbougui village, Ovia South Local Government Area, Edo state was studied alongside the physico-chemical parameters of the River. Oke River is a river not common to hydrobiological studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the zooplankton diversity and its relationship with the water’s physico-chemical parameters in this almost unstudied water body. Water samples were collected in sterile containers and analyzed for selected physical and chemical parameters following standard procedures. Samples for DO and BOD were collected in transparent and amber 250ml bottles with cork respectively. Zooplankton collection was done both qualitatively and quantitatively using plankton net of about 55µm. Sorting and identification was done using the stereo dissecting and compound microscopes respectively, with relevant identification keys. All physico-chemical parameters showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) with the exception of Magnesium and Chloride (p<0.05). There was no diversity analysis (Margalef, Simpson and Shannon-Weiner indices) because of the few number of zooplankton observed. Correlation analysis of physico-chemical parameters and zooplanktons revealed some significant correlation between the parameters. There were two zooplankton species; Ergasilius sp and Rhynchotalona rostrata belonging to Copepoda and Cladocera respectively. No member of Rotifera taxa was recorded. Rhynchotalona rostrata was found to have a significantly positive correlation with calcium, while none of the parameters significant correlated with Ergasilius sp. The water quality of Oke River is in question, owing to the numerous Chironomids and insect larvae encountered during the work.
