Ichthyo-Fauna Composition And Physico-Chemical Parameters Of Oramiri-Ukwa River, Imo State

ABSTRACT

An aspect of artisanal fisheries and physico-chemical parameters of Oramiri-Ukwa River were studied for 6 months from January to June 2008. Three sampling stations were established along the main channel of the a, River. Physico-chemical parameters determined were pH, Dissolved oxygen, Turbidity, Total alkalinity, Nitrate-nitrogen and Temperature. Samples for water quality were collected during the weekly visits and fish samples were collected to cover wet (i.e. April, May and June) and dry (i.e. Jan, Feb and March) season. The observed monthly variation indicated that wet season values were higher for all the parameters except pH with 7.3 in Station 1. The lchthyofauna community was composed of 30 species representing 16 families with Cichlidae having the highest number of 0 species. Nineteen (19) species were present in both part of wet and part of .1, dry season. Part of wet season recorded more species than part of dry e a season with 52.1% and 47.9% respectively.