Seasonal Variation In Physico-Chemical Parameters And Plankton Characteristics Of Omeremaduche River In Abia State, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

Water is abundant in streams, lakes, rivers seas and oceans either as fresh, marine or brackish waters. These water bodies are natural habitats for great diversity of fish species, planktons, different classes and species of microorganisms which cooperate with one another and also with their immediate environment for a balanced energy exchange (Anene, 2003). Planktons are microscopic plants or animals whose motions are controlled by water current. Phytoplankton comprises photosynthetic prokaryotes, which are main factors that enhances productivity in aquatic ecosystems These organisms are crucial to life in the aquatic environment because they are the bedrock in aquatic food chain. The quantitative and qualitative abundance of the phytoplankton and zooplankton were significantly correlated by existing water conditions (Partensky et al..1999, Anene, 2003) Planktons are sensitive to temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, rainfall and other factors. Change in these environmental conditions could be amplified by activities like deforestation, thermal discharges from industrial plants, which in turn affects spawning grounds, physiological processes of aquatic organisms and the disruption of important biological communities (Ajao, 1991).