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Abstract
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Article Information:
The Zooplankton Species Composition and Abundance in Sombreiro River, Niger Delta, Nigeria
E.N. Ezekiel, E.N. Ogamba and J.F.N. Abowei
Corresponding Author: Abowei Jasper
Submitted: 2011 February, 15
Accepted: 2011 March, 12
Published: 2011 May, 25 |
Abstract:
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The zooplankton species composition and abundance in Sombreiro River, in the Niger Delta of
Nigeria was studied for a period of two years (August, 2007-July, 2009), using filtration technique. 25 μm mesh
size plankton net was towed from a dugout boat at about 5-105–1 for about a minute. The net content was
washed out into a wide mouth plastic container and preserved in 10% formalin solution after proper labeling.
A total of seventeen (17) species belonging to six (6) taxonomic groups were recorded from Sombreiro River.
The groups Cladocera and Copepoda were represented by five species each consisting of 29.4% by
composition. This was followed by three species of Protozoa (17.6%), two species of Rotifera (11.8%),
Decapod crustacean (5.9%) and Euphasiacea (5.9%), one specie each. Copepoda was the highest, 46.5%. This
was followed by Cladocera (23.3%). The others were Protozoa (11.2%), Euphasiacea (9.6%), Rotifera (7.9%)
and Decapod Crustacean (1.5%). The low zooplankton diversity observed in this study is common in tropical
waters. The dominance of cladocera and copepoda in the study area is common to River Nun, in the Niger Delta
and Schelde estuary in Belgium. Sombreiro River zooplankton abundance is higher than that of River Nun but
lower than that of Imo River in the Niger Delta. These differences are attributed to duration of sampling and
natural conditions of the water bodies. The zooplankton abundance was well distributed in the stations except
Mysis sp. (Decapod Crustacean) which showed spatial discontinuity in abundance.
Key words: Abundance, composition, Niger Delta, Nigeria, Sombreiro River, Zooplankton species,
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Cite this Reference:
E.N. Ezekiel, E.N. Ogamba and J.F.N. Abowei, . The Zooplankton Species Composition and Abundance in Sombreiro River, Niger Delta, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, (3): 200-204.
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ISSN (Online): 2041-3890
ISSN (Print): 2041-3882 |
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