The Distribution and Abundance of Macroinvertebrates in Wawan-Rafi Lake, Kazaure, Jigawa State

1,2Mujitaba Lawal Bala, 1,3Ali Hassan and 1Muhammad Mustapha Abubakar

1Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria
2Department of Nature Conservation, Ministry of Environment, Jigawa State, Nigeria
3Department of Science Education, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria

*Corresponding author’s Email: aleeuhassan@gmail.com, doi.org/10.55639/607.555453


ABSTRACT

Monitoring the changes in water quality of streams and lakes can be performed through studies of macroinvertebrates living therein. Wawan-Rafi Lake Kazaure was studied from the month of May to December 2019 with the view to assessing the Macroinvertebrates composition, distribution and abundance. Five sampling sites were choosen based on anthropogenic activities and vegetational patterns around the lake. Samples collected were analyzed using standard methods and organisms collected were identified to the lowest taxa level using standard keys and American Public Health Association (APHA). A total of 1448 macroinvertebrates belonging to 11 taxa and 24 different species were collected from the five (5) different stations. The overall microinvertebrates recorded in this study comprised of Nematoda (0.97 %), Annelida (1.24 %), Mollusca (72.23 %), Arachnida (3.52 %), the Arthropoda of the groups; Diptera (5.38 %), Plecoptera (1.11 %), Coleoptera (2.56 %), Lepidoptera (1.24 %), Hemiptera (8.29 %), Trichoptera (0.83 %), and Odonata (2.63 %). Low number of macro-invertebrates was observed among which are pollution tolerant species like the Chironomids sp., Melanoides sp. and Tubifex sp.. This is an indication that the lake is under stress and is relatively polluted with organic pollutants.

Keywords:

Macro-invertebrates,
Wawan-Rafi Lake,
Distribution,
Abundance