PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND FISH DIVERSITY OF DOMA RESERVOIR, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Nigeria lies between Longitudes 2⁰ 49‟ and 14⁰ 37‟E and Latitudes 4⁰ 16‟ and 13⁰52‟ N of Equator. It is blessed with vast expanse of inland fresh water and brackish ecosystems from the coastal region to the arid zone. Thirteen lakes and reservoirs with a total surface area of 953600 ha representing about 1% of the country have been reported (Olaosebikan and Raji, 1998). They are of significant importance because they hold populations of diverse fish species. Species that are of great commercial value and importance vary in their composition depending on the water body. These species of fish serve as a source of protein and food in the face of ever increasing population in the developing countries. In addition, the lake fisheries had serve as a source of livelihood to the riparian communities and biodiversity of tremendous conservation values.
There are about 268 different freshwater fish species in Nigeria. They inhabit over 34 well-known fresh water bodies (rivers, lakes and reservoirs) which constitute about 12% of Nigeria‟s total surface area put about 94,185,000 ha (Ita 1993). Fish stocks in rivers are generally replenished from their adjacent flood plains after each flood season during which fish breed. Therefore, any natural phenomenon as drought or artificial activities such as dam construction, which eventually affect the natural cycle of flooding, will certainly undermine fish species diversity both in lakes and wetlands. Considering this facts, therefore, that lakes, wetlands and reservoirs are supplied with by their inflowing rivers, the rivers will be characterized by higher species diversity (Ita, 1993).
Fish Production from inland water resources (rivers lakes and streams) is under threat from pollution, habitat alteration and degradation, changes in river flows and over exploitation. According to Wotton (1990), material pollution of rivers is caused by toxic pollutants (heavy metals, phenols, insecticides etc) that have direct adverse effect on aquatic biota and by pollutants that indirectly affects aquatic biota like human and animal wastes which are non-toxic but due to bacterial action on them, dissolved oxygen is used up which harms aquatic biota.
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PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND FISH DIVERSITY OF DOMA RESERVOIR, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA
