WATER QUALITY AND FISH COMMUNITY OF THE IKPOBA RIVER, BENIN CITY

ABSTRACT

A study on water quality and its influence of fish Communities was carried out at different locations of the Ikpoba River of Edo State Nigeria during the months of April, June, July and August. A total of 49 individuals were freshly caught and collected by local fishermen, the sampled fishes constituted of 15 species and 7 families. Four stations were chosen for sample collection. Among the water quality variables obtained after sampling , conductivity, hydrogen ion concentration (pH), turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), and phosphates were significantly different (P<0.01-0.05) among the station. Stations 1, 2, and 3 were relatively standard and could support fish life, station 4 however was highly impacted and was the cause for every statistical difference for this reason could not support fish communities. Every sampled family Ictaluridae, Cyprinidae, Cichilidae, Clariidae, Notopteridae, Siluridae, and Mochokidae were completely missing at station 4. From the result of the physicochemical analysis that shows how pollution impacted station four is and the absence of fish life in station 4 we can conclude that the water quality of a water body alters the distribution and abundance of local fish communities, these important insights can contribute to the effective management and conservation of the Ikpoba River aquatic ecosystem.