Biodiversity and abundance of fish and macrobenthic invertebrates of Nguru Lake, northeastern, Nigeria

Abstract

A study of the occurrence and distribution offish and macrobenthic  invertebrates of Nguru Lake was conducted between May, 2006 and April, 2007. Thirteen families of fish consisting of 24 species where discovered. The fishes were dominate.d by the family Cichlidae (64.44%). An average of 540. 1 7kg of fish was caught daily from the Lake, with 42 fishermen operating. The macrobenthic invertebrate fauna of the Lake showed relatively low taxa. There is no significant variation (P>O.05) in the seasonal distribution of both fish and macrobenthic invertebrates in the Lake. The Lake is adjudged to be highly productive with clean water.

Key Words: Biodiversity, Macrobenthos, Nguru Lake.