Protozoan Diversity in a productive fishpond of a tropical plateau

Abstract

A survey of the Protozoan species diversity in a productive fishpond of the Jos Plateau, Nigeria was investigated at 7 day interval over a period of 11 months. Samples were collected from water column and sediment. Protozoans were found to compose of the flagellates sarcodines and cilliates. There was a significant variation (P < 0.05) between the sampling periods for the flagellates. In the water column, the flagellates ranged 38 - 1035 cells.l-1 in July (atmospheric temperature ranged from 22 - 240C and water temperature was 22 - 250C) while the sediment contained 5 - 860 cells.1-1 in August (atmospheric and water temperature coincided at a range of 22 - 260C). Sarcodina abundance showed significant variation (P < 0.05) between sampling period. The density ranged from 3 - 140 cells.l-1 in the water column of temperature range between 23 and 260C while atmospheric temperature was between 23 and 280C. In the sediment of the same sampling period (i.e. June - November) numbers ranged from 32 - 480 cells l-1. The cilliates showed no significant difference in abundance (P > 0.05) between the sampling period. The highest number ranged from 3 - 145 cells.l-1 in the sediment while the water column was 0 - 4 cells. l-1. The low numbers recorded for the sacodines and cilliates could have been due to predation by the planktivorous fish species in the pond. The study has revealed the dynamic nature of the pond ecosystem interacting to maintain an ecological balance through the contribution of the protozoans.


Key words: Protozoa diversity, homestead fishpond, Jos Plateau.


Journal of Aquatic Sciences Vol.17(2) 2002: 109-112