Fauna and Flora Composition and Water Quality of A Reservoir in Ilorin, Nigeria

The post-impoundment studies of the fauna and flora composition and water quality of a reservoir newly constructed at the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria were undertaken from July 2007 to August 2009.Plankton, nekton, benthos and the fishes in the reservoir were collected using plankton net, eckman grab, traps, gill and cast nets of various sizes respectively. Temperature, transparency, pH, dissolved O2, NO 3-N, PO4 ^3--P, total dissolved solids and conductivity of the reservoir were studied.The specimens were identified and the order of relative abundance were classified. Among the phytoplankton, the order of dominance in the reservoir was Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae and Desmidiaceae. Among the zooplankton the crustaceans were the dominant species. The benthic organisms were dominated by Chironomid larvae. Thirteen fishes from eight families were identified.Tilapia zillii was the most abundant among the Cichlids while Micralestes acutidens dominated the Characidae. Five families among the fish species represented by Heterotis niloticus, Clarias gariepinus, Gnathonemus cyprinoides, Mormyrus rume, Auchenoglanis occidentalis and Synodontis gambiensis were sparsely populated species in the reservoir. Stocking may improve the population. The temperature, transparency, pH, dissolved O2, NO 3-N, PO4 ^3- -P, total dissolved solids and conductivity values obtained indicated that the reservoir was productive.