Abstract

The ecological survey of the Plankton Community of Gbadikere Lake in Bassa Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria was undertaken over a period of eighteen months; from April 2017 – March, 2018. Water samples were collected from Gbadikere Lake for a period of 18 months and examined for physical and chemical parameters using known standard procedures. Analysis of variance was used to compare means while Duncan multiple range test was used to separate means were significant difference was observed. The seasonal physico-chemical parameters indicated that the lake water samples had the following characteristics: Mean Temperature = 26.390.26oC for wet season (May – October), and 24.37 0.66oC for dry season (November – April). Mean Dissolved oxygen = 6.000.36 mgL-1 for wet season, and 5.580.12 mgL-1 for dry season. Mean pH = 6.72 0.07 for wet season and 6.480.04 for dry season. Mean Phosphate = 0.22 0.04 mgL-1 (wet season) and 0.220.05 mgL-1 (dry season). Mean Calcium hardness = 0.270.06 mgL-1 (wet season) and 0.220.02 mgL-1 (dry season). Mean iron = 1.660.21 mgL-1 (wet season) and 1.310.05 mgL-1 (dry season). Mean Nitrate = 17.42 0.30 mgL-1 (wet season) and 18.040.21 mgL-1 (dry season). Mean Chlorine = 0.130.01 mgL-1 (wet season) and 0.150.02 mgL-1 (dry season). Mean alkalinity = 15.910.30 mgL-1 (wet season) and 17.130.36 mgL-1 (dry season). Mean Total Dissolved Solutes (TDS) = 97.440.64 mgL-1 (wet season) and 95.22 0.60 mgL-1 (dry season). Mean Electrical Conductivity (EC) = 0.12 0.01 scm-1 (wet season) and 0.130.01 scm-1 (dry season) and Mean Transparency = 22.224.38 cm (wet season), and 37.213.39 cm (dry season). The physico-chemical parameters of Gbadikere Lake revealed that the Lake is gradual undergoing deterioration due to anthropogenic activities polluting the water.