Water Physico-Chemical Parameters Inter-Relationship and Heterotrophic Fungal Count of Ureje Dam in Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Povzetek

The study of water quality and heterotrophic fungi count have great impact on the quality of aq`uaculture production. The interaction among water physico-chemical parameters of Ureje dam in Ekiti State and heterotrophic fungal count was studied fromJanuary to May, 2017 and five water samples were collected once every month at different depths using water sampling bottles. The dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH and water transparency were measured while the malt extract method was used for fungal count. The results show a mean of 22.68⁰C for temperature, 7.41 for pH, 4.1mg/l for dissolved oxygen, 162.97µ for conductivity and 1.35m for transparency at different depths and seasons.The highest temperature (25.2⁰c) was obtained in February, dissolved oxygen (6.28-6.50mg/l) was highest in January compared to other months while pH at 7.80-7.02 indicates that this water is very good for fish production. The mean pH for the wet season was 7.30 and 7.80 for the dry season. The conductivity was significantly different in all the depths and water samples collected at different days.  Thus,the physico-chemical parameters observed at Ureje Dam were within the range that can support aquatic life and that the dam will be able to support diverse number of organisms from planktons, benthos to fishes and macrophytes. The fungal count was 4.2 x 10² (cfu/ml)and the major species wereAspergillus fumigatus (strain B), Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium sp. The fungi count indicates that the water is contaminated with effluents from run-off, domestic and agricultural waste emptied into the dam via erosion.The data obtained should be used as baseline for decision making when Ureje dam is considered for human and animal use.