DIVERSITY OF BENTHIC BIOTA OF SOME FRESHWATER HABITATS IN KABBA/BUNU LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KOGI STATE, NORTH-CENTRAL, NIGERIA.

The composition and diversity of different water bodies in Kaaba/Bunu Local Government, Kogi State were investigated for both micro and macrobiota. The study covered Oinyi, Odogo and Odonkolo Rivers. Salinity values ranged between 0.03‰ and 0.07‰ indicating the freshwater status of these water bodies, pH was between 6.50 and 7.61. Conductivity values were between 88.1µS/cm and 131.7µS/cm while dissolved oxygen highest value (5.12mg/L) was recorded at Odonkolo River. For the phytobenthos, eighty-five taxa recorded were distributed among five divisions, Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Charophyta, Euglenophyta and Cyanobacteria. Bacillariophyta (Diatoms) accounted for 78.28% of the identified species, followed by the Charophytes, (6.99%), Chlorophytes (5.61%), Euglenophytes (7.43%) and Cyanobacteria (1.69%). Macrobenthic invertebrates recorded three group; gastropoda (37.71%), insecta (28.57%) and oligochaeta (35.71%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]