A survey of fish fauna distribution and abundance in Gwaigwaye Reservoir Katsina State, Nigeria

The study on a survey of fish fauna distributions and abundance in Gwaigwaye Reservoir, Katsina State was carried out from May 2013 to April 2014 to establish physical, chemical, and biological parameters (fish) of Gwaigwaye reservoir. Four sampling stations were selected. Some physico-chemical parameters were also determine to assess the level of pollution of the reservoir using standard methods and procedures which were correlated with the different fish species to determine fish abundance and distributions. Analysis of variance indicates no significant difference in fish fauna distribution and abundance among the four stations (P>0.05). The result indicated Fish fauna percentage composition were Tilapia zilli (17.32%), Clarias gariepinus (16.17%), Oreochromis niloticus (15.27%), Lates niloticus (13.80%), Bagrus. bayad (12.91%), Momyrus senegalensis (9.90%), Labeo senegalensis (7.41%) and Synodontis clarias (7.28%)

Phytoplankton population in relation to physicochemical parameters of Gwaigwaye Reservoir Katsina State, Nigeria

The study on phytoplankton population in relation to physicochemical parameters of Gwaigwaye reservoir, Katsina state was carried out from May 2013 to April 2014to establish physical, chemical, and biological parameters (Phytoplankton) of Gwaigwaye reservoir. Four sampling stations were chosen; the physicochemical andbiological parameters were determined using standard methods and procedures. The result revealed that; Water temperature (25.02 ± 0.170C), pH (7.54 ± 0.03), Alkalinity (3.69±0.09), Conductivity (129.43 ± 5.15μЅ/cm), Total Dissolved Solids (50.54 ± 0.57mg/L) Nitrate-nitrogen (0.21 ± 0.04mg/L), Water hardness (134.44 ± 3.06mg/LCaCO3), Dissolved Oxygen (3.98 ± 0.10mg/L), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (2.53 ± 0.08mg/L), Phosphate-phosphorus (0.19 ± 0.02mg/L), Chloride (5.09 ± 0.15mg/L), Sulphor-sulphate (0.21± 0.01) and Calcium (2.97±0.06mg/L) varied with months and seasons. Analysis of variance indicated significant difference between seasons (P < 0.05); but no significant difference in phytoplankton distribution and abundance among the four stations (P>0.05). The result indicated phytoplankton percentage composition as; Chlorophyta (57.66%), Bacillariophyta (25.70%), Cyanophyta (14.73%), and Dinophyta (1.91%). Water quality of the reservoir is influenced by anthropogenic activities, the reservoir water is suitable for irrigational and domestic purposes from the results of most of the physicochemical and biological parameters obtained. Hence, there is need for an effective anthropogenic inputs control programme in the reservoir.Keywords: Gwaigwaye; Physicochemical; Phytoplankton; Reservoi

Some preliminary phytochemical screening and assessment of four solvents extracts of button weed (Borreria verticillata)

Borreria vertcillata is a woody perennial shrub with false-button weedy herb belonging to the family (Rubiaceae), used for treating/curing various forms of diseases across the world since ancient times. Qualitative phytochemical screening of Borreria vertcillata pulverized whole plant was carried out using four different solvent extracts (N-hexane, chloroform, ethyl-acetate and methanol). The phytochemicals screeened contained alkaloids, triterpenes, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, saponnins, anthraquinones and steroids. The extracts were then screened for the presence of some phytochemicals such as alkaloids, anthraquinones, saponnins, steroids, terpenes, flavonoids, tannins and glycosides. All the extracts contained alkaloids, triterpenes and glycosides present but flavonoids, saponnins and tannins only present in ethyl acetate and methanol while anthraquinones and steroids were totally absent from the extracts .Of all the extracts Ethyl acetate extracts had the most influential effects on pathogenic organisms such as Culex quinquefasciatus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candidas albica