Floristic Composition of Soft-Bodied Algae of Pandam Lake (Pandam Wildlife Park, Nigeria)

Abstract

A first investigation of the composition of soft-bodied algae of Pandam Lake in Pandam Wildlife Park was carried out in February 2014. Phytoplankton and epiphytic samples were collected from eight different sites in order to describe the floristic composition of the lake. On the whole, a total of 117 taxa belonging to 45 genera were recorded. Of this total, Chlorophyta had 91 taxa (33 genera), Cyanophyta had 13 (8 genera) while Euglenophyta had 13 taxa (4 genera). Genera represented with the highest number of taxa include: Cosmarium (17), Scenedesmus (8), Micrasterias (7), Staurastrum (6), Closterium (5) and Euastrum (5), While 24 genera had one taxon each. Frequency of occurrence of species ranged from 6.50 to 87.50%. Five of most frequent species include; Oedogonium sp 1 (87.50%), Microcystis Sp 1 (75%), Oedogonium Sp 2 (50%), Paimella miniata (50%) and Spirogyra Sp 2 (50%). This report is the first for the lake and so a useful checklist of soft algae in the park that will serve as reference point. Microphotographs some of the taxa are presented