CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Today, organic pollution of water resources has become a crucial concern. Increasing human population and activities imposes great burden on freshwater resources. Among fresh water resources, ponds are small but attributed with profuse aquatic flora development (Penny et al, 2003).

Flora are microscopic plants containing chlorophyll A, that float or swim on the upper surfaces of water or are suspended in the water column, where they are dependent on sunlight for photosynthesis (Penny et al, 2003). Carbon dioxide is the main source for providing carbon to flora that in turn serve as food for zooplankton and fish (Arya et al, 2011).

Phytoplankton, being primary producers, holds a significant place in aquatic food chain and all the life forms including zooplanktons are dependent on them (Pace et al, 2004).Flora retort rapidly to any alterations in nutrient changes in water bodies indicating the growing nutrient pollution. Effect of pollutants on aquatic life and a reduction in biotic diversity can be easily understood by analyzing phytoplankton.

Flora analysis gives an overall idea of the environmental condition of the water body both at the time of growing and sampling. Although flora is present in water bodies, their supply as food supplement can be increased through external supply from cultures or by development of prevailing algae through fertilization (Boyd, 2004).

On one hand where flora serves as food source, on the other hand some forms causes fish poisoning due to release of toxins during blooms (Boyd, 2004). Thus, these reasons make it very essential to estimate the levels of planktons in each pond samples which will in turn indicate its water quality.

Flora is also the indicators of water pollution. Several researchers informed on a number of algal species as water quality indicator (Naik et al., 2005; Nandan and Aher, 2005; Zargar and Ghosh, 2006). In a study on Kadra reserviour of Karnataka in 2006, Zargar and Ghosh reported on several algal forms belonging to Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, and Bacillariophyceae as water pollution indicators. Nandan and Aher (2005) concluded that the algal genera, Oscillatoria, Scenedesmus and Navicula are the species found in organically polluted waters.

These species were found in the samples of the present study also. However, the pond in the present study is characterized by abundance of chlorophyceae followed by Cyanophyceae, which indicates the absence of pollution, as supported by earlier workers (Verma and Mohanty, 1994; More and Nandan, 2000; Nandan and Aher, 2005; Tas and Gonulal, 2007).

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Most of the challenges with flora of selected water bodies could be that it creates situation which are ideal for mosquito growth, this could be because the mosquitoes are sheltered and protected from their predators by flora roots and leafy growth and are responsible for the spread of malaria, yellow fever, river blindness and encephalitis. Flora might also affect quality of water. Increase the organic matter content of water. It may even hinder water flow, Water clogging. Finally several researches has been carried out on the factors affecting fungi in water bodies but not even a single research has been carried out on the flora of selected water bodies in Maiduguri metropolitan.

1.3   AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The main aim of the study is to examine the flora of selected water bodies. Other specific objectives of the study include;

1. to determine the extent to which flora affects selected water bodies in Maiduguri metropolitan.
2. to determine the activities of flora in selected water bodies in Maiduguri metropolitan.
3. to determine the causative factors of flora in selected eater bodies in Maiduguri metropolitan.
4. to proffer possible solutions to the problems.
   1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1      What is the extent to which flora affects selected water bodies in Maiduguri metropolitan?

2      What are the activities of flora in selected water bodies in Maiduguri metropolitan?

3      What are the causative factors of flora in selected eater bodies in Maiduguri metropolitan?

4      What are the possible solutions to the problems?

1.5   STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Hypothesis 1

H0: the water bodies in Maiduguri metropolitan has poor quality attributes

H1: the water bodies in Maiduguri metropolitan has good quality attributes

Hypothesis 2                                                 

H0: there is no presence of clean algal and polluted algal species in water bodies in Maiduguri metropolitan

H1: there is presence of clean algal and polluted algal species in water bodies in Maiduguri metropolitan

1.6   SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

        The study on the flora of selected water bodies will be of immense benefit to the entire Maiduguri metropolitan in the sense that it will educate them on the uses of flora in water bodies, such as; it useful and necessary for the ecology of the pond. They form natural food for many species of fishes; they provide shade and shelter and oxygenate water. They reduce turbidity and provide spawning beds. Finally, the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and knowledge to this field of study and basis for further research.

1.7   SCOPE OF STUDY

        The study on the flora of selected water bodies is limited to Maiduguri metropolitan, botany.

1.8   LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9   DEFINITION OF TERMS

Flora        The plants of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.

Water Bodies  A body of water or water body is any significant accumulation of water, generally on a planet's surface. The term most often refers to oceans, seas, and lakes, but it includes smaller pools of water such as ponds, wetlands, or more rarely, puddles.