AQUATIC INSECTS DIVERSITY AROUND SOLID WASTE DUMPSITES ALONG RIVER NGADDA BANK, MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA

Aquatic insects are good bioindicators of heath status of water bodies. This study was conducted to evaluate water quality and diversity of insects along the banks of River Ngadda, Maiduguri, Nigeria.Distribution and diversity of aquatic insectswas sampled and evaluated in relation to solid waste disposal sites. Aquatic insects were sampled from three (3) stations (Custom bridge, Lagos Streetbridge and Gwange bridge) using a telescopic net (2mm mesh size). The water quality parameters (pH, temperature, DO, BOD, turbidity, TDS) of each station was also determined. A total of 3,111 aquatic insects of different taxa were collected and identified, the orderHemiptera have the highest distribution (6 genus),while the order Ephemeropterawasthe lowest (1 genus). The water quality analysis indicated that station I (Custom bridge) had the bestquality compared to the other stations. The results indicatea significant influence of water quality on the distribution, abundance and diversity of aquatic insectsalong the bank of River Ngadda.

Keywords: Aquatic Insects; Dumpsite; Invertebrates; River Ngadda; Solid Waste