Evaluation of the Distribution and Abundance of Ostracods in Jabi Lake, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the distribution and abundance of ostracods in Jabi Lake, Abuja, Nigeria, over a two-year period from January 2017 to December 2018. A total of 1734 individuals from 11 species across three families were encountered. The Cyprididae family dominated, with Ilyocytheridae being the least common. The species abundance demonstrated a Heterocypris salina > Heterocypris incongruens > Potamocypris villosa > Herpetocyris chevreuxi > Trajancypris sp. > Heterocypris intermedia > Candona neglecta > Candona candida > Ilyocypris bradyi > Koencypris ornate pattern.  The distribution of species richness and diversity was Station 5 > Station 2 > Station 1 > Station 4 ˃ Station 3, which might be attributed to varying levels of human intervention. The study found that eurytopic taxa were prevalent in the lake, indicating that they had a wide range of habitats; nevertheless, efforts must be taken to mitigate the impacts of anthropogenic perturbations in some of the tested stations in order to improve the community structure of ostracods at Jabi Lake.