Fish Species Distribution and Water Quality Parameters of Kwadon Stream, Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area Gombe State, Nigeria

Fishery resources are decreasing in Nigeria due to over exploitation and inadequate management of inland waters. For sustainability of these resources, an adequate knowledge of species distribution, diversity and relative abundance of water bodies must be understood and vigorously pursued. The study was carried out for the period of six months, from July to December, 2016, to determine the distribution of fish species in the stream, to assess the level of physicochemical parameters of the stream and its effects. Seventeen (17) fish species were identified from eleven (11) families. The families Cichilidae 17.6% recorded the highest number and Schilbadae 5.9% had the lowest family, while species Tilapia galilaea 13.1% recorded the highest number and Malepterurus electricus(1.7% )had the lowest number. The Physico-chemical parameters measured include; temperature, transparency, pH, dissolved oxygen, free carbon dioxide, conductivity, alkalinity, ammonia, phosphorus and nitrogen. The temperature ranged from 18.11 oC to 24.52 oC, transparency depth from 11.77cm to 13.77cm, pH from 6.15 to 7.04, Dissolved Oxygen from 3.91 mg/L to 4.95mg/l, free carbon dioxide from 1.62 mg/L to 2.48mg/L, Conductivity between 90.35Us/cm to 96.48 Us/cm, Alkalinity from 16.25 mg/L to 21.33 mg/L, Ammonia from 0.41 mg/L to 0.78mg/l, Phosphorus between 2.10 mg/L to 4.07 mg/L, Nitrogen between 1.58 mg/L to 0.04 mg/L respectively. Therefore continuous Limnology should be carried out on the stream and all surrounding water bodies to monitor the level of illegal human activities which contribute to water pollution and affect fish species distribution and growth with other aquatics lives.