Proximate Composition and Nutrient Elements in the “Unusual” Algal “Jellies” of Lake Oguta in Southern Nigeria

✍ Scribed by Dr. Chukwuemekanim Nwadiaro; Peter Idabor

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1990
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 603 KB
• Volume: 75
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1434-2944
• DOI: 10.1002/iroh.19900750310

✦ Synopsis

The proximate composition, nutrient and trace elements of the planktonic algal "jellies" of Lake Oguta in Southern Nigeria, are provided as guides to their utilization and control, using flood (rainy) and dry season samples. These "jellies" are an unusual, macroscopic planktonic algal community in the lake, made up mostly of blue-green algae (Miorocystis, Anabaena, Chroococcus) with some green algae (e. g. Spirogyra) and pennate diatoms (e.g. Navicula) rather epiphytic on the mucous jellies of the blue-green algae. Water content was high (98.2% mean, range 97.5-99.5%). Ash, protein and fat had values of 41.7 (39.0-46.2%), 16.9 (15.6-19.4y0), and 2.0 (1.7-2.1y0) respectively. Crude fibre and carbohydrates were high (25.8% and 12.4%). The levels of phosphorus and nitrogen were rather high, so were the major cations whose order of dominance (Ca > K =-Mg =-Na) differed from that of the lake water. Macronutrients increased in their concentrations during the rainy flood season while the reverse was the case with the micronutrients. Diagenesis of the endogenic minerals rather than anthropogenic factors are thought to be the reason for the seasonal changes in the ionic concentrations. Possible uses of the algal jellies are discussed as well as their control options.