Assessment And Utilization Of Aquatic Macrophytes In Some Local Government Areas In Abia State, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

This study was focused on the collection, identification, enumeration and uses of the aquatic macrophytes. Reconnaissance survey, enumeration of aquatic macrophyte samples at the three sites (Urudu stream in Item, Ihie stream in Olokoro and Ohiye stream in Umudike were carried out. The samples collccic were sorted and identified in Film Ilerbaririm. MOUA, Umudike arid were dried for the purpose of preservation using plant press. A total of 70 species, classified into 35 families were collected in all the three sites. Asteraceae aiid Commelinaceae were the most dominant families consisting of 6 and 5 species, respectively but with Chroinolaena odorata in the family Asteraceae having the highest occurrence (20.667) amongst all the species collected. The utilization of these aquatic macrophytes were also quoted. There was no statistical difference amongst the three sites studied but there was a clear difference between sites B and C (Olokoro and Umudike) having the means 3.4118 and 6.1719 respectively (p