Abstract:
Due to environmental and health challenges associated with water bodies which include lakes, the ecological and microbial factors need to be given prior attention. The ecological factors have the potential to influence bacterial population associated with water bodies. However, the effect of ecological factors on soil sediment bacterial population have not been investigated in Magada lake which passed through Mountain Top University. Soil sediment samples were collected at different time points of 12am, 6am, 12pm and 6pm to determine the physico-chemical parameters and bacterial population using standard methods. In addition, in-situ physico-chemical parameters such as air temperature, water temperature, salinity, conductivity, depth, dissolved oxygen and turbidity were determined at the point of collection. Remarkably, only pH was significantly different (p<0.05) in comparison to the others. It was observed at 6am partly 12pm that the bacterial population, phosphate/sulphate/nitrate/magnesium and calcium were on the high side. Similarly, the heavy metal content indicates that cadmium/iron/lead/chromium were on the high side at – and -. in addition, water hardness, alkalinity, biochemical oxygen demand, total dissolved solids were outstanding in their values at 6am and 12am in comparism to the control at different time points. Thus, in time-dependent ecological factors is more pronounced on bacterial population at 6am and 12pm. In conclusion, further studies are expected to ascertain other factors (e.g. anthropogenic activities) that may be contributing to ecol bacterial population of Magada lake at.
