Plankton dynamics of Kumaon lakes
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Date
2021-12
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
Assessment of Phytoplankton and Zooplankton of four lakes namely Nainital, Bhimtal, Naukuchiatal and Sattal was made from November 2020 to April 2021 in the present investigation to evaluate plankton diversity of the lakes. Three sites viz., S1, S2 and S3 were selected in each lakes on the basis of human interference and fortnightly sampling was done. The important physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, transparency, TDS, electrical conductivity, pH, DO, alkalinity, hardness, nitrate and phosphate of the lakes varied from each other. The phytoplankton mainly consists of Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Cynophyceae, Euglenophyceae and Dinophyceae whereas zooplankton mainly consists of Rotifera, Copepoda, Cladocera and Ostracoda. A total of 46 species of phytoplankton were recorded in lake Nainital, Bhimtal, Naukuchiatal which comprises of members of Bacillariophyceae (21 species), Chlorophyceae (17 species), Cyanophyceae (5 species) Euglenophyceae (2 species) and Dinophyceae (1 species). In sattal lake, a total of 44 species of phytoplankton were recorded which comprises of members of Bacillariophyceae (21 species), Chlorophyceae (17 species), Cyanophyceae (5 species) and Dinophyceae (1 species). Euglenophyceae was not found in lake Sattal during the study period. 25 genera of
zooplankton were recorded in the selected lakes, out of which 10 genera belong to Rotifera, 7 genera to Copepoda, 6 genera to Cladocera and 2 genera to Ostracoda. The average density of phytoplankton and zooplankton at Nainital lake was 60750±10471 cells L-1 and 4215±505 ind. L-1 respectively. Phytoplankton and zooplankton population 64583±8712 cells L-1 and 4439±623 ind. L-1 respectively at Bhimtal lake. The average density of phytoplankton and zooplankton at Naukuchiatal lake was 68722±5688 cells L-1 and 4404±137 ind. L-1 respectively, in Sattal lake it was 65833±9976 cells L-1 and 4529±308 ind. L-1 respectively. The study concludes that Naukuchiatal lake is more diverse than the other lakes in terms of planktonic diversity due to less pollution and better hydrological regime and constant aeration. Also, the limnological parameters of all the selected lakes revealed that the environmental conditions are good from fisheries point of view.