Assessment of Zooplankton Diversity in Relation to Physico-Chemical Parameters of Water in Selected Waterbodies of Durgapur Industrial Region, West Bengal, India

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Roychoudhury, S. | Palit, D. | Banerjee, A.

Affiliations: PG Dept. of Conservation Biology, Durgapur Govt. College, Durgapur – 713214 The University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India

Note: [] Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Plankton diversity and physico-chemical parameters are important criteria for evaluating the suitability of water for irrigation and drinking purposes. In this study, we tried to assess the zooplankton species richness, diversity, and evenness and to predict the state of three selected studied sites of Durgapur industrial town according to physico-chemical parameters. Cyclopoid Copepods, Calonoid Copepods, Cladocera and Rotifers were found among the three studied sites. Copepods were found to be dominant for all the studied sites during the monsoon period. Higher species richness and abundance were recorded in Padmapukur followed by domestic sewage canal and agricultural run-off pond. The water samples were analyzed for temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, alkalinity, nitrate, phosphate, hardness, dissolved oxygen, TDS, chloride, GPP, CR and NPP. High values of parameters are recorded in summer period and low values are recorded in winter period. The zooplankton population shows positive significant correlation with physico-chemical parameters like humidity and total dissolved solid. From the overall study it can be concluded that Padmapukur wetland is highly productive in terms of zooplankton distribution and abundance and therefore needs prior conservation for its suitable use for drinking and irrigation purpose.

Keywords: Zooplankton diversity, physicochemical parameters, Shannon's index, species richness

Journal: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 99-115, 2013