Current World Environment

Introduction

Wetlands are the most productive ecosystem of the world comparable to coral reefs and rainforests.¹ However, human activities like leaching of noxious liquids from solid waste deposits or untreated waste discharge reach a climax which has undesirable effects on aquatic environment.² In addition, aquatic ecosystems are severely affected by anthropogenic activities. The use of various ecological methods is important to know the health status of an aquatic ecosystem. Further, the water quality influences the species composition, abundance, productivity and physiological conditions of the aquatic community and water quality is indicated by the structure and composition of these aquatic communities.³ Zooplankton are the microscopic organisms found in aquatic ecosystems. They are important link in transformation of energy from producers to consumers due to their large density, drifting nature, high species diversity and different tolerance to the stress and formulate the base of food chains and food webs of all aquatic ecosystems. They act as important bio-indicators and eutrophication level of aquatic bodies is characterized by the presence and relative abundance of various zooplankton species.^4,5 They also play a major role in recycling nutrients as well as cycling energy in their respective environments.⁶ The zooplankton in Indian water bodies consists of diverse assemblage of major taxonomic groups. Many of these forms have different environmental and physiological assemblage. The number, type and distribution of these organisms present in any aquatic habitat provide a clue on the environmental condition prevailing in that particular habitat. It is seen that many environmental factors interact to provide conditions for the growth of zooplankton both spatially and seasonally.⁷ A number of studies have been conducted on freshwater zooplankton in various part of India.^8-10 But the ecological studies related to fresh water bodies and the zooplankton diversity were very scanty in Fatehabad district (Haryana, India), the present research, an attempt has been made to study the diversity of zooplankton and to compare the biotic component in the selected water bodies.

Materials and Methods

Study Area

Three wetland bodies, namely, Chilli lake (CL), Bhodia Khera Temple Pond (BP) and Daulatpuria Pond (DP) of district Fatehabad, Haryana (India) were selected for the present study (Plate 1).

Chilli Lake (Urban Lake)

It is situated on the outskirts of city Fatehabad (Haryana, India), along the 500 year old historical fort of Mogul emperor Firoz Shah at geographical coordinates of29ÌŠ.51’N to 75ÌŠ.45’E. Besides the fort, a 250 year old temple of Lord Krishana, a gurdwara and a marhi of goddess are also situated around the lake. Chilli was once a place for recreation and amusement but due to dumping of garbage in the lake its very existence is in peril now. The sewage water of most parts of the town is being allowed to put in this lake

Bhodia Khera Temple Pond (Rural Religious Pond)

It issituated in the village Bhodia Khera at geographical coordinates of 29ÌŠ.49 to 75ÌŠ.42’E. On one side of the pond, there is an ancient temple at which each year thousands of devotees comes to attend the religious ceremony and fare. Effluents from the temple are poured directly into the pond. Villagers also wash clothes at the pond which further causes water pollution due to detergents. The pond is also leased out for fish culture.

Daulatpuria Pond (Rural Pond)

It is present at the border of village Daulatpuria at geographical coordinates of 29ÌŠ.55’N to75ÌŠ.40’E. The pond is affected by anthropogenic activities as domestic animals visit the pond in morning as well as evening for drinking water. Also, the pond is leased out for fish culture.

Methods Used

Plankton samples were collected by filtering 50L water through a plankton net of mesh 50µm. Qualitative and quantitative analyses was carried out following standard methods.¹¹ Evenness and diversity indices were also calculated using standard methodologies.^12-14 Zooplankton were identified up to generic level using standard Keys and monographs.^11,15-17

Plate 1: Photographs of study sites: Chilli Lake (a, b), Daulatpuria Pond (c, d) and  Bhodia Khera Temple Pond (e, f) Click here to View Plate

Results and Discussion

A total of 32 zooplankton taxa were recorded from three study sites (Table 1) of which Rotifera was represented by 13 species followed by Cladocera with 11 species, Copepoda with 6 species, Ostracoda and Insecta with 1 species each (Plate 2 and 3). Per cent contribution of different groups of zooplankton is shown in Fig. 2. In CL, 26 taxa of zooplankton were recorded which included 11 taxa of Cladocera (42.31%), 7 taxa of Rotifera (29.92%), 6 taxa of Copepoda (27.08), 1 taxa of Ostracoda and Insecta (3.87%) each. Species richness in different months ranged from 8-25; being maximum in april and minimum in January (Fig. 1). Species diversity in different months ranged from 1.69-2.76 and Simpson’s diversity index ranged from 0.08-0.26; being maximum in January and minimum in March. Equitability index ranged from 0.86-0.95 (Fig. 3). During the study period, 20 taxa of zooplankton were reported from BP which included 7 taxa from Cladocera and Rotifera (35%) each, 4 taxa of Copepoda (20%) and 1 taxa each from Ostracoda and Insecta (5%). Species richness in various months ranged from 6-20. being maximum in April and minimum in October. Species diversity index ranged from 1.64-2.73, whereas, Simpson’s diversity index ranged from 0.08-0.22. Equitability index ranged from 0.86-0.95 (Fig. 4). At DP, 18 taxa of zooplankton were recorded including 7 taxa of Rotifera (38.89%), 6 taxa of Cladocera (33.33%), 3 taxa of Copepoda (16.67) and like CL and BP, ostracoda and Insecta (5.56%) were represented by 1 taxa each. Species richness in different months ranged from 5-18; being maximum in August and minimum in January. Shannon’s diversity index was found to be maximum in August and minimum in January. Simpson’s diversity index ranged from 0.09-0.23; being maximum in January and minimum in August. Equitability index ranged from 0.87-0.96; being minimum in July and Maximum in February. At CL zooplankton were dominated by Mesocyclops sp., Phyllodiaptomus sp., Nauplius, Brachionus falcatus, B. caudatus B. quadridentatus and Diaphanosoma sp. At BP, Phyllodiaptomus sp., Diaphanosoma sp. and B. calyciflorus were found to be dominant, whereas, at DP, Phyllodiaptomus sp. and B. falcatus were dominant.

Cladocera are designated as bio-indicatorsand represent the eutrophic status of water body due to pollution.^18,19 Presence of large number of Cladocerans in the present study supports the view. In the present study, chironomous larvae is present at all the study sites which indicates the degraded water quality as the larvae are pollution tolerant and can occur in low oxgen conditions.²⁰ Occurrence of Brachionusquadridentatus, Keratella sp., Ceriodaphnia, Miona sp., Mesocyclops sp., Monostyla sp.andDiaphanosoma sp. shows the eutrophic nature of water body.^21-25 The present study also supports the views and these pollution tolerant species of zooplankton were found to be present at the study sites which indicate the eutrophic nature of the water bodies.

Plate 2: Zooplankton of class Cladocera and Rotifera  Click here to View Plate

Plate 3: Zooplankton of class Rotifera Click here to View Plate

Table 1: Zooplankton recorded at the study sites- CL, BP and DP during the study period

Figure 1,2,3,4,5 Click here to View figure

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