Journal of Environmental Biology

Phytoplankton as index of water quality with reference to industrial pollution

T.R. Shashi Shekhar1, B.R.Kiran2, E.T. Puttaiah*2, Y. Shivaraj3 and K.M. Mahadevan3

1Department of  Chemistry, East West Institute of Technology, Bangalore - 560 091, India

2Department of Environmental Science, Kuvempu University, Shankarghatta- 577 451, India

3Department of Industrial Chemistry, Kuvempu University, Shankarghatta-577 451, India

(Received: February 25, 2006 ; Revised received: November 05, 2006 ; Accepted: December 31, 2006)

Abstract: In this paper Shannon-Weaver (SI-3.58-4.07, SII-3.1-3.72, SIII-1.64-2.25, SIV-2.54-2.95 and SV-3.09-3.23) diversity index was applied to surface phytoplankton to study the water quality status of river Bhadra receiving Mysore paper mill and Iron and steel mill effluent. A total of 45 species of phytoplankton belonging to 5 classes were recorded and study indicated that the phytoplankton diversity (Chlorophyceae-19 species, Bacillariophyceae-16 species, Cyanophyceae-07 species, Euglenophyceae-2 species and Chrysophyceae-1 species) did not reveal the same type of water quality (water temperature 24.62-27.32oC, pH-7.08-7.25, electrical conductivity-67.49-201.94 mmhos/cm, dissolved oxygen-4.13-5.98 mgl-1, chloride-12.30-40.85 mgl-1, calcium-6.49-23.74 mgl-1, total  hardness 28.98-76.65 mgl-1, magnesium-4.69-15.92 mgl-1, total alkalinity-77.26-86.53 mgl-1, BOD-1.88-4.01 mgl-1, COD - 16.53-45 mgl-1, phosphate-0.001-0.53 mgl-1, sodium-2.70-7.46 mgl-1 and potassium-2.37-7.88 mgl-1). The investigation emphasized the need of phytoplankton community as index of water quality polluted by industrial effluents at the downstream stretch of the Bhadra river.

Key words: Bhadra river, Shannon- weaver index, Phytoplankton, Industrial pollution

PDF of full length paper is available with author (profetputtaiah@rediffmail.com)

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