Journal of Environmental Biology

Study of bio-physico-chemical parameters of Mothronwala swamp, Dehradun (Uttarakhand)

Nutan Gupta*¹, Ramesh C. Sharma² and A.K. Tripathi¹

¹Ecology and Environment Division, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun - 248 006, India

²Department of Environmental Science, H.N.B Garhwal University, P.Box-67, Srinagar Garhwal - 246 174, India

(Received: October 08, 2006; Revised received: July 07, 2007; Accepted: August 06, 2007)

Abstract: Aquatic biodiversity is one of the most essential characteristics of the aquatic ecosystem for maintaining its stability and a means of coping with any environmental change. The entire stretch of the Mothronwala swamp has rich riparian vegetation for providing conducive environment for the growth of aquatic organisms. The present work has been undertaken to study the bio-physico-chemical characteristics of the swamp. The data on physico-chemical environmental variables (temperature, total dissolved solutes, size and composition of substratum, pH, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, chlorides, and hardness) have been given under the present contribution.  A total of 16 genera of aquatic insects belonging to orders Trichoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Ephemeroptera, Odonata and Phylum Mollusca represented the macroinvertebrates of Mothronwala swamp. The fresh water swamp of Mothronwala is under threat due to human interference and other anthropogenic activities. Some of the natural and anthropogenic environmental problems of the Mothronwala swamp have been identified and the ameliorative measures for the protection of aquatic environment and the conservation measures for the swamp have been suggested. The qualitative study revealed the present status of the aquatic biodiversity of the swamp and also about the physico-chemical parameters, which would be very helpful for policy makers to take precautionary measures to save the swamp.

Key words:   Aquatic biodiversity, Wetlands, Bio-physico-chemical characteristics, Swamp

PDF of full length paper is available with author (nutangupta100@rediffmail.com)

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