Journal of Environmental Biology

Zooplankton diversity of Chikkadevarayana canal in relation

to physico-chemical characteristics

Smitha*, P. Shivashankar and G.V. Venkataramana

Department of Studies in Environmental Science, University of Mysore, Mysore-570 006, India

*Corresponding Author email : smitazoology@gmail.com

Publication Data

Paper received:

07 September 2011

Revised received:

15 March 2012

Accepted:

26 July 2012

Abstract

Plankton diversity and physico-chemical parameters are an important criterion for evaluating the suitability of water for irrigation and drinking purposes. In this study, we tried to assess zooplankton species richness, diversity and evenness to predict the state of Chickadevarayana canal water of Cauvery River according to physico-chemical parameters. A total of 51 taxa were recorded with 22 rotifers, 5 copepods, 6 cladocerans, 1 ostracoda and 17protozoans. More number of zooplankton species were recorded in Darasaguppe (30) followed by Edmuri (26), Kennala (20), Pandavpura (19) and Gendehosahalli (16). Among the rotifers, Euchlanis sp. species was abundant (194). Acantholeberis curvirostris was predominant among cladocerans (970). Among copepods, numerical superiorities were found in the case Cyclops sp. Cypris sp. was recorded in the ostracoda. Centropyxis aculeate repeated abundance in protozoans (412). The water samples analyzed for temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, alkalinity, hardness, dissolved oxygen, phosphate, sulphate and nitrate did not indicate variation. The occurrence of Asplanchna herricki, Lacrymaria sp, Brachionus pala and Monostyla lunaris showed highest similarity of occurrence reaching above 90%. The study revealed that the presence of certain species like Monostyla, Lepadella, Leydigia, Keratella, Branchionus and Cypris species can be considered as a biological indicator for eutrophication.

Key words

Zooplankton, Physico-chemical factors, Biological indicator, Centropyxis aculeate,???? ???????????Chikkadevarayana canal

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