Abstract

PHYTOPLANKTON DIVERSITY OF PARDESWADI LAKE WALUJ M. I. D. C. AURANGABAD (M. S.) INDIA

V. T. Kamble* and C. A. Jawale

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out during Feb. 2014 - 2015, for the period of 24 month to observed the percentage of phytoplankton in Pardeswadi lake, Waluj MIDC, Aurangabad(MS) India. Phytoplankton is the pioneer of an aquatic food chain. The phytoplankton has great significance in the ecology as they provide the food for the organisms, especially for zooplankton. The phytoplankton samplings on monthly basis were carried out. Standard keys and other literature were used for identification of different species. Four major groups of phytoplankton (Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Cynophyceae and Euglenophyceae.) were studied for diversity and seasonal abundance. Among the groups of phytoplanktons, the population density showed variations due to their adaptability to seasonal changes in water quality. Some plankton population disappeared at a specified period and reappeared during other period. This disappearance maybe due to the fact that some species occur in spores. Under favorable conditions spore germinate and appear as plankton. The percentage of Cyanophyceae is 54%, Chlorophyceae is 16.9%, while Bacillariophyceae is 24%, and Euglenophyceae is 10%, of pardeswadi Lake in the year 2014-15.Where as Cyanophyceae is 50.2%,Chlorophyceae is 19.50%,while Bacillariophyceae is 23.5%,and Euglenophyceae is 9.9%.in the year 2015-16. This study indicates Cyanophyceae was the most dominating group in the present lake. The diversity indices of the phytoplankton were found using “PAST” software.

Keywords: Phytoplankton diversity; Diversity indices; Pardeswadi lake.