A Study on Seasonal Variation in Zooplankton Abundance in Kadasgatti Minor Irrigation Tank of Bailhongal Taluk, Belagavi District, Karnataka State, INDIA.

Harsha D Neelgund,Girish G Kadadevaru

doi:10.17485/ijst/v14i27.323

Abstract

Objectives: A study on seasonal variation in zooplankton community was undertaken to evaluate the present status of water quality at Kadasgatti minor irrigation tank (MIT) located in the northern transitional zone of Belagavi district. Methods and Statistical Analysis: Water samples were collected from January 2017 to December 2017. Physico-chemical parameters and qualitative and quantitative analysis of zooplankton were carried out. Pearson correlation was calculated using SPSS, IBM Version 21 software to find out interrelationships between water quality and zooplankton groups. Findings: A total of 52 species of zooplanktons were recorded during the study period with a total zooplankton abundance of 14327 individuals with a relative abundance of 35.42%. Rotifera was the dominant group with 27 species, followed by Cladocera, Copepoda and Ostracoda. The highest zooplankton abundance was observed in summer while minimum in post-monsoon season. Copepoda was highest abundant group during the entire study period with its maximum abundance during winter and gradually declined and reached to its minimum in post-monsoon. The presence of eutrophic indicator species like Brachionus calyciflorus, Brachionus angularis, Filina longiseta suggests eutrophication of the tank. Novelty: The study provides baseline data on the present status of the water body indicating that, anthropogenic activities, agricultural runoff are the main cause of eutrophication. Sustainable and holistic conservational strategies have to be adopted to protect the water body. Keywords: Cladocera; Copepoda; Eutrophication; Rotifera; Seasonal variation; Zooplankton abundance

Highlights

Zooplankton occupies a critical position in the food web and is food for many fishes, aquatic insects and other zooplankton
The maximum and minimum values and seasonal variations in physico-chemical factors recorded from January 2017 to December, 2017 and their interrelationships with zooplankton groups are summarized (Tables 1 and 4)
Fifty two species of zooplanktons were recorded in Kadasgatti Minor irrigation tank

Summary

Introduction

Zooplankton occupies a critical position in the food web and is food for many fishes, aquatic insects and other zooplankton. These are more valuable as indicators of tropic conditions and respond more rapidly to the environmental changes than fishes[1,2,3,4]. There are several studies on zooplanktons which include structure of zooplankton populations in the littoral macrophyte zone of Colorado lakes [8]; Life history patterns in zooplanktons [9]; Spatial and temporal patterns in distribution of zooplankton in Jurumirim Reservoir of Sao Paulo, Brazil [10]; Seasonal variations of zooplankton abundance in the freshwater reservoir Valle de Bravo (Mexico)(11); Effects of hydrology on plankton biomass in shallow lakes [12]; Overwintering strategies of copepods [13]; Zooplankton response to extreme drought in a large subtropical lake [14]; Contrasting effects of chemical and thermal variability on lake zooplankton abundance in temperate zone lakes of North America and Europe[15]; Spatial distribution of zooplankton diversity in temporary pools of semiarid regions of Brazil [16]; Influence of bioclimatic factors on species richness in ponds and lakes of Albania and North Macedonia [17]; Zooplankton biodiversity monitoring in polluted freshwater ecosystems of China [18]

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion