Abstract
A study was conducted from July 2013 to June 2014 to assess the outcome of dredging activity on the water characteristics and zooplankton community structure in Dal Lake. An assessment was done with respect to alterations in physico-chemical parameters and zooplankton community changes in pre-dredged and post-dredging periods. The results showed a considerable reduction in Secchi transparency while water depth, conductivity, total dissolved solids, nitrate and total phosphorous concentrations increased noticeably in post dredging scenario. Variations in the values of dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature as a result of dredging were not statistically significant. The environmental changes as a result of dredging activity affected the structure and distribution of zooplankton community; the abundance of rotifers decreased, while the crustaceans increased. The prominent taxa were Brachionus sp., Keratella cochlearis, Bosmina longirostris, Chydorus sphaericus and Diaptomus sp. Key words: Dredging, water quality, zooplankton, rotifer, crustacean.
Highlights
Eutrophication of lakes which leads to deterioration of aquatic ecosystems has been of a great concern around the globe (Ruban et al, 2001; Bennion et al, 2015)
The major factors that pose environmental threats to water bodies include increasing anthropogenic pressure that may result in excessive input of nutrients and organic matter
The Dal lake is situated in the north-east of Srinagar city at an altitude of 1600 m above mAMSL and lies between 34° 4’ and 34° 9’ N latitude and 74° 48’ and 74° 53’ E longitude
Summary
Eutrophication of lakes which leads to deterioration of aquatic ecosystems has been of a great concern around the globe (Ruban et al, 2001; Bennion et al, 2015). The major factors that pose environmental threats to water bodies include increasing anthropogenic pressure that may result in excessive input of nutrients and organic matter. Excessive loading of nutrients leads to increased algal growth, high nitrogen and phosphorus loads, toxicity, changes in community structure, loss of recreational amenity and reduction in water clarity in most lakes (Smith, 1998; Carpenter et al, 1999; Yin and Kong, 2015).
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