Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
AbstractRiver connectivity is often described as a key requirement for maintaining the health and biodiversity of associated wetlands of rivers. A comparative study was undertaken to understand the influence of river connectivity on plankton diversity and abundance in an open (Chharaganga Beel) and a closed wetland (Kalobaur Beel) situated on the banks of River Ganga in West Bengal, India. During the present investigation, data revealed that the major groups of phytoplankton recorded were Cyanobacteria (33.12%), Bacillariophyta (29.07%), and Chlorophyta (22.34%) from the open wetland, and Bacillariophyta (47.40%), Euglenozoa (30.68%), and Chlorophyta (10.12%) from the closed one. Shannon diversity (H’) and Margalef's species richness index indicate that phytoplankton diversity in the Chharaganga ecosystem was higher than in Kalobaur Beel. A one-way ANOVA showed significant station-wise difference for water turbidity (p <0.05) in both of the beels, and student t test revealed that differences in physico-chemical parameters between the studied beels was statistically significant (p <0.05) for depth, turbidity, conductivity, total hardness, nitrate, total N, phosphate-P, silicate, Ca²+, Mg²+and chlorophyll a,whereas abundance of phytoplankton groups was significantly different for Bacillariophyta (p <0.05) and Euglenozoa (p <0.05). The positive correlation of total N with Euglenozoa (r=0.496; p<0.05) might be the cause of favourable conditions for a higher abundance of Euglenozoa in the closed Kalobaur Beel,which is on the verge of partial eutrophication. The hydrological flushing by river water in the Chharaganga wetland maintains the ecological stability. Therefore, restoration of river connectivity is recommended to improve the health of the disconnected wetlands.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
