Abstract
BackgroundFrom the last few decades several lakes and wetlands showed water quality degradation that is one of the major problems globally resulting in serious environmental impacts and concern in both aquatic and terrestrial environs.MethodsDuring this study we evaluated a number of water parameters [water temperature, depth, transparency, hydrogen ion concentration (pH), dissolved oxygen, chloride, calcium, magnesium, total alkalinity, nitrogen and phosphorus] on the monthly basis in September 2012–August 2013 in Hokersar wetland.ResultsFrom the year 1978 till 2012–13, the number of parameters showed an increasing trend except for pH and dissolved oxygen. Remarkable temporal variations were recorded in various parameters during the past and present study (e.g. dissolved oxygen showed a decrease of about 2.4 mg/L and pH 0.8 units. Calcium, magnesium, alkalinity, ammonical nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen depicted many fold increase in the last four decades). Among the recorded parameters significant positive correlations were observed between depth and chloride (r = 0.408, p < 0.01); pH and water temperature (r = 0.888, p < 0.05); dissolved oxygen with total alkalinity (r = 0.790, p < 0.05). However, negative correlation were maintained by water temperature with dissolved oxygen (r = 0.894, p < 0.05), free carbon dioxide (r = 0.732, p < 0.05) and calcium content (r = 0.868, p < 0.05).ConclusionThe study reflects that the wetland is under tremendous anthropogenic pressures from the immediate catchment. Further, from the study it is evident that total phosphorus raveled decreased levels as compared to previous years reflecting that the wetland still has spongy capacity for the major nutrient.
Highlights
We often call wetlands as nature’s kidney
Keeping in view the drastic changes in the wetland, we made an attempt to pool the present data on water quality with the previously reported to have an insight regarding the present status of the Hokersar wetland
Remarkable temporal variations were recorded in various parameters during the past and present study for dissolved oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus
Summary
Nature gave us with a variety of environments. Among those wetlands are the most beneficial to both aquatic as well human lives as they abate pollution by acting as sponges to major plant nutrients (Shah et al 2015). Human activities in the catchment exploit the lakes, wetlands and their resources Satellite imagery data indicate that open water is limited to 21.7% of the total wetland area, with the rest comprising marshland (35%), cultivated land (15%), plantation (12.5%), submerged plants (10%), and only (6%) silted areas (Khan 2015). From the last few decades several lakes and wetlands showed water quality degradation that is one of the major problems globally resulting in serious environmental impacts and concern in both aquatic and terrestrial environs
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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.
