Seasonal Species Diversity and Dominance of Phytoplankton in Different types of tropical Domestic Sewage Oxidation Ponds

Abstract

Planktons are small microscopic organisms, comprising diatoms and algae, which form the basis of primary production and the zooplankton, which are mainly crustaceans, rotifers and larval stages of larger animals. Both are the bio-indicators of a water body, constituting the main food for the carnivorous and omnivorous fishes in any aquatic ecosystem. In the present study, the species diversity, and their abundance with a total and average population of various species of phytoplankton have been studied in the primary and secondary domestic oxidation ponds along with a freshwater control pond situated at Shahpura. Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. Physicochemical parameters like light penetration, water temperature, pH and DO were also analyzed along with the phytoplankton population in both types of ponds to assess their impacts. The samples were collected and identified using standard methods. The results revealed that the phytoplankton groups like Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Cyanophyceae and Euglenophyceae were dominantly found in the sewage oxidation ponds along with about 20 species of phytoplankton in varying population densities in different seasons. A similar analysis was done in a freshwater control normal pond for comparison. Physicochemical parameters in these secondary sewage oxidation ponds with a high nutrient load were found to be highly favourable for the growth of the plankton species. A comparatively low number of phytoplankton was recorded in the freshwater control pond, which was highly deficient in nutrients.