Seasonal Variation in the Pigment Content of Dominant Macrophytes from Wular lake, Kashmir Himalaya, India

Abstract

The pigment content (Chlorophyll-a, Chlorophyll-b and Total Chlorophyll) of dominant macrophytes was investigated in this present study along with subsequent analysis of relevant physico-chemical variables. In this study, the relationship between the pigment content of dominant species and the ambient environmental parameters was established. In general, Chlorophyll-a, Chlorophyll-b and Total Chlorophyll contents varied from 1.5 ± 0.1 µg/ml to 3.7 ± 0.5 µg/ml, 0.3 ± 0.2 µg/ml to 1.7 ± 0.5 µg/ml and 2.1 ± 0.9 µg/ml to 4.1 ± 0.5 µg/ml respectively with highest values during summer coinciding with increasing water temperatures. Chlorophyll-a and Chlorophyll-b and Total Chlorophyll levels were positively correlated (P<0.05) with water temperature and negatively correlated with nutrient salts such as nitrate, ammonia and total phosphorus. Maximum pigment content occurred in submerged macrophytes, whereas minimum levels were obtained in rooted- floating macrophytes. The analysis of Chlorophyll A, B and Total in the macrophytes indicated the presence of species specificity as well as of seasonal dynamics of these pigments. Statistical analysis computed among environmental parameters and pigment content suggests the potential role played by the abiotic parameters on the pigment content of macrophytes.