Study of Water Quality and Distribution of Phytoplankton in Hebbal Lake, Krishnarajanagara

Abstract

Abstract: Life on earth depends on fresh water. Phytoplanktons are free floating, photosynthetic, aquatic microorganisms, which moves from one place to another. Phytoplanktons which are present in Hebbal Lake, Krishnarajanagara, and Mysore were studied with respect to their species diversity and distribution. The phytoplankton community is mainly represented by algal representatives including both prokaryotes and eukaryotic genera. Studies on phytoplankton and water quality of Hebbal Lake, Krishnarajanagar, Mysore Karnataka were undertaken for 5months from May 2023 to September 2023. The quantitative analysis of phytoplankton was done by Lackey’s drop method modified by saxena (1987).Diversity indices have been discussed by using PASTA Software Program. Physical and Chemical parameters were analysed using the standard methods of APHA (2025) and Trivedi and Gael (1984). Among the total 60 species recorded, 33species of Bacillariophyceae, 7species of Chlorophyceae, 8species of Cyanophyceae, 8 species of Desmidiaceae, 3species of Euglenophyceae are reported. Bacillariophyceae was the most dominant group followed by Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Desmidiaceae and Euglenophyceae. The result of physicochemical and biological parameters along with statistical method and biodiversity indices indicated that the Hebbal Lake is threatened ecologically due to various anthropogenic activities which lead organic pollution and eutrophication status of the lake. Statistical program Bray – Curtis similarity index explained, the cluster of EC, Total hardness and Total alkalinity is highly correlated with the clusters of phytoplanktons. Shannon and Weiner index showed that the lake was heavily polluted in the month of May due to increased temperature.