Abstract:
Planktonic diversity is an indicator tool to evaluate the health of aquatic
ecosystems. A healthy ecosystem harbours well nourished flora and fauna.
Limnological evaluation of a water resource illustrates the habitat suitability for the
existence of certain types of flora & fauna. The present study is an attempt to assess
the diversity of plankton in a tropical reservoir in India. Following the objective of
the study, a hydrobiological investigation was carried out for two years in Barna
reservoir; a reservoir built across the river Barna; a well-known tributary of river
Narmada in central India. Investigative attempt was made in accordance with standard
methods of evaluation of diversity and water quality as mentioned in manual of
American Public Health Association (APHA) and described by other authors. Certain
limnological parameters especially pH, Electrical Conductivity, TDS, Dissolved
Oxygen, B.O.D., Niterate-nitrogen and Ortho-phosphate were evaluated and found
suitable for good growth of planktons. A total of 75 species of phytoplankton
belonging to 7 classes viz. Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Cyanophyceae,
Dinophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Xanthophyceae and Chrysophyceae were recorded
whereas 47 species of zooplankton belonging to five groups viz. Rotifera, Cladocera,
Copepoda, Protozoa and Ostracoda were identified in Barna reservoir. Chlorophyceae
the class of phytoplankton and Rotifera group of zooplankton found as dominant
during the study period. The dominance of class Chlorophyceae indicates nutrient
enriched water quality whereas dominance of Rotifers showed healthy limnological
regime in Barna reservoir. The study reveals that availability of healthy ecosystem is
required for all life forms in a tropical reservoir.
