PLANKTON DIVERSITY IN LENTIC WATER BODIES OF COCHIN, KERALA, INDIALovedeep Sharma and Sachin PanditAbstract Plankton samples have been collected from six freshwater pond ecosystems located in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. Samples were analyzed qualitatively to account for the diversity of phytoplankton and zooplankton in the region, as it is the basic unit of the food chain in any aquatic ecosystem. Higher diversity of Pediastrum sp., of Chlorophyceae, was observed, other phytoplankton species encountered were Anabaena, Closterium, Oscillatoria, Chlorophyta, and Euglena sp. Ten genera belonging to five classes of zooplankton were recorded from the ponds. Major groups viz. Rotifera, Copepoda and Ostracoda were identified with some unidentified nauplii species. Pediastrum duplex and P.simplex present in these ponds are indicators, being meso-eutrophic species, which could help understand the water quality. The optimum diversity of both Phyto and zooplankton showed the suitability of ponds for commercial fish production with proper management. |