Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

AQUACULTURE EFFLUENT FFECT O PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND Z 0 LANKTON OF PULICAT LAKE BIRD SANCTUARY

N.V. Nanda Kumar, K. Saritha, M. Raja Sekhar, S. Ameer Basha

Abstract

Pulicat lake sanctuary attracts thousands of migratory and non-migratory birds for feeding. The Publicat lake water physicochemical and hydro biological characteristics were analysed at different depths in a year. The aquaculture effluent was found to affect significantly BOD, carbonates, inorganic phosphates and plankton population density. The aquaculture effluent caused 48%— I 00% mortalities among the Pulicat lake zooplankton during 30-90 min. period of exposure. The studies revealed that the release of aquaculture effluent would drastically affect the primary consumers and thus indirectly pose a threat to plankton feeders on which the migratory birds survive.