Pollution Research Paper

Vol.31, Issue 04, 2012; Page No.(693-696)

INTERACTIONS BETWEEN NUTRIENT LEVELS AND ZOOPLANKTON POPULATION IN AN URBAN LAKE

O. SUDHAKAR, P. NEELA RANI, G. VENUGOPAL AND J.P. GEORGE

Abstract

The present study was conducted in an urban lake, Powai Lake, Mumbai. Concentrations of nutrients namely nitrites, nitrates, phosphates and silicates were recorded. The mean nitrite nitrogen concentration was found to be 0.0289 (±0.0121) mg/L. The mean Nitrate nitrogen concentration was recorded as 0.344 (± 0.098) mg/L. Total nitrogen was observed to be 0.373 (± 0.108) mg/L. Mean phosphate concentration was found to be 0.407 (± 0.105) mg/L. Mean silicate value was found out to be 25.97 (± 2.17) mg/L. N:P was found to be 0.915 (± 0.120) mg/L in the entire study period. The nutrient levels indicate that the lake is eutrophic. With reference to the zooplankton, a total of 13 species belonging to Copepoda, Cladocera and Rotifera groups were recorded. Copepods are observed to contribute on an average 42.43 (± 1.30) % to the total zooplankton. Cladocera was the second most abundant group in zooplankton with a contribution 34.3 (± 0.67) %. Rotifera was the third most abundant group among zooplankton and their contribution to the total zooplankton was 21.1 (± 0.7) %. Pearson Coefficient of Correlation has been worked out for nutrient concentrations and zooplankton populations. The results reveal that there is strong correlation exist between nutrient concentrations and phytoplankton population in an urban eutrophic lake.

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