Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE STUDIES OF ROTIFERA AS INDICES OF WATER QUALITY IN DAL LAKE, KASHMIR

Monisa Malik, M.H. Balkhi, Adnan Abubakr and Bilal A. Bhat

Abstract

A total of 42 Rotifera species were isolated from four basins of Dal Lake, Kashmir during the present study. Among the species, 36 belonged to Order Ploima, 4 to Order Flosculariaceae and 2 to Order Bdelloida. Highest mean numbers were observed during spring season (47587 ind/m3), followed by autumn (42137 ind/m3) and winter (34683 ind/m3) respectively. Maximum species were recorded from Genus Brachionus which included important species like Brachionus calyciflorus, B. plicatilis and B. quadridentata which are indicators of high trophic status of the lake. Genus Keratella was represented by species like K. cochlearis, K hiemalis, K. quadrata and K. tropica. Other important species reported were Epiphanes senta, Platiyas quadricornis, Colurella adriatica, C. biscuspidata, Lecane depressa, Trichocerca cylindrical, T. longiseta, Asplanchna priodonta, Polyarthra vulgaris, Filina longiseta and F. terminalis. Bdelloids and Philodina formed a small fraction of the Rotifer population. The high number of Rotifer population and presence of various indicator species is indicative of high nutrient enrichment of the lake, requiring immediate action.