Balasaheb Rahane and Resham Bhalla
Abstract
In the present investigation the biochemical constituents like protein and ascorbic acid contents were determined from soft body tissues like mantle, gills, digestive glands and whole soft body tissues of the freshwater bivalve species, Parreysia cylindrica inhabiting the four reservoirs of Nashik district during summer, monsoon and winter seasons. The heavy metals Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd concentrations were determined in surface water and the freshwater bivalve Parreysia cylindrica were collected from Girna, Ozarkhed,Chankapur and Gangapur reservoirs. The results showed lowest protein and ascorbic acid contents in soft body tissues of Parreysia cylindrica sampled from Girna reservoir, while highest protein and ascorbic acid contents were observed in soft body tissues of the bivalve species sampled from Gangapur reservoir. This indicated that bivalve species inhabiting at Girna reservoir are more under environmental stress than bivalve species inhabiting at Gangapur reservoir. These results clearly indicated that Girna reservoir was more polluted and Gangapur reservoir was less polluted than other reservoirs. Therefore, measurement of important biochemical constituents such as protein and ascorbic acid can be used as susceptible bio markers for the bio monitoring of heavy metal pollution in freshwater ecosystem.