Phytoplankton Dynamics of Nigeen Lake in Kashmir Himalaya
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International Journal of Environment and Bioenergy, 2013, 6(1): 13-27 International Journal of Environment and Bioenergy ISSN: 2165-8951 Journal homepage: www.ModernScientificPress.com/Journals/IJEE.aspx Florida, USA Article Phytoplankton Dynamics of Nigeen Lake in Kashmir Himalaya Nuzhat Shafi *, Aftab Ahmad, Ashok K. Pandit P.G. Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar-190 006, India * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: [email protected]. Article history: Received 3 March 2013, Received in revised form 27 March 2013, Accepted 29 March 2013, Published 4 April 2013. Abstract: The present limnological study on Nigeen lake revealed that water of the lake was alkaline in nature and the total hardness was mainly due to bicarbonates of Ca2+ and Mg2+. Though the nutrient content of the lake was generally low, yet an increasing trend was noticed around floating gardens especially during summer. In total 30 genera of phytoplankton were identified, in which Chlorophyceae was the dominant class with 12 species, followed by Bacillariophyceae with 9 species, 7 belonged to Cyanophyceae and only 2 to Euglenophyceae. Phytoplankton exhibited its maximum growth and development during summer season near residential areas and floating gardens. A clear dominance of Chlorophyceae over Bacillariophyceae, Cyanophyceae and Euglenophyceae was observed throughout the study period. Shannon-Wiener index of phytoplankton signifies the water body to be moderately diverse as the values lies below 5.00 while as values of Simpson diversity index indicate accelerated eutrophication. However, Bray-Curtis cluster analysis showed the highest similarity between pollution rich sites while dissimilarity was observed between less polluted sites. Keywords: alkaline; Chlorophyceae; Bacillariophyceae; floating gardens. 1. Introduction In the vale of Kashmir, the fresh water lakes have a great ecological and economic importance. But unfortunately during last four decades, accelerated population growth and unplanned urbanization Copyright © 2013 by Modern Scientific Press Company, Florida, USA Int. J. Environ. Bioener. 2013, 6(1): 13-27 14 have resulted in degradation of these lakes both in terms of their sprawl and water quality, thus adversely affecting the ecological functioning of these lakes. Phytoplanktons are important indicators for assessing the trophic status of lakes and act as bio- indicators of water quality (Wu and Suen, 1985). The role of phytoplankton in managing bio- energetics of lakes and their role as bio-indicators have been known for a long time (Kalyani and Charya, 1999). Eutrophic lakes support a large quantity of phytoplankton composed of few species, with a common and frequent pulses. Nigeen basin of Dal lake is a good example of such lakes which is undergoing racing eutrophication (Zutshi, 1980; Sarwar, Naqshi and Mir, 1996; Bhat and Pandit, 2002; Zutshi and Ticku, 2006; Salum and Wanganeo, 2008). The aim of present study is to provide current trophic status of the lake on the basis of phytoplankton community structure and physico-chemical analysis of water. 2. Study Area For the present study four sampling sites of Nigeen lake were selected on the basis of water depth, vegetation, biotic variables and anthropogenic stresses (Figs 1 & 2). The first site with depth of 1.5-2.5 m was located in south west area of lake near residential area known as Khuj yarbal. The second site with 4.0 m deep being located in central area of the lake was clear with patchy growth of macrophytic vegetation. The third site was located near Golf club associated with house boats and its depth ranged from 2.0-2.6 m. The water of this site was slightly turbid compared to first site with sparse growth of macrophytic vegetation. The fourth site was located in the north east side of Hazratbal basin near Ashaibagh bridge acting as inlet source of Nigeen basin and receiving water from other basins of Dal lake. The depth at this site ranged from 2.3-2.7 m. 3. Material and Methods The sampling was carried out on monthly basis from July to December in 2008. Five liters of water collected at a depth of approximately 0.5 m were sieved through plankton net of bolting silk (mesh Size No. 25 mm). Plankton samples were collected and preserved in 5 mL of Lugol’s iodine solution. After keeping it for 24 h, the supernatant was discarded and 20 mL concentrated sample was obtained. Quantitative estimation of phytoplankton was done under microscope, with the help of Sedgwick rafter counting cell of 1 mL capacity. A single colony in case of colonial forms, a single filament in case of filamentous forms and a single organism has been referred to as a unit (Welch, 1948). Identification of the phytoplankton was done with the help of standard works of Edmondson (1992) and Hutchinson (1967). Among physico-chemical parameters besides DO fixation, depth and temperature (air and Copyright © 2013 by Modern Scientific Press Company, Florida, USA Int. J. Environ. Bioener. 2013, 6(1): 13-27 15 water) were measured on the spot while remaining parameters of water were determined in the laboratory within 24 h of the sampling following the standard methods (Golterman et al., 1978; APHA, 2004). Figure 1. Outline of Nigeen lake Figure 2. Sampling sites in Nigeen lake 4. Results and Discussion 4.1. Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Water Table 1. Physico-chemical characteristics of water (Mean SD) at four different sites of Nigeen lake (July-December 2008) Parameter Site I Site II Site III Site IV Temp. Air (°C) 22.66 ± 6.91 22.83 ± 7.27 22.33 ± 7.08 23.16 ± 7.08 Temp. Water (°C) 19.66 ± 6.7 19.16 ± 8.1 18 ± 7.3 19.5 ± 7.8 Depth (m) 2.40 ± 0.0 2.57 ± 0.0 2.9 ± 0.5 2.52 ± 0.0 pH 7.9 ± 0.6 8.21 ± 0.2 8.43 ± 0.4 8.27 ± 0.2 D.O (mg/L) 5.45 ± 0.7 7.26 ± 1.1 7.66 ± 0.8 7.23 ± 1.4 Chloride (mg/L) 27.14 ± 7.7 19.85 ± 7.8 29.73 ± 3.5 22.58 ± 7.5 Ca hardness (mg/L) 32.13 ± 11.4 33.36 ± 10.7 33.9 ± 10.4 38.36 ± 10.2 Mg hardness (mg/L) 6.86 ± 1.9 15.71 ± 2.5 11.58 ± 4.2 15.91 ± 2.6 Total hardness (mg/L) 43.33 ±14.1 50.25 ± 12.1 46.31 ± 14.3 54.28 ± 10.9 Alkalinity CO3 (mg/L) Absent 2.96 ± 2.11 2.64 ± 2.36 2.9 ± 1.76 Alkalinity HCO3 (mg/L) 74.88 ± 2.7 71.33 ± 18.0 56.28 ± 17.9 58.74 ± 6.1 Total alkalinity (mg/L) 74.88 ± 2.7 74.3 ± 17.4 58.48 ± 18.4 69.43 ± 5.8 Ortho- PO4 (µg/L) 338.33 ± 53.0 270 ± 38.9 199.5 ± 29.0 257.33 ± 53.0 Copyright © 2013 by Modern Scientific Press Company, Florida, USA Int. J. Environ. Bioener. 2013, 6(1): 13-27 16 4.1.1. Temperature Temperature is the most important factor regulating the growth and dynamics of phytoplankton and effects indirectly on different biological communities in regulating competition and variation (Vera Lucia et al., 2008). During the entire study period surface water temperature ranged from a minimum of 8 °C at site III in December to a maximum of 27 °C at site II in July and followed closely to air temperature which ranged from a minimum of 13 °C at site II in December to 30 °C in July at site II. 4.1.2. Depth Water depth varied from a minimum of 2.31 m at site I in September to a maximum of 3.90 m at site III in October. It may be possibly due to sedimentation, eutrophication and dredging which was found to alter the depth of lake. Wanganeo (1984) reported that lakes of Kashmir valley are usually shallow with the mean depth for all ranging from 0.6 to 3.0 m and the maximum from 5.8 to 13 m. 4.1.3. pH The pH is the negative logarithmic expression of hydrogen ion concentration and also acid- alkalinity deciding factor. During the entire study period pH was found to be alkaline in nature ranging from a minimum of 7.2 at site I in November to a maximum of 8.9 at site I in August. An increasing trend was observed during summer. The lake water seemed to be well buffered as no abrupt changes were observed in the pH value. 4.1.4. Dissolved oxygen Dissolved oxygen is one of the most important abiotic factors influencing an aquatic environment. It plays a significant role in the regulation of metabolic processes of communities and organisms and also as an indicator of the lake condition (Reid, 1961). Its concentration in natural waters depends upon many factors viz. temperature, decompositional activities, photosynthesis and the level of aeration (Zutshi and Vass, 1978). The dissolved oxygen content of the lake ranged from a minimum of 4.4 mg/L in August at site I to a maximum of 9.1 mg/L in October at site III. Its values were low during summer and increased towards winter months which are significant with change in environmental conditions like temperature. 4.1.5. Chloride Chloride content ranged from a minimum of 14 mg/L in November at site II to a maximum of 36 mg/L in October at site IV. Floating gardens along with domestic wastes from houseboats and dense urban population around the Nigeen lake seems to be the cause of high chloride content. Siraj Copyright © 2013 by Modern Scientific Press Company, Florida, USA Int.