ECO-CHRONICLE 39

ECO CHRONICLE ISSN: 0973-4155 RNI No. KERENG/2006/19177 Vol. 14, No. 1, March, 2019 PP: 39 - 42

ROTIFER DIVERSITY OF A MANURE ENRICHED EUTROPHIC TROPICAL POND

Bhandarkar, S. V. and G. T. Paliwal 1 Department of Zoology, M. B. Patel College, Deori, Gondia Dist., Maharashtra. 2 Department of Zoology, S.S. Jaiswal College, Arjuni Morgaon, Gondia Dist. Maharashtra. Corresponding author: [email protected]

ABSTRACT Zooplanktons are one among the most important biotic components of any aquatic ecosystem. Their diversity and ecological linkages are considered important for the health and homeostasis of any system. The present work was carried out to have a base line data on the zooplankton biodiversity of a eutrophic freshwater pond situated in Itkheda of Gondia District, Maharashtra.

Zooplanktons were collected on a quarterly basis from two sampling points of the water body. For the study on , samples were collected using vertical hauling of a net made of 40 µm bolting silk cloth. The specimens were identified using standard procedures. The study revealed 28 of rotifers belonging to 10 families and 03 orders. The present work will be useful for the preparation of an inventory on rotifers of the region for further monitoring programmes. Key words: Zooplankton, diversity, Eutrophication, Pond ecosystem.

INTRODUCTION

Due to excessive nutrients, chiefly from nitrogen and rotifers grant them rich species diversity, which is phosphorus, eutrophic water bodies are able to support important for the health and homeostasis of aquatic an abundance of aquatic plants. Usually, such systems ecosystems. During the last couple of decades, are dominated by both macrophytes and microphytes. considerable reports are available on rotifers. Studies Algae, which are part of microphytes serve as good by Sewell (1934), Ahlstrom (1940), Brehm (1950) and ecological indicators and have been used extensively Arora (1962, 1966) are some of them. However their for various monitoring purposes (Palmer, 1969). Some diversity and abundance varies with ecosystems. In this weedspecies are also acting as indicators of aquatic milieu, the present study was committed to identify most pollution. Likewise, many zooplankton species are good common types of freshwater Rotifers in a eutrophic pond indicators of water quality and can be used for the ecosystem. ecological monitoring of water bodies (Reynolds, 1984). They are also considered as indicators of the trophic MATERIALS AND METHODS status of water bodiesdue to their specific qualitative features and their capacity to reproduce in large numbers Study Site under environmental conditions that are favorable to The pond (N20°46’06.8", E80°01’22.9") selected for the them. (Vollenweider and Frei, 1953). In freshwater pond present study is a natural one (Fig. 1 & 3), situated in ecosystems, zooplanktons mainly comprise of the low lying area in Ithkheda (Isapur) village of Arjuni protozoans, rotifers, cladocerans, copepods and their Morgaon Taluka of Gondia District. This pond was larval forms. Rotifers are important groups of primarily used for trapa cultivation and washing purposes. zooplanktonic organisms of freshwater ecosystems and Due to an increase in anthropogenic activities and their community structure can be used as bio-indicators resultant dumping / runoff of organic waste, the pond of water quality. Presumably, the abundance of rotifers has become nutrient enriched and eutrophicated. is strongly dependent on the trophic status of the water Zooplanktons were collected quarterly from two bodies. The biological and ecological adaptations of sampling points of the water body in the year 2016-17 40 ECO-CHRONICLE

(Fig. 2). The samples were filtered and collected using Fig. 2. Collection of zooplankton samples vertical hauling of net made of 40 µm bolting silk cloth and the concentrate was collected in glass bottle, fixed in 4% formalin and the specimens were identified following the literature of Ward et al., (2013), Dhanapathi (2000) and Arvindkumar (2015). The specimens were photographed with Metzer-M-Co-axial trinocular digital research microscope (Vision plus-5000 DTM).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The study was carried out to have an idea of the planktonic diversity in general and rotifer in particular of Itkheda pond, with special reference to

Fig. 1. Map of Itkheda Pond Fig. 3. General view of Itkheda pond

Plate I: Dominent Rotifer species in Itkheda pond of Gondia district (1-8)

1.Branchionus quadrientatus 2. falcatus 3. B. quandridentatus var brevipinous 4. Brachionus ureceolaris, 5. Polyarthra sps. 6. Brachionus durgae 7. 8. Asplanchna brightwellii ECO-CHRONICLE 41 eutrophication. In the present study, 28 species of Branchionus quandridentatus var brevipinous, rotifers belonging to 10 families and 03 orders were Brachionus rubens, Brachionus ureceolaris, Brachionus recorded. The list of rotifers identified in the present caudatus var vulgates, quadricornis- study is given in table 1. The group Rotifera was andhraensis, Lepadella patella, Lepadella lepadella- represented by Brachionus calyciflorus, Brachionus ovalis, Lecane bidentata, Lecane cornuta, Lecane falcatus, Brachionus falcatus-summer form, Brachionus decipiens, Lecane donerianus, Trichocerca pocellus, durgae, , Branchionus Asplanchna intermedia, Asplanchnopus quadrientatus, Branchionus quandridentatus var entzi, bhimnavaramensis, Asplanchna brightwellii, Mytilina ventralis, Polyarthra sps., Table 1. List of Rotifer species in Itkheda pond. Testudinella mucronata, Filinia Sl. Systematic position Rotifer species sps., Rotaria neptunia and Rotaria No. rotatoria.

According to Dhanapathi (2000), Phylum: Rotifera Subclass: Eurotatoria, the rotifers inhabits and 1 Superorder: establishes their diversity in Order: Brachionus calyciflorus eutrophic water bodies. The Family: rotifers are considered as important bio-indicators as they 2 Family: Brachionidae Brachionus falcatus depict the trophic status of water 3 Family: Brachionidae Brachionus falcatus summer form quality of their environments 4 Family: Brachionidae Brachionus durgae (Sladecek, 1983; Berzins and 5 Family: Brachionidae Brachionus plicatilis Pejler, 1989). Brachionus species 6 Family: Brachionidae Branchionus quadrientatus have an ample variety of occurrence and can make their 7 Family: Brachionidae B. quandridentatus var entzi existence in all types of waters. 8 Family: Brachionidae B. quandridentatus var brevipinous They are stirring in lesser number 9 Family: Brachionidae Brachionus rubens in huge polluted water and found 10 Family: Brachionidae Brachionus ureceolaris abundantly in slightly polluted 11 Family: Brachionidae Brachionus caudatus var vulgates water. In the present study, family 12 Family: Brachionidae Platyias quadricornis andhraensis Brachionidae was dominant with 12 species; in which the genus 13 Family: Colurellidae Lepadella patella Brachionus set by 11 species and 14 Family: Colurellidae Lepadella lepadella ovalis 01 species of Platyias was 15 Family: Lecanidae Lecane bidentata recorded. Some Brachionus 16 Family: Lecanidae Lecane cornuta species were considered as 17 Family: Lecanidae Lecane decipiens indicators of mesotrophic to 18 Family: Lecanidae Lecane donerianus eutrophic conditions in numerous central Indian waters (Unni, 1985). 19 Family: Trichocercidae Trichocerca pocellus Bhandarkar et al., (2008) reported 20 Family: Asplanchnidae Asplanchna intermedia 07 species of Brachionus from the 21 Family: Asplanchnidae Asplanchnopus bhimnavaramensis highly eutrophic Kalikar pond in 22 Family: Asplanchnidae Asplanchna brightwellii Bramhapuri. Bhandarkar and 23 Family: Mytilinidae Mytilina ventralis Paliwal, (2012) reported 09 24 Family: Synchaetidae Polyarthra sps. species of Rotifers from different Order:Gnesiotrocha productive water bodies of 25 Suborder: Glosculariacea Lakhani. Similarly Bhandarkar et Testudinella mucronata Family:Testudinellidae al. (2015) also recorded 46 26 Family:Filinidae Filinia sps. species of Rotifers belonging to 15 Super order: Digononta families and 3 orders from Subclass: Bdelloidea 27 Dhukeshwari Temple pond Deori. Order: Bdelloida Rotaria neptunia The water with higher the Family: Philodinidae population of Rotifers indicates 28 Family: Philodinidae Rotaria rotatoria pollution, mainly due to direct 42 ECO-CHRONICLE access of untreated household sewage from Bhandarkar, W.R., Bhandarkar, S.V. and Murkute, V.B. surrounding areas. A number of other studies have also 2008. Observation on Species Diversity of Brachionus (Rotifera) from Kalikar Pond, Bramhapuri, District reviewed Brachionus species as indicators of Chandrapur. M.S. J. Aqua. Biol. I &II 23 (2): 4-7. eutrophication (Mahajan, 1981 and Sladeck, 1983). Chandrashekhar and Kodarkar (1995) illustrated 6 Berzins,B & Pejlar, B., (1989). Rotifers occurrence in species of Brachionus from Saroornagar lake, relation to trophic degree. Hydrobiologia 182: 171-180. Hyderabad and reported that B. calyciflorus was most Brehm, V. (1950). Contributions to the fresh water fauna dominant, followed by B. caudatus in term of seasonal of India. Part-2, Rec. Ind. Mus., 48:9- 28. occurrence. The species B. quadridentatus and Lepadella sp. have better tolerance for alkalinities. Chandrasekhar, S.V.A. and Kodarkar, M.S. (1995). Studies on Brachionus from Saroornagar lake, Platyias quadricornis and Rotaria rotatoria have been Hyderabad. J. Aqua. Biol., 10 (1 & 2): 48 -52. recorded from eutrophic and heavily polluted waters (Pattnaik, 2014). Dominance of rotifers further confirmed Dhanapathi, M.V.S.S.S. (2000). Taxonomic notes on the the eutrophic nature of the lake (Pejler, 1965; Arora, rotifers from India (from 1889-2000) IAAB. Publishing 1966; Unni, 1985; Sharma, 1987). no. 10 Hyderabad, India. 169pp.

In Conclusion, the Rotifers reported to be the major Mahajan, C.L. (1981). Zooplankton as indicators for zooplankton community in Itkheda pond. Among Rotifers, assessment of water pollution ibid. PP: 135-148. Brachionus was the dominant genus. The second Palmer, C.M. (1969). A composite rating of algae dominant one was occupied by Lecane. The Rotifer tolerating organic pollution. J. Phycol., 5: 78-82. diversity can be linked with favorable conditions and availability of abundant food in the form of bacteria, Pattnaik B.S. (2014). Seasonal dynamics of some phytoplankton; organic waste and suspended detritus zooplanktons in two fresh water ponds. Indian journal of in pond water. Rotifers with higher species diversity applied research. 4(10): 43-47. shows high susceptability to eutrophic environment. Thus, the group Rotifera establishes the eutrophic status Pejlar, B. (1965). Regional ecological studies of Swedish freshwater zooplankton, Uppsala. Zoo. Bidrag Fran., 36: of Itkheda pond. 407- 515.

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