Introduction
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INTRODUCTION Economically, culturally and biologically water is most important on the earth surface. Water is solvent in which mineral nutrients are dissolved, which are absorbed by terrestrial and aquatic plants. Water is the nature’s gift to living world including human race. Our biosphere consist of 71% of water coverage, out of available water source on the earth 97.4% is marine water, while fresh water environment occupied only 2.6% of which 1.98% is found in frozen form in ice caps. Only 0.62% is fresh water from lakes, streams, rivers and other sources are available for living organisms. Pune District is second largest districts of the state Maharashtra (India) having its north western territory spread in one of the biodiversity hot spot of our country namely the Western Ghats. Pune District belongs to western region and it is bounded by Thane District to the northwest, Raigad District to the west, Satara District to the south, Solapur District to the southeast, and Ahmednagar District to the north and northeast. Pune district (Plate A, Fig. 1, 2, 3) lies in the Western Ghats or Sahyadri mountain range and it extends on to the Deccan Plateau on the east. Pune stands on the leeward side of the Western Ghats. Pune is at an altitude of 559 m. (1863 ft.) Pune district is located between 18° 28′ 25″ North and 73° 47′ 52″ East. In Pune district, there are two municipal corporations, namely Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchawad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Average rainfall in the district is 600 to 700 mm. This is usually during the monsoon months from July - October. Moderate temperatures are mainly observed here. The rainfall is unpredictable in tune with the Indian monsoon. Summers here begin from early March to July. Summers are dry and hot. The temperature ranges from 20°C to 38°C, though at the peak they may reach 40°C. From November to January, is the winter season. Temperatures at the peak drop to single digits but usually they hover around 9°C to 14°C sometimes lowers up to 3°C. January to March are the months with moderate temperatures. In year due rainfall stress in June, and up to 20 September agriculture sector come in danger. 1 Major rivers of the district are: Pushpavati, Krushnavati, Kukadi, Meena, Ghod, Mandavi, Bhima, Bhama, Andhra, Indryani, Pavna, Mula, Mutha, Ambi, Mose, Shivganga, Kanandi, Gunjavni, Velvandi, Neera, Karha etc. Some major dams are: Yedgaon (Kukadi), Pimpalgaon Joge (Pushpavati), Manikdoh (Kukadi), Wadaj (Meena), Dimbe (Ghod), Chas-Kaman and Ujani (Bhima), Andhra (Andhra), Valvhan (Indrayani), Pavna (Pavna), Mulshi (Mula), Temghar, Khadakwasla (Mutha), Varasgaon (Ambi), Panshet (Mose), Chapet (Kanandi), Bhatgar (Velvandi), Devghar, Veer (Neera) Lonavla region (Wadgaon-MavalTaluka) can be called as lake district of Maharashtra due to numerous lakes in this area viz, Bhushi, The Lonavla lake, INS Shivaji, Pavna, Valvhan, Tungarli, Andhra, Shirawta lake. However the Sahyadri and its branches offer lot of opportunity for damming the streams leading to large number of lakes in Pune district. According to the 2011 census Pune District has a population of 9,426,959. This gives it a ranking of 4th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 603 inhabitants per square kilometer (1,560 /sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 30.34 %. Pune has a sex ratio of 910 females for every 1000 Geology and Soil: Pune District belongs to Tectonic group and consists of lower and upper Tertiary rocks and sedimentary river deposits. The river beds consist of water-borne debris of granite core of Sahyadri, with calcareous tuffs, small rounded stones, loose river gravel and sand. The soil is alluvial and of high fertility. Climate: Vegetation depends on climate, edaphic and biotic factors. Thus high seasonal rainfall, relative humidity, high temperature and small variations in these factors characterize the rather monotonous environment of the rich and luxuriant flora. While the hilly regions of the district experience pleasantly hot summers and severe winters, the valley shows moderate summer months and cold winter. 2 Temperature: April and May are the hottest months (40-410 C) while December and January are coldest months. Generally temperature increases from February onward and decreases from June onward. In Pune District six main distinct ecological habitats and many other distinct habitats of algae are mainly observed viz. terrestrial, epiphytic, aquatic, parasitic and aerial. Majority of the algal plants are growing in aquatic environment. Physiography of Ambegaon and Junnar Tehsils (Study Area): In the present study work was focused on Ambegaon and Junnar tehsils, located on northern region of district. Both these tehsils have diverse forest types ranging from evergreen to dry scrub forest and major dams viz. Dimbhe, Wadaj, Manikdoh, Pimpalgaon Joge, Chilhewadi and Yedgaon. Climatically these tehsils are broadly having 3 seasons such as winter, summer and monsoon. In winter air is dry and cool, from November to February, while temperature rises in summer ranging between 11° C to 42° C from February to May. The average climate of these both tehsils generally dry and hot except monsoon, in monsoon season heavy rainfall occurs, ranges from 2000 mm to 6000 mm. Physiography of Junnar Tehsil: (Plate A, Fig. 3) Junnar Taluka is located between 19°11'59" North and 73°52'47" East while Ambegaon taluka located between 19° 7' 0" North, 73° 44' 0" East. The study area is a part of the Western Ghats and represents undulating hilly terrain stretched over about 60 km in North - South direction. It is a chain of hills, ranging with the elevation from 600 m to 1600 m above mean sea level, interrupted by road passes viz. Nane ghat, the oldest trade route, Dar-A-ghat a walk road commonly used by local inhabitants and Malshej ghat on Ahemdnagar-Kalyan National Highway. A huge but poorly built fort, Harishchandragad is situated in the extreme North of area under study, with the highest peak at 1423.42 m altitude. It is crowned by two conical peaks. From Harishchandragad, the main range of the Sahyadri moves in the West direction and at 3 about 10 km aerial distance has a second highest peak of the taluka at Talmachi hill (1289 m). Besides two main crest line hilly stretches described above, majority of the area in the West of Junnar town is hilly, comprising of some prominent forts and valleys. These are, Hadsar (1136 m). Ganeshkhind (1128 m), Nimgiri (1026 m), Varoda Dongar of Watkhal (1416 m), Tell Dongar (1201 m), Chavand fort (954 m), Shivneri fort (1024 m), Lenyadri hill (1162 m), Narayangad fort (875 m), Varsubai hill (988 m) and Aurangpur hill (859m). The main plains are stretched from Junnar town towards the East up to Shindewadi area except for the fort Narayangad. It is situated near Narayangaon with an altitude of 875 m. In the plains the altitude ranges between 600 m to 700 m above mean sea level. Major portion of this area is under cultivation of different crops. Giant Meter Radio Telescope (GMRT) center at Khodad, ARVI center at Narayangaon, Vignahar Sugar Industry at Hivre, Abhinav Grapes Export at Agar and Champaign Indage at Chauda number village near Yeadgaon are major modern Research and agro-industries located in the plains.The soils in the area under study vary from red laterite to gravelly grey through the black cotton soil and varies from hill region to plains. The structure and texture of soil determine physical characteristics of soil. On the basis of physical characteristics the soil in this region can be divided into four major groups, viz., 1) reddish brown light soil, 2) coarse shallow soil, 3) medium black soil and 4) deep black soil. Physiography of Ambegaon Tehsil: (Plate A, Fig. 3) Ambegaon tehsil is located between 19° 7' 0" North, 73° 44' 0" East while Junnar Taluka is located between 19°11'59" North and 73°52'47" East. The study area is a part of the Western Ghats and represents undulating hilly terrain stretched over about 60 km in North - South direction. It is undulating hilly region with plains. The major plain areas are under crop cultivation due to good irrigation facilities. The soils in the area under study vary from red lateritic, basaltic to gravelly grey through the black cotton soil and varies from hill region to plains. The structure and texture of soil determine physical characteristics of soil. On the basis of physical characteristics the soil in this region can be divided into four major groups, viz., 1) 4 reddish brown light soil, 2) coarse shallow soil, 3) medium black soil and 4) deep black soil. The area belongs to part of Deccan trap. The flows of lava are found mostly as the horizontally bedded sheets forming flat-topped hills, which is the major characteristic of the Deccan trap country. Rock formation is basaltic dark grey or dark greenish-gray in colour which undergoes characteristic spheroidal weathering. The rocks are distinguished into two types, viz. vesicular and non-vesicular. The vesicular type is soft, friable and breaks easily. The non-vesicular type is hard, tough and compact, medium to fine grained, which breaks with a conchoidal fracture. In Ambegaon taluka there is one of the Bara Jyotirlinga well known Bhimashankar, the temple of Lord Shiva located at the north western of Ambegaon. There is a large bird sanctuary, as well as wild sanctuary is also present beside this. The Bhimashankar Sanctuary is well known for the occurrence of giant squirrel or flying squirrel. Hydrography: (Plate B, Fig. 1) The area is drained by the three main rivers viz., Pushpavati, Kukadi and Meena dividing the tract into definite basins.