ISSN 2348 – 0319 International Journal of Innovative and Applied Research (2014), Volume 2, Issue (7): 28- 31 Journal home page: http://www.journalijiar.com INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE AND APPLIED RESEARCH RESEARCH ARTICLE Seasonal Trends of Zooplanktons in Upper Wardha Project Dist. Amravati (M.S) C.B.Meshram Associate Professor and Head, Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati (M.S) 444603. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Abstract: Zooplankton occupy the role of primary consumer in the aquatic food web. primary consumers eat autotrophs which obtain their energy from inorganic sources .These zooplankton become the food for fishes and can be used as indicators of trophic status of water body. Zooplankton in the present study categorized under six group. The rotifer dominated the water body. Station wise zooplankton from five different stations was in the order of station I> Station II> Station IV > Station III > Station V. Seasonal trend in zooplankton population was observed minimum in monsoon and maximum during summer month in the present investigation. Key Words: Zooplankton , Seasonal trends, Rotifer, Mesotrophic. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Introduction Water is an integral part of life. In recent years importance of water quality for human health and production of food has become widely recognized. The inland water resources, on the surface of earth such as river, lakes, reservoir and ponds became the form of special attention in early stage of development of the science of ecology. Reservoir are manmade impoundment created by damming a lotic system. Protection and management of reservoir have been recognized as a priority sector all over the world. Pollution of water body is increasing steadily due to rapid growth of population, urbanization, industrialization and increasing living standard and wide sphere of human activities. The zooplankton communities composed of both primary and secondary consumers. They provide a direct link between primary producers and higher trophic level. Nearly all fishes depend on zooplankton at some phases of life or entire lives,(Madin et.al;2001). Zooplanktons play an integral role and serve as bio-indicators and it is well suited tool for understanding water pollution status (Contreas et.al;2009). Therefore the present study is under taken considering interrelationship between abiotic and biotic components, monthly and seasonal variation as well as zooplankton dynamics to evaluate hydrobiological status. Material and Methods Upper Wardha Project is a perennial dam, situated 56 Km from the district place Amravati (M.S). It is an earthen reservoir with the height 36M and 7Km long spread area accuping the border of Amravati and Wardha district for the purpose of irrigation and drinking water supply. The dam is constructed on Wardha river,it is also named as ‘Nal Damyanti Sagar’. It is at 780-03’-27” E longitude and 210-16’-18” N latitude. The catchment area is 4302 Sq. Km. and located at 306 MSL. For the investigation of various abiotic and biotic parameters five different sampling stations were selected. Monthly samples were taken in two liter polythene bottle at regular interval in between 9-11 am. The samples were analyzed for abiotic components at laboratory condition and the filtrate were fix in 4% formalin for the enumeration of zooplanktons. The method used for the estimation of physico-chemical parameters and identification of zooplankton as given by APHA(1989), Adoni (1985) and great lake water life photo gallery. Results and Discussion Numerical and seasonal variations in zooplankton abundance is shown table-1, Fig.1 & table 2, Fig.2. The quantitative and qualitative investigation on zooplankton studied, they were belonging to six group. From the observed 56 genera and species rotifers (27.90%) dominated the water body followed by cladocerans (16.76%); copepods (15.49%);protozoans (15.06%);ostracods (13.28%) and worm and larvae (11.52%). The present study exhibited higher magnitude of zooplankton during summer season (April, May and June). Station wise zooplankton 28 ISSN 2348 – 0319 International Journal of Innovative and Applied Research (2014), Volume 2, Issue (7): 28- 31 population from five different sampling stations was in the order of Station-I>Station-II> Station-IV> Station-III> Station-V. Seasonal trend of zooplankton representing lower number in monsoon season.. It might be due to influx of rain water, causing diluting effects as suggested by Chapman et.al ;(1985). On the other hand zooplankton might have consumed by fishes as reported by Dave et.al ;(1999). The increased turbidity in rainy season may be the cause for declining zooplankton population as suggested by Sharma and Sahai; (1988). Similarly higher population density of zooplankton during summer season can be attributed to low water volume and increased nutrient concentration. Rich biotic community in the water of Upper Wardha Project investigated in the present study is healthy practice for fish culture as noted from fish catches. 29 ISSN 2348 – 0319 International Journal of Innovative and Applied Research (2014), Volume 2, Issue (7): 28- 31 Table- 1 NUMERICAL ABUNDANCE OF ZOOPLANKTONS ( ORG/ L) AT DIFFERENT STATIONS OF UPPER WARDHA PROJECT DURING 2008-2009 S.No Zooplankton Stations Total % I II III IV V 1 Protozoa 8542 5670 9205 7437 8468 39322 15.06 2 Rotifer 14801 13917 14654 15316 14138 72826 27.09 3 Cladocera 9646 9646 10383 7879 6185 43740 16.76 4 Copepod 8026 9205 6480 9205 7511 40426 15.49 5 Ostracoda 8247 8395 6185 5913 5913 34653 13.28 6 Worms & Larvae 5766 6775 4345 7585 5596 30066 11.52 Total Zooplankton 55028 53607 51251 53335 47812 261034 100 Table - 2 SEASONAL TRENDS OF ZOOPLANKTONIC POPULATION ( ORG/L) OF UPPER WARDHA PROJECT DURING 2008-2009 Sr.No Zooplankton Monsoon Winter Summer 1 Protozoa 1708 1974 2695 2 Rotifers 3284 3284 5169 3 Cladocera 1900 2195 3005 4 Copepods 1900 2209 2555 5 Ostracoda 1644 1753 2268 6 Worms & Larvae 1433 1325 2070 TOTAL 11869 12739 17761 Conclusion The pollution indicator species from the recorded zooplankton population was observed vary meager. Therefore, the water body is at present is safe, non-polluted and of mesotrophic nature. Looking towards the nutrient level studied found within the permissible limit during the period of investigation. Hence, it can be concluded that the water is fresh and can be utilized for drinking, irrigation and fishery activities References Adoni, A. D. (1985): Workbook in Limnology. Pratibha Publisher,C-10 Gour Nagar,Sagar (M.P). APHA (1985): Standerd Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater,Washington,DC. Chapman, A. M; Green, J. D and Jolly. H.(1985): Relationship between zooplankton abundance and trophic status in Newzealand lakes; Hydrobiol.,123: 119-136 30 ISSN 2348 – 0319 International Journal of Innovative and Applied Research (2014), Volume 2, Issue (7): 28- 31 Contreas J.J,S.S.S. Sarma,M. Merino- Ibarra and S.Nandini (2009) : Seasonal changes in the rotifer diversity from a tropical high altitude reservoir (Valle de Bravo, Mexico) J.Enviro.Biol.,30,191-195 Dave, R. K.; Prakash, M.M. and Dhakad, N.K. (1999) : Seasonal trends in abiotic factors of the lentic habitat of Kalika pond, Dhar, Limnological research of India, 157-171. Madin, L.P; Bollens, S.M; Horgan, E; Butler, M and others (2001) : Voracious plank tonic hydroids : unexpected predatory impact on a coastal marine ecosystem. Deep – Sea Res II 43 : 1823 – 1829. Sharma, N. and Y.N. Sahai (1988) : Primary productivity of Jari tank. Proc. Nat.Symp.Past,Present and Future of Bhopal Lakes. Pp. 97-104. 31 .