International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2018, Volume : 6, Issue : 1
First page : (726) Last page : (737)
Article doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.5903
Macro-Invertebrates (Annelida; Oligochaeta) As Bio-Indicator of Water Quality under Temperate Climatic Conditions
Adnan Abubakr*, Altaf Ahmad Gojar, M. H. Balkhi and Rizwana Malik
Division of Aquatic Environmental Management,
Faculty of Fisheries, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Rangil, Nagbal, Srinagar, Kashmir -190006, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: adnanabubakr@gmail.com
Received: 16.10.2017 | Revised: 25.11.2017 | Accepted: 29.11.2017
ABSTRACT
The present research work deals with the distribution of benthic macro-invertebrates (Annelida; Oligochaeta) in relation to water quality of Anchar lake. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of benthic macro-invertebrates showed the presence of three species viz. Limnodrilus hoffmeister, Erpobdella octoculata and Glassophonia complanata in the lake. Among the three species Limnodrilus hoffmeister belonged to class Oligochaeta whereas Erpobdella octoculata and Glassophonia complanata belonged to class Hirudinea. The occurrence of these species in higher number is due to the presence of organic rich waters and entry of sewage, which favours growth of these worms. The distribution of these organisms is generally influenced by Nitrogen (NO3 and NH4) along with phosphorus. The distribution of Limnodrilus sp showed positive correlation with NO3-N and NH4.-N (p≤0.05, r = 0.429) and (p≤0.05, r = 0.324) respectively. This indicates that both N & P are important factor for abundance and presence of Limnodrilus hoffmeister, Erpobdella octoculata and Glassophonia complanata. Dissolved Oxygen and free CO2 are also found to be an influential factor in affecting the distribution of Annelida especially Limnodrilus sp. Which showed strong negative correlation with dissolved oxygen (p≤0.01, r = - 0.770) and strong positive correlation with free CO2 (p≤0.01, r = 0.741). The study reveals that macro-invertebrates especially Oligochaetes can be used as indicator of water quality because they are found in lake with contaminated water quality.
Key words:Anchar Lake, Macro-Invertebrate, Oligochaeta, Water Quality.
Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782
Cite this article: Abubakr, A., Gojar, A.A., Balkhi, M.H. and Malik, R., Macro-Invertebrates (Annelida; Oligochaeta) As Bio-Indicator of Water Quality under Temperate Climatic Conditions, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci.6(1): 726-737 (2018). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.5903
