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Indian Journal of Pure & Applied Biosciences (IJPAB)
Year : 2020, Volume : 8, Issue : 3
First page : (477) Last page : (486)
Article doi: : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.8143

A Study on Diversity and Abundance of Micro-Phytoplankton in River Cauvery and its four Upstream Tributaries in South Karnataka, India

M. Mahadevaswamy*
Department of Zoology, Yuvaraja’s College, University of Mysore, Mysuru-570005, Karnataka, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: maadhuycm@gmail.com
Received: 2.05.2020  |  Revised: 8.06.2020   |  Accepted: 13.06.2020 

 ABSTRACT

The phytoplanktons are the common primary producers contribute substantial amount of dissolved oxygen. Dynamics of all aquatic ecosystems center on the primary productivity. Over all investigation revealed that the presence of phytoplankton species like, Gomphonema, Navicula, Cyclotella, Melosira, Nitzschia, Synedra, Scenedesmus, Chlorella, Ankistrodesmus, Oocystis, Closterium, Gloeocystis, Crucigenia, Chlorococcum, Spirogyra, and  Ulothrix etc., were recognized as pollution indicators. One liter of mid stream surface water samples were collected and preserved in 10% Lugols–Iodine. Phytoplanktons were counted by Lackey’s drop method using Epifluorescence microscope. SNK test revealed  that river Lakshmanatheertha exhibit significant difference. Calculations of Pearson’s correlation coefficients (p<0.01) showed positive correlation of mean abundance of micro phytoplanktons with micro zooplankton. Further, utilization of organic matter in aquatic environments by the bacteria is through the phytoplankton. Several physico-chemical factors and varying influx conditions cause changes in phytoplankton abundance and diversity. Chlorophyll-a is considered as the most reliable index of phytoplankton abundance and biomass. Temperature, pH and conductivity were important in the distribution and abundance of phytoplanktonic species. Increased algal growth was recorded in the presence of micro nutrients such as chloride, TASA and calcium. The initial hypothesis that the four upstream tributaries are similar to each other in mean abundance of micro phytoplankton, but are markedly different from that of main river Cauvery was rejected. In this investigation more abundance of phytoplankton was noticed in the river Lakshmanatheertha, this was due to more contamination of industrial and sewage pollution, suggests that this river was more favorable to abundance of micro phytoplankton.

Keywords: Micro phytoplankton, Zooplankton, Rivers, Environmental variables, Microbial variables 

Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782

Cite this article: Mahadevaswamy, M. (2020). A Study on Diversity and Abundance of Micro-Phytoplankton in River Cauvery and its four Upstream Tributaries in South Karnataka, India, Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. 8(3), 477-486. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.8143