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VOL. 10, ISSUE 6 (2025)
Correlation between physico-chemical properties of water and zooplankton diversity and abundance in the freshwater ecosystem of the Gandak River
Authors
Khushboo Kumari, Lekh Raj, Shobha Shrivastava
Abstract
This study aims to test whether there is a
link between water properties and zooplankton populations in the Gandak River
of northern India. Since zooplankton are sensitive to changes in the quality of
water, their presence and type in rivers play a key role in understanding how
the ecosystem functions. Each month, water was taken from chosen points on the
Gandak River during the six months of the study. Temperature, pH, dissolved
oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD),
total dissolved solids (TDS) and concentrations of nitrates and phosphates in
the water were measured by following regular procedures. During the same
period, zooplankton samples were taken using plankton nets and recorded at the
finest level possible. It was found that water quality varies throughout the
year, with differences between places, and this is strongly linked to how
zooplankton differ in diversity and numbers. Most of the organisms found were
rotifers, copepods, cladocerans and protozoans. Despite varied nutrient levels,
places with optimum DO and pH saw the most zooplankton. On the other hand,
places with higher BOD and TDS had a lower zooplankton population. The
zooplankton community showed a strong relationship with the quality of water,
as confirmed by both Pearson’s correlation and the Shannon-Wiener and Simpson’s
Index. By analysing zooplankton in rivers, the study points out that their
presence in water indicates a healthy freshwater environment and suggests
monitoring rivers such as the Gandak often to spot and reduce human effects on
aquatic life.
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Pages:116-121
How to cite this article:
Khushboo Kumari, Lekh Raj, Shobha Shrivastava "Correlation between physico-chemical properties of water and zooplankton diversity and abundance in the freshwater ecosystem of the Gandak River". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 10, Issue 6, 2025, Pages 116-121
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