Influence of physico-chemical parameters on the diversity of plankton species in wetlands of Tiptur taluk, Tumkur dist, Karnataka State, India.

Abstract

Plankton diversity and physic-chemical parameters are an important criterion for evaluating the suitability of water for drinking and other purposes. The present study is conducted to assess the relationship between physic-chemical parameters and phytoplankton assemblages which in turn can serve as a suitable method to assess the quality of wetland ecosystem, for a period of two years during June 2010 to May 2012. Water quality parameters like temperature, pH, EC,DO, ,BOD,COD, free carbon dioxide, , total alkalinity, total hardness, calcium and magnesium hardness, chloride, phosphate, sulphate and nitrate and plankton composition were investigated during the study period. Results have shown an increased concentration in physic-chemical parameters and plankton diversity is more in pre monsoon compared to post monsoon and monsoon season. The results of the present investigations are compared with literature values and investigation reveals that there is a fluctuation in the physic-chemical characters of the water; this will be due to entry of rain water and change in the temperature and salinity as season changes.