Assessment of Zooplankton Diversity in Relation to
Physico-Chemical Parameters of Water in Selected Waterbodies of Durgapur
Industrial Region, West Bengal, India
Abstract: Plankton diversity and physico-chemical parameters are important
criteria for evaluating the suitability of water for irrigation and drinking
purposes. In this study, we tried to assess the zooplankton species richness,
diversity, and evenness and to predict the state of three selected studied
sites of Durgapur industrial town according to physico-chemical parameters.
Cyclopoid Copepods, Calonoid Copepods, Cladocera and Rotifers were found among
the three studied sites. Copepods were found to be dominant for all the studied
sites during the monsoon period. Higher species richness and abundance were
recorded in Padmapukur followed by domestic sewage canal and agricultural
run-off pond. The water samples were analyzed for temperature, pH, electrical
conductivity, alkalinity, nitrate, phosphate, hardness, dissolved oxygen, TDS,
chloride, GPP, CR and NPP. High values of parameters are recorded in summer
period and low values are recorded in winter period. The zooplankton population
shows positive significant correlation with physico-chemical parameters like
humidity and total dissolved solid. From the overall study it can be concluded
that Padmapukur wetland is highly productive in terms of zooplankton
distribution and abundance and therefore needs prior conservation for its
suitable use for drinking and irrigation purpose.
Keywords: Zooplankton diversity, physicochemical parameters, Shannon's index, species richness
