Affiliations: Department of Environmental Science, University of
Calcutta, Kolkata - 700 019 | Institute of Environmental Studies and Wetland
Management B-04 LA Block Salt Lake City, Kolkata - 700 098
Abstract: Environmental monitoring of inland water bodies is needed for proper
introspection of the structural and functional responses of freshwater
ecosystem vis-à-vis status of biological components. Above
endeavour have been initiated by periodic monitoring of both biological and
physico-chemical parameters of a freshwater lake at Sahebbundh, Purulia, West
Bengal, which is located at 23°29′42″ N
latitude and 86°21′37″ E longitude.
Water of this 63-acre lake is widely used for drinking purposes during summer
months. But the water body has become a target of several anthropogenic
interferences like garage activities, biomedical wastes, disposed sewage, etc.,
which can potentially hamper the health of the freshwater lake ecosystem. In
all 28 species of zooplanktons are recorded from the lake, including some which
are reported to be indicator of thermal pollution. Among the heavy metals the
study concentrates upon Pb^{2+}, Cr^{3+} and Cd^{2+}.
A remarkable change of community
dynamics of the zooplankton reflected by diversity fluctuations is observed
particularly in those areas with anthropogenic activities including
introduction of biomedical wastes, garage activities etc. Interestingly the
toxic heavy metal is very high in those spots with direct human interferences.
The level of Pb^{2+} is much higher in those sites in comparison to the other two
heavy metals, i.e. Cr^{3+} and Cd^{2+}. The Pb2+ is obviously a direct contribution
from anthropogenic garage activities, which is established from our findings.
