International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ___________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202Vol. 2(6), 35-38, June (2013) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 35 Habitat Preference of Rotifers Inhabiting some Waters of Jammu province, J&K, IndiaSharma K.K., Kaur Sarbjeet*, Antal Neha and Shvetambri Department of Zoology, University of Jammu, Baba sahib Ambedkar road, Jammu, J&K-180006, INDIAAvailable online at: www.isca.in Received 25th March 2013, revised 1st April 2013, accepted 2nd May 2013Abstract The water sources running in this stretch of J&K state are both lentic and lotic including pools, ponds, lakes, streams to mighty rivers. These water bodies varying from seasonal to perennial share a rich amount of aquatic biodiversity among which rotifers is one important group. In an attempt to enlist rotifers 40 lotic and 45 lentic waters were scanned from which 106 rotifer species were recorded. There was seen the presence of both classes (monogononta and digononta) in these waters. Major share of rotifers preferred lentic conditions but 9 species showed an affinity for lotic conditions. Keywords: Lentic, lotic, perennial. Introduction Rotifers are the fascinating microscopic creatures which belong to the group of primary fresh water invertebrates and their beauty lies in the capacity by which they have invaded endless sources of aquatic, semi aquatic habitats throughout the globe. Not strange to encounter them in damp soil, vegetable debris, mosses to interstices between sand grains of lake beaches. Among the members of about 2500 species most encounters is of the females, males are smaller and definitely known for relatively few species as they seldom live for more than 2-3 days2-5. Among the recorded species of the phylum Rotifera maximum are known to occur in littoral areas of lakes and ponds and there density having a correlation with the relative amount of available substrate, exposed area and other a biotic and biotic factors 5-8. Although any substrate may be used by rotifers but sessile species are by far the most abundant on submerged aquatic vegetations. These miniatures are although cosmopolitan in distribution but there appears a striking correlation between the pH of water body and composition of rotifers9-13. Thus, it appears that whether a given species is present in a particular body depends partially on its geographic location along with the precise complex of ecological condition prevailing there14. The present attempt is thus a preliminary step to record the distribution of rotifers residing in the lotic and lentic waters of this belt of lower Himalaya which have diverse biotic and a biotic ranges. Material and MethodsIn order to record the rotifer fauna inhabiting various lentic and lotic sources a detailed surveyed was conducted to take into record the maximum water bodies possible and then they were grouped into to either of the category viz. lotic or lentic. Collection of rotifers was done along various water sources by filtering 50 litres of water though the plankton net. Collection site was mainly considered bearing marginal vegetation. Vegetation was vigorously shaken before filtering, in order to detach the organisms. Identification of the 4% formative preserved samples was done in laboratory. Using Olympus microscope and mastax was separated using sodium hypochlorite method and verification of mastax was done as per Koste15. Results and DiscussionFrom the present enlisting of the rotifer species a total of 106 species of rotifers were recorded inhabiting some 40 lotic and 45 lentic sources. These rotifer species recorded belong to both class Digononta and Monogononta among which Monogononts took a lead by showing maximum presence. Order Bdelloidea was the only representative of Class Digononta. Of the record from class Monogononta which constitutes about 90% of recorded rotifer species, the maxima to rotifer number was added by order Ploima being represented by families Lecanidae, Colurellidae, Trichotriidae, Mytilinidae, Euchlanidae, Brachionidae, Epiphanidae, Asplanchidae, Trichocercidae, Gastropodidae, Synchaetidae, Dicranophoridae, Proalidae and Notommatidae15. In totality lentic sources had maximum preference of the rotifer species and representatives of some families (Gastropodidae, Asplanchidae, Proalidae, Fillinadae, Conocohilidae) were recorded only in lentic waters with there no representative in lotic types. International Research Journal of Biological Sciences _____________________________________ Vol. 2(6), 35-38, June (2013) International Science Congress Association Among all, the maximum bulk to rotifer count during present studies was by individuals of Family Brachionidae (Genus Brachionus, 13 species, Keratella ; 6 species, Notholca 2 species) and family Lecanidae with 14 represented of genus lecane . Both these families were having well marked distribution in both lentic a nd lotic water bodies (table Rotifer diversity was also studied by various other researchers in different lentic and lotic water bodies16-17. Other interesting features which came in view during this attempt of enlisting was that rotifers belonging to categories viz-a- viz epizoic or commensals ( Testudinella), psammobiotic ( Trichocerca, Lecane having such habitat preferences this part of the globe Map of J&K showing study areas in Jammu Province (Red dot [ ] represents the study area) International Research Journal of Biological Sciences _____________________________________ ___________ International Science Congress Association Among all, the maximum bulk to rotifer count during present by individuals of Family Brachionidae (Genus ; 6 species, Platiyias 2, 2 species) and family Lecanidae with 14 represented . Both these families were having well marked nd lotic water bodies (table -1). Rotifer diversity was also studied by various other researchers Other interesting features which came in view during this attempt of enlisting was that rotifers belonging to various viz epizoic or commensals ( Lepadella and Trichocerca, Lecane ) were also having such habitat preferences this part of the globe 18-21. Individuals of genus Ptygura and Collotheca association with algae. Species of Asplanchna, Polyarthra having preference for open water zones and those of genus Brachionus, Keratella, Rotaria, Philodina encountered along the vegetative zones ConclusionAlthou gh rotifers are the most beautiful creatures with diverse body forms and sizes. They do have likes for the type of habitat to reside and flourish in but no single parameters was found to be regulating there distribution. It can be concluded that waters of lower Himalayas are a good house of rotifers among which maximum had lentic choice barring 9 species having lotic preference with maximum from family Notommatidae. Figure-1 areas in Jammu Province (Red dot [ ] represents the study area) ___________ ISSN 2278-3202 Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. 36 Collotheca were having good Asplanchna, Polyarthra were having preference for open water zones and those of genus Brachionus, Keratella, Rotaria, Philodina were mostly encountered along the vegetative zones 22,23. gh rotifers are the most beautiful creatures with diverse body forms and sizes. They do have likes for the type of habitat to reside and flourish in but no single parameters was found to be regulating there distribution. It can be concluded that waters lower Himalayas are a good house of rotifers among which maximum had lentic choice barring 9 species having lotic preference with maximum from family Notommatidae. areas in Jammu Province (Red dot [ ] represents the study area) International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 2(6), 35-38, June (2013) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 37 Table-1 Rotifer species recorded from various lentic and lotic water bodies S. No. Name Lentic Lotic 1. Anuraeopsis fissa + - 2. Brachionus angularis + + 3. Brachionus bidentata + + 4. Brachionus calyciflorus + + 5. Brachionus caudata + + 6. Brachionus falcatus + + 7. Brachionus patulus + + 8. Brachionus plicatilis + - 9. Brachionus quadridentata + + 10. Brachionus rubens + - 11. Brachionus budapestensis + - 12. Brachionus diversicornis + - 13. Brachionus sps. + + 14. Keratella cochlearis + - 15. Keratella tropica + + 16. Keratella serrulata + - 17. Keratella procurva + - 18. Keratella quadrata + - 19. Keratella sps. + + 20. Platiyias quadricornis + + 21. Platiyias sps. + + 22. Notholca labis + - 23. Notholca sps. + + 24. Ascomorpha sps. + - 25. Asplanchna sp. + - 26. Asplanchna priodonta + - 27. Asplanchnopus + - 28. Asplanchna brightwelli + - 29. Cephalodella sps. + - 30. Cephalodella gibba + + 31. Scaridium longicaudum + + 32. Monommata sps. + + 33. Eosphora erhenbergi - + 34. Cephalodella auriculata - + 35. Cephalodella catellina - + 36. Eosphora sps. - + 37. Colurella sps. + - 38. Colurella obtuse + + 39. Colurella bicuspidata + + 40. Lepadella ovalis + + 41. Lepadella sps. + + 42. Lepadella crestata + - 43. Colurella uncinata - + 44. Lepadella heterostyla - + 45. Lepadella patella - + 46. Squatinella sps. + - 47. Euchlanis dilatata + + 48. Euchlanis dapidae + - S. No. Name Lentic Lotic 49. Euchlanis sps. + - 50. Dipleuchlanis propatula + - 51. Dipleuchlanis sps. + - 52. Euchlanis incise - + 53. Lecane bulla + + 54. Lecane closterocerca + + 55. Lecane (M) decipiens + + 56. Lecane ludwigii + + 57. Lecane luna + + 58. Lecane lunaris + + 59. Lecane ohlioensis + - 60. Lecane sps. + + 61. Lecane (M) quadridentata + + 62. Lecane depressa + - 63. Lecane ploensis + + 64. Lecane curvicornis + + 65. Lecane leontina - + 66. Lecane conspicua - + 67. Mytilina ventralis + + 68. Mytilina sps. + - 69. Polyarthra vulgaris + + 70. Polyarthra sps.+ - 71. Synchaeta oblonga + - 72. Pleosoma hudsoni - + 73. Trichocerca sps.+ + 74. Trichocerca similis + - 75. Trichocerca stylata + + 76. Trichocerca porcellus + + 77. Trichocerca rattus + + 78. Dicranophorus hauerianus + - 79. Dicranophorus epicharis - + 80. Dicranophorus sps.+ - 81. Proales sps.+ - 82. Epiphanes brachionus + + 83. Epiphanes senta - + 84. Epiphanes sps.- + 85. Trichotria tetractis + + 86. Trichotria sps.+ - 87. Macrochaetus sps.+ - 88. Filinia longiseta + + 89. Filinia opoliensis + - 90. Filinia terminalis + - 91. Filinia sps. + + 92. Tetramastix opoliensis + - 93. Tetramastix sps.+ - 94. Hexarthra mira + - 95. Hexarthra sps.+ - 96. Testudinella patina + - International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 2(6), 35-38, June (2013) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 38 97. 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