International Research Journal of Environment Sciences__________________________________ ISSN 2319–1414Vol. 4(10), 51-57, October (2015) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 51 Aquatic Biodiversity of Nimbavade Reservoir of Sangli District, Maharashtra, India Patil Alaka A. Department of Botany, Padmabhushan Dr. Vasantraodada Patil Mahavidyalaya, Tasgaon Dist. Sangli, MS, INDIAAvailable online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me Received 10th August 2015, revised 21st September 2015, accepted 12th October 2015 AbstractWetlands play a vital role in maintaining the biodiversity and lively hood of the human being. Atpadi is one of the drought prone tahsil of Sangli district of Maharashtra. In aquatic ecosystem of Nimbavade, a total number of ten macrophytes were reported. The phytoplankton play an important role in aquatic ecosystem as a primary producers,and have a unique ability to fix inorganic carbon to build up organic substances through primary production. The Chlorophyceae represented by 18 species. The Cyanophyceae members were represented by 07 species. The Bacillariophyceae observed 04 species. Dinophyceae and Euglenophyceae represented by 01 species each. This wetland is secondarily being used for capture fishery.Important major carps, common carp, Chinese carp and 09 local fish species occurred in this reservoir. There were 24 species of aquatic birds were observed in the vicinity of Nimbavade reservoir. Attempts have been made to observe the diversity of macrophytes, phytoplankton, fish and bird diversity to obtain the baseline data from Nimbavade reservoir of Sangli district from June 2013 to May 2015. Keywords: Biodiversity, wetland, Nimbavade reservoir, Sangli district, macrophytes, Phytoplankton, fishes and birdsIntroduction Aquatic biodiversity has a lot of aesthetic as well as economic value and is largely responsible for maintaining and supporting overall environmental health of that respective region. The wetlands are suitable habitats for variety of animals, many birds and also aquatic plant forms, which form a typical food web and all responsible for several biological products. Biodiversity of Borgaon Wetland of Maharashtra was reported. Most of the area of the tahsil is hard, rocky with small hills, ravines and bare plateaus of several kilometers with xeric habitat. The annual rainfall is also scanty since last many years. The average annual rainfall is 19.56 inches. The agriculture is either rain-fed or well water irrigated. Since last few years the numbers of the bore wells are tremendously increased for agriculture and drinking water, the underground water table has considerably decreased. All these conditions are increased day by day and the importance of man-made reservoirs in the tahsil. Attempts are made to collect the information and update the biological data of Nimbavade reservoir as untouched water body in respect to macrophytes, phytoplankton, fishes and birds which will be of use in studying and conserving the fresh water resources of our country. The Nimbavade is small village of Atpadi and 95 km away from district place. In 1981-88 Irrigation Department has constructed earthen dam riveted with stones. The water is used for irrigation also for vehicle and clothes washing, batting and fishing activities. The reservoir is much influenced by human activities.Materials and Methods Study area: Southern Maharashtra includes Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur districts. Out of these three districts, Sangli district is one of the most important district as far as agricultural development is concerned. Sangli district is situated between 16.46 to 17.1 N and 73.43 to 75.0 E latitudes. Geographically, Sangli district is divided into two zones viz. area adjoining Krishna river basin and eastern drought prone area away from basin with low rainfall and typical arid geographical set up. The overall water level is up to 6 meters down but varies according to geographical area, strata and location of the particular village. The eastern part of the district shows low fertile soil because of natural set up where man-made reservoirs have become source of irrigation besides the well. Several limnological studies have been carried out in this region2-4. Most of the studies were carried out in water bodies of urban area. Sustainable development is not possible without proper management of wetlands. Catchment area of reservoir is 108.49 sq.km. The maximum length of dam including slipway is 887.50 M, in which length of slipway is near about 183 M is of clear overflow type. This is shallow water body near margin. The total capacity of water storage is 235.69 Mcft where as dead storage is about 35.35 Mcft. The bottom of reservoir is rocky hence sustaining poor growth of aquatic macrophytes. Submergence area of reservoir is of 66 hectare. Average rainfall in the area is 19.56 inches. The International Research Journal of Environment Sciences ______________________________________________ISSN 2319–1414Vol. 4(10), 51-57, October (2015) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 52 total water spread is 71.35 hectares. Total height of dam is 16.31 M. This reservoir is constructed during 1981 to 1988. Aquatic macrophytes: During every visit aquatic macrophytes and marginal macrophytes were studied, photographed and collected from reservoir and kept in polythene bags for further process. In laboratory they were identified by using ‘The Flora of Presidency of Bombay’, Flora of Kolhapur district and other relevant published literature. Phytoplankton: The phytoplanktons were collected using plankton net. It was prepared by using bolting silk No. 125. Total 100 liters of water sample was filtered and concentrate was collected in 200 ml plastic bottle. Two separate sets of concentrate samples were preserved by adding 4% formalin and 1 ml of Lugol’s Iodine. Identification of phytoplankton was made following standard methods7-10 and consulting experts. The qualitative analysis of phytoplankton was performed under Olympus trinocular 20C Hi microscope by focus 10 X 45x with 7.5 mega pixel camera. Fishery: The fishes captured by fishermen were observed during the regular visits of study period. Fishermen and their family members were interviewed about their whole activity and their profit. Fishes were identified following the state keys11, 12, 13Avifauna: The birds observed in and around the reservoir were identified by using standard keys14,15. Figure-1 Map of India showing Maharashtra State Figure-2 Map of Maharashtra location of showing location of Sangli district Figure -3 Map of Sangli District Figure-4 Submergence Area of Nimbavade Reservoir International Research Journal of Environment Sciences ______________________________________________ISSN 2319–1414Vol. 4(10), 51-57, October (2015) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 53 Results and Discussion Macrophytes: The study on aquatic macrophytes is important to limnologist in order to understand functioning of aquatic ecosystem. The aquatic vegetation in Nimbavade reservoir consists of ten macrophyte species. Out of that Ipomoea carnea Jacq. Subsp fistulosa, Typha angustata Bory and Chaub.and Cyperus rotundus L. ssp. rotundusFimbristylis dichotoma Vahi and Bacopa monniera (Linn) are of emergent macrophytes. Submerged macrophytes in same reservoir are represented by five species viz. Chara sps, Vallisneria spiralis L.Ceratophyllum demersum L, Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle and Najas minor sensu Hoook. f. This reservoir is devoid of free floating and rooted floating macrophytes.Chemical nature of water is most important factor for distribution of aquatic plants. Physical nature of water, bottom of reservoir, fluctuations in water temperature and water level affect the distribution of aquatic plants. The occurrence of Ipomoea carnea Jacq. subsp fistulosa,Najas minor might be because of partial contamination by human and cattle washing and bathing. The area around water body was occupied by many weeds. They represent original natural set up of the region with typical xerophytes. These were Argemone maxicana L., Tridex procumbens L., Parthenium hysterophorus ., Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br., Calotropis gigantean L. R.Br., Euphorbia hirta L., Euphorbia microphylla Heyne., Celosia argentea L., Cassia tora L., Acacia arabica (Lamk.) wild., Acacia nilotica (L.) wild., Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers., Lantana camara L. var aculeate (L.) MoldenkePongamia glabra Vent. and Azadirachta indica Juss Surround the water body and on dam line also. The dicotyledons were dominated over monocotyledons. Phytoplankton: The phytoplankton community on which, whole aquatic population depends is largely influenced by the interaction of number of physico-chemical factors16,17. The phytoplankton members represent the families’ viz. Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Euglenophyceae and Dinophyceae. The Chlorophyceae members are found to be dominant throughout the study period (table-1). During rainy season phytoplankton diversity was less, while in summer it increases. During the study total number of species was 17, 22 and 31 in rainy, winter and summer season respectively. Pediastrum biradiatum, P. tetras,Scenedesmus acuminatus, Ankistrodesmus spiralis, Palmella mucosa, Spirogyra spp., Aphanizomenon spp., Oscillatoria spp, Navicula spp., Synedra acus, Cyclotella comta, Euglena acus var rigida and Ceratium cornutum observed during all seasons of investigation. Sperocystis spp, Tetraedron muticum var punctulatum, Scenedesmus quadricauda, Chlorococcum hunicola, Merismopedia tenuissima, Anabaena spp.and Cyclindrospermim doryphorum were absent during rainy season. Dictyosphaerium pulchellum, Volvox spp. And Tetraspora gelatinosa were absent only during winter season.The total number of 18 species of Chlorophyceae is distributed from14 genera. Total 7 species of Cyanophyceae belongs to 6 genera and 4 species of 3 genera of Bacillariophyceae and from Dinophyceae 2 species were reported during the study period. Algal abundance was noted higher during summer and declining during rainy season due to turbidity, current velocity, water runoff causing dilution effect, loss of water through outlet and fluctuating water level. Similar observations are reported18, 19. The chlorophyceae found to be dominant over other groups20. The highest species diversity of Chlorophyceae (green algae) in fresh water bodies of south west Maharashtra was recorded21. In all 34 species of phytoplankton amongst were observed in Mani reservoir, Hosanagar, Karnataka22, 13species of Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae with 11 species, 7species of Cyanophyceae and Euglenophyceae with 3 species. Phytoplankton diversity of Western Yamuna Canal and River Yamuna in Yamunanagar, Haryana also reported23. Algal spectrum of a wetland and its correlation with the physico-chemical parameters were studied24. In the Bhambarde reservoir of Sangli district, the total number of 22 species of Chlorophyceae, 5 species of Cyanophyceae, 4 species of Bacillariophyceae and 2 species from Dinophyceae25Fish diversity: Fishes constitute economically a very important group. The nutritional and medicinal value of fishes has already been recognized9, 26-28. Fish is an important food resource in fresh waters as well as marine waters as it is rich in proteins, carbohydrates and other nutritional constituents29. The fishermen have established Bismilla fishery co-operative society, Nimbavade the co-operative society. This society obtains the right of fishing from government authorities for a period of five years on lease. If a tank is on lease by person or supported by co-operative society then, fisherman has to pay 10 Rs. per kg per day to lease man or co-operative society. The collected amount is used to purchase the seed of carp. The prominent major carps are Labeo rohita (Rohu), Catla catla, Cirrhinus mrigala (Mrigal). The common carp is Cyprinus carpio. The Chinese carp is Hypoplithalimichthys molitrix (silver carp) (table-2). Labeo rohita is commonly occurring fresh water major carp fish, available in the local ponds and rivers30 International Research Journal of Environment Sciences ______________________________________________ISSN 2319–1414Vol. 4(10), 51-57, October (2015) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 54 The catch from rivers and reservoirs includes two species of family Masacembalidae that is Mastocembelus armatus and Mastocembelus aculatus, from which Mastocembelus armatusspecies was found more common. Mastocembelus armatusspecies was already enlisted in the threatened checklist of Ichthyofauna from Marathwada region of Maharashtra31. Cirrhinus mrigala, Catla catla, Labea calbosu, Labeo rohita, Ompok, Mastocembelus armatus were recorded in the 11 water bodies of Assam32Ichtyofaunal Diversity of the Rigth bank of Congo River (Pool Malebo), Congo33. Preliminary biodiversity inventory of Ichtyofauna of Tsieme River, A tributary of Congo River (Pool-Malebo) 34. Table-1 Seasonal variations in phytoplankton species in Nimbavade reservoir S. N. Name of the species Nimbawade Rainy Winter Summer Chlorophyceae 1 Sperocystis spp. - + + 2 Pediastrum biradiatum Meyen + + + 3 Pediastrum duplex var glacilimum West and West - - + 4 Pediastrum tetras var tetradon (Corda) Rabenhorst + + + 5 Tetraedron muticum var punctulatum (Reinsch) De Toni - + + 6 Dictyosphaerium pulchellum Woood + - + 7 Scenedesmus quadricauda var longispina (Chod.) G.M. Smith - + + 8 Scenedesmus acuminatus (Lag.) Chodat + + + 9 Ankistrodesmus spiralis (Turner) Lemmermann + + + 10 Ankistrodesmus falcatus var mirabilis (West and West) G.S. West- - + 11 Volvox spp. + - + 12 Chlorella vulgaris Beyerineck - - + 13 Chlorococcum hunicola (Naeg.) Rabenhorst - + + 14 Tetraspora gelatinosa (Vauch.) Desvaux + - + 15 Palmella mucosa Kuetzing + + + 16 Spirogyra spp. + + + 17 Cosmarium depressum Lundell - - + 18 Dinobryon sociale Eherenberg + + + Cyanophyceae 19 Merismopedia tenuissima Lemmermann- + + 20 Merismopedia elegans var major G.M.Smith - - + 21 Anabaena spp. - + + 22 Aphanizomenon spp. + + + 23 Oscillatoria spp. + + + 24 Cyclindrospermim doryphorum - + + 25 Gleotrichia natans - + + Bacillariophyceae 26 Navicula spp. + + + 27 Synedra capitata Ehrenberg - - + 28 Synedra acus Kuetzing+ + + 29 Cyclotella comta Kuetzing+ + + Euglenophyceae 30 Euglena acus var rigida Huebner + + + Dinophyceae 31 Ceratium cornutum (Ehrenb.) Claparede and Lachmann + + + Total 17 22 31 + indicates present species. International Research Journal of Environment Sciences ______________________________________________ISSN 2319–1414Vol. 4(10), 51-57, October (2015) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 55 Table-2 Checklist of fishes from Nimbavade reservoir Sr. No. Varieties Local name Scientific name Family 1 Major Carps Rohu Labeo rohita Cyprinidae Catla Catla catla Cyprinidae Mrigal Cirrhinus mrigala Cyprinidae 2 Common carps Cyprinus Cyprinus carpio Cyprinidae 3 Chinese carp Silver carp Hypoplithalimichthys molitrix Cyprinidae 4 Local varieties Tambir Labeo fimbricatus Cyprinidae Kanas Labeo calbasu Cyprinidae Dokrya Chana gachua Cyprinidae Murrel Chana marulius Cyprinidae Vam Mastocembelus armatus Mastacembelidae Khaprya Ompok bimaculatus Siluridae Putia Glossogbius girris Cyprinidae Shingati Mystus malbaricus Bagridae Mallya Garra mullya Cyprinidae Table-3 Avifauna of Nimbavade reservoir of Sangli district Sr. No. Aquatic birds Scientific name 1 Little cormorant Phalacrocorox niger 2 Large egret Casmerodius albus 3 Grey Heron Ardea cinera 4 Painted Stork Mycteria leucophala 5 Black Ibis Peeudibis papillosa 6 Graylag GooseAnser anser 7 Brahminy shelduck Tandorna ferruginea pall 8 Lesser whitling duck Dendrocygna javanica 9 Nothern shovellerAnus clypeata 10 Garganey Anas querquedula 11 Common coot Fulica atra 12 Bronz winged jacana Metopidius indicus 13 Common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucas 14 House crow Corvus splendens 15 Median egret Mesophoyx intermedia 16 Indian pond Heron, Ardeola grayii 17 Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis 18 Little Egret, Egretta garzetta 19 Common Quail, Coturnix coturnix 20 Indian peafowl , Pavo cristatus 21 Indian grey Hornbill, Oclyceros birostri 22 Plumheaded Parakeet, Psittacula cyanocephala 23 Common Hoopoe pupa epops 24 Rock Bush Quail , Perdicula argoondah Total 24 International Research Journal of Environment Sciences ______________________________________________ISSN 2319–1414Vol. 4(10), 51-57, October (2015) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 56 Avifauna: Aquatic vegetation, bank side flora, trees in catchment area attracts the birds in reservoir. Even though birds are not aquatic in the real sense but they are dependent on aquatic habitat for food. At Nimbavade 24 species were recorded (table-3). Large egret, Black Ibis, Shovellar, Brahmini duck, coot in the wetland areas of Raichur35. Physicochemical Characterization of Lonar Lake Effecting Biodiversity studied36. Conclusion For the purpose of management of any wetland ecosystem monitoring is essential. It may be biological or physico-chemical. It is very difficult to evaluate each and every parameter regularly. The reservoir is significant for aquaculture. The fisherman community is dependent on this reservoir for fish catch as income source. Now these days are of conservation of aquatic biodiversity. Few local diversity of aquatic ecosystem has maintained well in this reservoir.Acknowledgement Author is thankful to UGC for providing the financial support, Dr. R. R. Kumbhar, Principal, P.D.V.P. Mahavidyalaya, Tasgaon, Dist: Sangli (MS) for encouragement and providing necessary facilities to carry out the work. References 1.Patil Alaka, Biodiversity of Borgaon Wetland World Journal of Biological Research,6(1), 28-33 (2014)2.Hujare M.S., Hydrobiology studies on some water reservoirs Of Hatkanangale tahsil Maharashtra.: Ph.D. Thesis submitted to Shivaji University, Kolhapur India (2005)3.Goel P.K., Kulkarni A.Y. and Khatavkar S.D., Species diversity in phytoplankton communities in a few fresh water bodies in south western Maharashtra, Geobio, s 15,150-156(1998)4.Bhosale L.J., Sabale A.B. and Mulik N.G., Survey and status report on some wetlands of Maharashtra, Final report submitted to Shivaji University, Kolhapur India, (1994)5.Cooke T., The Flora of Presidency of Bombay, BSI, Calcutta, (1967)6.Yadav S.R. and Sardesai M.M., Flora of Kolhapur District Published by Shivaji University Kolhapur (India) (2002)7.APHA, AWWA and WPCF, Standard Methods for examination of water and waste water, 21st Ed., New York, (2005)8.Fritsch F.E., The present day classification of algae, Bot. Rev., 10. (1944)9.Bongale U.D. and Bharati S.G., Fresh water algae of Davangere and Raichur of Karnataka state, India. J. Bombay Nat. Hist.Soc.,77, 6-11 (1978)10.Prescott G.W., Algae of the great western lakes area.Otto Koeltz Science Publishers, Koenigstien, Germany, (1982) 11.Jhingran V.G., Fish and Fisheries of India. Hindustan Publishing Corp, (India) Delhi (1982)12.Jhingran V.G., Recent advances in reservoir fishries management in India.: Reservoirs’ Fishries of Asia. (Ed. Desilva S. S.): International development research centre- Ottwa, Canada, 158-178 (1991)13.Jayaram K.C., The fresh water fishes of the Indian region.: Narendra Publishing Hous E, Delhi, India, (1999)14.Salim Ali, The book of Indian Birds: 13th Edition : Bombay Natural History Society, Oxford University Press, (2002)15.Bruce Campbell, The Dictionary of Birds in colour Published by Peerage Books, London WI., (1974)16.Jana B.B., Seasonal periodicity of plankton in fresh water in West Bengal, India, International Review Ges. Hydrobiologia, 58, 127-143 (1973)17.Sankala S.K., Jain S.L. Dhakar M.L. and Vyas L.N., Phytoplankton Periodicity in three lakes around Udaipur, Acta. Limnology, India,1, 11-16 (1981)18.Tiwari D., Algal Dynamics of a polluted river, Nature, Environment and Pollution Technoligy,3(1), 95-98, (2004)19.Jadhav S.B. and Chavan N.S., Study of phytoplankton population from water resources of Jotiba (Wadi Ratnagiri), Maharashtra. Nature,Environment and Pollution Technlogy, 8(1), 37-42,(2009)20.Goel P.K., Khatavkar S.D., Kulkarni A.Y. and Trivedy R.K., Limnology studies of few freshwater bodies in south western Maharashtra with special reference to chemistry and phytoplankton, Pollution Research, 5(2), 79-84 (1986)21.Vijaya Bhaskar C., Mansour S.A.G. and Nagendrappa G., Phytoplankton Studies in relation to physico-chemical environment of some lakes around Tumkur City, International Research Journal of Environment Sciences ______________________________________________ISSN 2319–1414Vol. 4(10), 51-57, October (2015) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 57 Karnataka, India. Nature, Environment and Pollution Technology, 8(3), 533-538 (2009)22.Veerendra D.N., Manjappa S. and Puttaiah E.T., Diversity of phytoplankton in Mani reservoir, Hosanagar, Karnataka, Journal of Environment and Ecoplanning,12(2), 335-338 (2006) 23.Malhotra Priyanka, Bhatnagar Anita and Chopra Girish, Phytoplankton Diversity of Western Yamuna Canal and River Yamuna in Yamunanagar, Haryana, India, Int. Res. J. Environment Sci.,3(2),1-7 (2014) 24.Gyanesh Krishna and Rita Sinha, Algal Spectrum of a Wetland and its Correlation with the Physico-Chemical Parameters Int. Res. J. Environment Sci.,3(3), 27-30 (2014)25.Patil Alaka A., Biodiversity of Bhambarde Reservoir of Sangli, Maharashtra, India, Res. J. Recent. Sci.,4, 209-215 (2015)26.Hora S.L. and Pillay T.V.R., Hand book of Fish culture in IndiaPacific Region, FAD Fish Biol. Tech. Paper,14, 204 (1962)27.David A., Limnology and fisheries of Tungabhadra reservoir. Bull. Cent, Inland Fish Res. Inst,13, 1-118 (1969)28.Mishra K.S., An aid to the identification of fishes of India, Burma and Celone, (1952)29.Singh S., Impact of an insecticide Rogor on ovary of Channa punctatus (Bloch), Nature Environment Pollution Technology, 6(3), 471-475 (2007)30.Saradamani N., R. Saraswati and Dhanalakshmi B., Effects of the detergent commondo on Cholesterol content of the fresh water fish Labeo rohita, Natural Environment Pollution Technology, 6(3), 433-436 (2007)31.Chavan S.P, Kadam M.S and N.E. Ambore, Conservation needs for a fresh water Spiny eel. M. armatus frop Marathawada Region of Maharashtra, India, Eco. Env. Cons.,11(3-4), 5173-519(2005)32.Kar D., Barbhuya A.H., Baruah A.R., Choudhary C., Banerjee P., Paul R., Battacharjee A., Saikia R., Das B., Barman R. and Saha B., Panorama of fish diversity in certain rivers, wetlands and protected areas in Assam, Geobios,36(1), 57-64 (2009)33.Mady-Goma Dirat I., Mikia M., Tsoumou A.and Vouidibio J., Ichtyofaunal Diversity of the Rigth bank of Congo River (Pool Malebo), Congo Int., Res. J. Environment Sci.,3(2), 36-47 (2014) 34.Olabi-Obath DBC, Mady-Goma Dirat I., Mikia M., Tsoumou A. and Vouidibio J., Preliminary biodiversity inventory of Ichtyofauna of Tsieme River, A tributary of Congo River (Pool-Malebo), Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., 2(12), 57-65 (2013)35.Malkanna, R. P. and Patil C., Wetland avifauna of Raichur in North Karnataka, Ecology. Env.ironmentand Conservation., 73(4), 687-696 (2007) 36.Shinde Vinod A. and More S.M., Study of Physicochemical Characterization of Lonar Lake Effecting Biodiversity Lonar Lake, Maharashtra, India, Int. Res. J. Environment Sci.,2(12), 25-28 (2013)