International Research Journal of Environment Sciences________________________________ ISSN 2319–1414Vol. 4(2), 43-45, February (2015) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 43 Phytoplankton Diversity of a Desert Village Pond in Bikaner Rajasthan, IndiaJanagal Bhupender and Khatri Anand Kumar Laboratory of Environmental Biology, P.G. Department of Zoology, Govt. DungarCollege (A-Grade), Bikaner, Rajasthan, INDIA Available online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me Received 30th November 2014, revised 25th January 2015, accepted 12th February 2015 AbstractPhytoplanktons are the chief primary producers and are of prime importance in aquatic ecosystem as the productivity of aquatic ecosystem is totally dependent on these. They forms the basic link of food chain for all aquatic organism. The diversity of phytoplankton components in the aquatic ecosystem serve as a reliable index for monitoring a water body. We examined the phytoplankton diversity in sagar village pond, which is situated 6 k.m. away from Bikaner (Rajasthan). Samples were collected monthly from Jan.2012 to Mar.2013. Different Species of phytoplankton related to the member of three algal groups, namely Chlorophyceae (greens) Cyanophyceae (blue greens) and Bacillariophyceae (diatoms) were observed. The species Cladophora, Crucigenia, Microspora, Chara, Spiyogyra (5greens), Navicula, Nitzschia, Synedra, Diatoma, Coscinodiscus (5diotoms) Spirulina, Nostoc, Anabaena, Oscillatoria (4 blue greens) were recorded from the village pond. Climate of local environment factors are likely to have major impact on phytoplankton diversity of fresh water. Keywords: Village pond, phytoplankton, diversity, climate, algal group. Introduction Phytoplanktons are photoautotrophic, microscopic, organism containing chlorophyll within their cells that inhabit the upper sunlit layer of almost all bodies of water. Phytoplankton obtains energy through the process of photosynthesis and must therefore live in the euphotic zone of water body. Phytoplanktons are the primary producer. They produce organic compounds and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water which sustain the aquatic food chain. Phytoplanktons are responsiable for much of the oxygen present in the atmosphere. Phytoplanktons are extremely varying from photosynthesizing bacteria (Cyanobacteria) to diatoms and green algae. In terms of numbers, the most important algal group of phytoplankton includes Chlorphyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Cyanophyceae. Study Area: This pond is situated about 6 k.m. east of the Bikaner city. The maximum depth of the pond is 5.5m and the surface water is about 2000m. It has stone and brick walls on the eastern and southern banks. The pond is utilized by village people for the purpose of washing and bathing. The colour of pond water is sandy and macrophytes are also present. The former banks support building of Scout - Guide Training centre and temple. Clay from the latter end is lifted for brick making and other purposes. Hydrilla is the common rooted vegetation of the pond. Material and Methods The present study was carried out over a period of Jan.2012 to Mar.2013. The samples were collected monthly from the sampling site. Water samples for phytoplankton were directly collected from water and taken in wide mouthed polythene bottles of 500ml. Samples were preserved in Lugol’s iodine solution and in 4% formaldehyde immediately after collection and were allowed for sedimentation for 5-6 days. The supernatant was removed after sedimentation. After that phytoplankton were identified and counted using Sedgwick rafter slide under microscope. The results of phytoplankton were expressed in units×10/l. Phytoplankton were identified1-12. Result and Discussion In Sagar village pond, the phytoplankton population was represented by three groups’ viz. Chlorophyceae (greens), Bacilloriophyceae (diatoms) and Cyanophyceae (blue greens). During 15 months of study the total population of Chlorophyceae (greens) were fluctuate between 750 to 1600 units×10/l. In overlapping months i.e. Jan, February and in March the total population were seems almost similar. The Chlorophyceae mainly represented by Cladophora, Crucigenia, microspora, charaand Spirogyra. Spirogyra seems as dominant species while Charafound as least during the study period. In same pond, the second group Bacilloriophyceae from the 1150 to1850 units×10/l. It is mainly represented by Navicula, Nitzschia, Synedra, Coscinodiscus and diatoms. Out of three five Synedra noticed as least while Nitzschiawere recorded as highest during the study time period. Spirulina, Nostoc, Anabaena, Oscillatoria were recorded in Cyanophyceae (blue greens) groups. It was ranges from 550 to 850 units×10/l. The data shown in table-1. In total during study period the phytoplankton population ranges from 2700 to 3850 units×10/l and was noticed highest in the month of January 2012 and least in the month of December 2012. As the special feature of International Research Journal of Environment Sciences______________________________________________ ISSN 2319–1414 Vol. 4(2), 43-45, February (2015) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 44 Desert, during study period from May 2012 to July2012 the pond become dry due to no rain and high environmental temperature. Conclusion The monitoring of the phytoplankton assemblages carried out in Sagar village pond showed large seasonal variations in quantitatively terms the composition and structure of phytoplankton communities reveal changes in water quality, especially with regard to organic matter inputs. Reference 1.Annandale N.A., The fauna of an Island in the Chilka Lake, Introduction, Rec. Indian Mus., 22, 313-321 (1921) 2.Edmondson W.T., ed. Freshwater Biology, John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York, (1959) 3.Needham J.G. and Needham P.K., A guide to the study of Freshwater Biology, Holdesday, Inc. San Francisco, (1962)4. Arora Deepika., Planktonic productivity in some desert waters around Bikaner: A comparative study, M.Phil. Dissertation, Dungar College, Bikaner, 66 (2009) 5.Jain B.B., Seasonal periodicity of plankton in freshwater ponds, West Bengal, India, Journal of International Rev. Ges. Hydrobiology, 58, 127-143 (1973) 6.Kaul V., Fotedar D.N., Pandit A.K. and Trishal C.L., A comparative study of Plankton population of some typical fresh water bodies of Jammu and Kashmir State, IN : Environmental Physiology and Ecology of plants (D.N. 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Ser., 200-93-102(2000)12.Roy R., Pratihary A., Mangesh G. and Naqvi S.W.A., Spatial variation of phytoplankton pigments along the southwest coast of India, Est. Coast. Shelf Sci., 69, 189-195 (2006)Table-1 Phytoplankton population (units×10/l.) Sagar Village Pond, Bikaner during Jan.2012- Mar.2013Phytoplankton Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Chlorophyceae Cladophora 350 300 200 150 00 00 00 450 300 250 150 200 400 350 150 Crucigenia 250 150 250 200 00 00 00 300 400 350 250 150 300 200 300 Microspora 450 350 300 350 00 00 00 400 300 200 100 200 400 300 250 Chara 50 200 100 100 00 00 00 150 200 250 200 50 00 100 150 Spirogyra 500 450 350 250 00 00 00 200 150 350 200 100 450 400 300 Total Greens 1600 1450 1200 1050 00 00 00 1500 1350 1400 900 750 1550 1350 1150 Bacilleriophyceae Navicula 400 350 450 300 00 00 00 350 200 400 350 200 150 300 400 Nitzschia 600 500 400 450 00 00 00 400 250 300 250 300 550 450 350 Synedra 100 150 200 50 00 00 00 100 200 150 200 250 200 150 50 Diatoma 200 250 300 150 00 00 00 200 250 400 350 200 100 150 250 Coscionodiscus 400 350 500 200 00 00 00 250 300 350 200 250 350 200 400 Total Diatoms1700 1600 1850 1150 00 00 00 1300 1200 1600 1350 1200 1350 1250 1450 Cyanophyceae Spirulina 50 00 100 200 00 00 00 50 100 200 150 200 150 50 150 Nostoc 100 150 00 100 00 00 00 200 300 150 200 100 100 200 150 Anabaena 150 250 100 200 00 00 00 250 200 300 150 200 100 200 50 Oscillatoria 250 350 400 350 00 00 00 300 200 100 150 250 200 400 300 Total Blue Greens 550 750 600 850 00 00 00 800 800 750 650 750 550 850 650 Total Phytoplankton 3850 3800 3650 3050 00 00 00 3600 3350 3750 2900 2700 3450 3450 3250 International Research Journal of Environment Sciences______________________________________________ ISSN 2319–1414 Vol. 4(2), 43-45, February (2015) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 45 Figure-1 Phytoplankton population (units x10/l) Sagar Village Pond, Bikaner during Jan.2012- Mar.2013