Planktonic algae based ecological assessment of a fresh water lentic water body of Altara in Mankundu of Hooghly district in West Bengal
Subhabrata Ghosh
Department of Botany, Mahadevananda Mahavidyalaya, Monirampore, Barrackpore-700120 (India) Email: sgphyco@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Planktonic algae or phytoplankton are free floating, photosynthetic, freshwater and marine organisms. These minute creatures are very much important in the aquatic environment and they establish themselves as the basic component of the aquatic food chain. This present study reveals the diversity status and species composition of these microscopic organisms from a freshwater lentic water body. The study also pinpoints the ecological scenario in terms of indicator species and biomonitoring approach. The maximum Shannon-diversity (H ) value (2.49) was encountered in post-monsoon, followed by premonsoon (2.46) and monsoon (2.28) season respectively. Among the 26 planktonic algae, 7 indicate organic pollution and 2 of them namely Nitzschia palea and Euglena viridis form algal bloom in the postmonsoon season. The overall consequences indicate a moderate pollution status and we have to introduce proper planning to mitigate the problem.