CHECKLIST OF PLANKTON DIVERSITY OF TWO FRESHWATER RURAL PONDS OF DHOLKA TALUKA, GUJARAT, INDIA

Abstract

The focus of the present study is the investigation of plankton diversity of two freshwater bodies i.e., Ambareli pond and Paldi pond of Dholka taluka, Ahmedabad Gujarat. Each pond is a typically village pond. These ponds used for domestic and agricultural activities. The samples were collected from surface water by filtering 100 liters of pond water through plankton net size 20 and 50 µm. the identification of plankton was done by using standard references. Phytoplankton represents the microscopic algal communities of water bodies and the pioneer of aquatic food chain. Zooplankton is primary consumers the source of food for higher organisms and important bioindicator of water quality. Four divisions of phytoplankton were identified: Bacillariophyceae, Cynophyceae, Chrysophyta, Euglenophyceae. The zooplankton are divided in major groups included Protozoa, Rotifera, Cladocera, Copepoda, Ostracods. A total of 46 species of phytoplankton and 41 species of zooplankton in both the ponds were observed.