Authors : N. R. Dahegaonkar and Imran Mithani
Page Nos : 342-345
Description :
Fresh waters have seen the largest decline in biodiversity in any ecosystem, particularly in lotic ecosystems impacted by anthropogenic activities. The increasing impact of climate change and invasive species has put further pressure on these ecosystems. Molluscans communities are good indicators for the localized conditions, which reflect the water quality. The present study aims to explore the malacofauna diversity of lotic ecosystems near Chandrapur having hot and dry climatic conditions. Bottom samples were collected for study from June - 2016 to May - 2017 from sampling sites at river Wardha, Erai and Zarpat. Nineteen molluscan species belonging to seven orders under nine families were identified. The maximum diversity was recorded in order Basommatophora including six species and minimum in order Littorinimorpha and Veneroida with only one species. The indicator species like Lymnea, Melanoid and Corbicula were numerically more in river Zarpat than other two rivers indicating gross pollution of the ecosystem.
