Authors : S. B. Meharkure and Z. N. Kashmiri
Page Nos : 85-90
Description :
Freshwater ecosystems serve as important habitats for a wide range of aquatic flora and fauna. Zooplankton constitute a diverse assemblage of microscopic organisms that play a vital role in aquatic food webs by transferring energy from primary producers to higher trophic levels, including fish and other aquatic predators. By feeding primarily on phytoplankton, bacteria, and detritus, zooplankton play a significant role in nutrient cycling and energy flow within aquatic ecosystems. The present study investigates the seasonal variation and diversity of zooplankton in Hirva Lake, Umred, District Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, over an annual cycle. Zooplankton samples were collected monthly from five selected sampling sites (S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5) representing different seasonal conditions, summer, monsoon, and winter and were analysed using standard limnological methods. The study highlights the ecological significance of zooplankton communities as effective bioindicators of water quality and trophic status in Hirva Lake. During the study period, zooplankton species belonging mainly to Rotifera, Cladocera, and Copepoda were recorded. Among these groups, Rotifera emerged as the dominant component, followed by Copepoda and Cladocera, indicating their high adaptive capability to fluctuating environmental conditions.
