Authors : Mohanish.V. Katwale and Manohar.S. Ambatkar
Page Nos : 53-59
Description :
The present investigation deals with the study of Phytoplanktons and Zooplanktons fauna in the Vihirgaon Reservoir, located in Ralegaon tehsil, District Yavatmal. The study was carried for 12 months from December 2023 to November 2024 in three distinct seasons — summer, Monsoon, and winter to observe seasonal variation in the occurrence and composition of phytoplanktons and zooplanktons. A total of 87 species of planktons were identified, out of which 42 of zooplankton belonging to five groups were recorded in which rotifers was found to be dominant consisting 23 species followed Cladocera consisting 6 species, Copepoda 6 species, Protozoa 5 species, and Ostracoda only 2 species. And 45 species of phytoplanktons were recorded belonging to four groups were recorded out of which Chlorophyceae was found to be dominant with 22 species followed by Bacillariophyceae 12 species, Cyanophyceae 10 species and Euglenophyceae 01 species. The dominance of Chlorophyceae among phytoplanktons and Rotifers among zooplanktons indicates moderate productivity of the reservoir. Seasonal changes in plankton diversity shows changes in environmental conditions, emphasizing the ecological significance of plankton as indicators of reservoir health.
