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NSave Nature to Survive

4(1) : 123-128, 2010QUARTERLY

ZOOPLANKTONIC ANALYSIS OF THE RIVER CHENAB, AT

AKHNOOR, JAMMU

S. P. S. DUTTA* AND K. K. VERMA

Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu, Jammu - 180 006

E-mail: duttasps@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION

Importance of zooplankton as fish food and fish predators (Nickolsky, 1999) as

indicators of water quality (Sladeck, 1983) is well known. These influence ionic

composition and nutrient quality, either by removal of materials as food or through

addition of feacal matter and excretory products. There is a greater diversity

among zooplankton as compared to phytoplankton and their composition varies

with seasonal production of meroplankton such as eggs, larvae and juveniles of

the benthos, nekton etc (Walsh, 1978). Zooplanktonic analysis from various lotic

waters of Jammu has earlier been attempted by Dutta (1978), Zutshi (1992),

Sawhney (1998) Sharma, (1999), Rathore (2009) and Sharma, (2009). However,

there is no record of any study for the river Chenab, draining the Jammu region,

and has been attempted.

Study Area

J and K, the north western Indian state, is located between 320.17´ and 370.5´

north latitude and 740.40´ and 800.30´ east longitude (Fig. 1). The state of J and

K enjoys the top most position on the tourist map of India and is divided into three

regions viz. Ladakh, Kashmir and Jammu, each drained by a riverine system (Fig.

2).

The Indus: It is the longest river in the subcontinent, with its total length of about

3500 km. At present, only a part of this river passes through Ladakh division of

the state.

The Jhelum: Kashmir province of the state is drained mainly by this riverine

system. In Kashmir valley, the river Jhelum has total length of about 170 km.

The Chenab: The main drainage of Jammu province is by the river Chenab (Fig.

2). This river is formed by the confluence of two streams viz. Chandra and Bhagha,

at Tandi, in Himachal Pardesh (Fig. 3) and these streams have their origin from

glaciers that slides from the South East and North West slope of Baralucha Pass,

respectively, at an altitude of 5000 metres above the mean sea level. The river

Chenab covers a distance of 200 kms in Panji Valley of Himachal Pardesh, before

entering the state near Padar. After flowing from Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Akhnoor

it ultimately enters into Pakistan downstream the Pargwal wetland, Akhnoor. It is

joined enroute by small rivers, streams and nullahs viz. Kalani, Kalguni, Bhelessa,

Neeru, Banihal, Munwar, river Tawi and unaccountable rivulets those come in its

way. Some of its tributaries at higher reaches are torrential snowfed and cold

water. At the actual line of control (Indo-Pak Border), near Akhnoor, the river

broadens after entering the Pakistan.

The river Chenab in its upper reaches has fast flow due to steep gradient. Flow of

the river increases many times during summer and monsoon season. Water flow

is reduced during winter, due to snowfall and low temperature in upper catchment

area. For the present study, three stations at the distance of 5 kms each from one

to next viz. Chardagram (Fig. 3) is upstream, Ambarain (Fig. 4) is middle one and

Namander (Fig. 5) is down stream, near Akhnoor, were selected.

Received : 14.12.2009

Revised : 27.01.2010

Accepted : 22.02.2010

*Corresponding author

KEY WORDS

Zooplankton

Rhizopoda

River Chenab

ABSTRACT

Zooplankton,in the river Chenab, qualitatively,

comprising of sixteen species, has shown the

presence of fourteen species of Protozoa

(Arcella spp., Centropyxis ecornis., Centropyxis

constricta., Difflugia tuberculata., D

accuminata., D lebes., D oblonga., D corona.,

D urocellata., unidentified Difflugia.,

Lesquereusia modesta., Lesquereusia spiralis.,

Nebela spp. and Phacus spp.), one species of

Porifera (spicules of Eunapious carteri.) and

one species of arthropod Crustacea

(Diaptomus spp.). The order of quantitative

dominance has been seen as Protozoa (2-13 n/

L)> Porifera (0-2 n/L) and > arthropod

Crustacea (0-1 n/L). Due to fast turbulent flow;

cold water, having a narrow annual variation

in water temperature; wide fluctuations in

water discharge, absence of pool in upper

catchment and absence of macrophytic

vegetation, zooplanktonic diversity and density

in the river Chenab is low in comparison to

the other lotic water bodies of the state.

Analysis of coefficient of correlation (r) of

zooplankton with different characteristics of

water, is insignificant.

124

S. P. S. DUTTA AND K. K. VERMA

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Monthly zooplanktonic sample, at each experimental station,

was collected by filtering 10 liters of water through a planktonic

net (no. 25), preserved in 5 % formaldehyde solution in

labelled glass tubes, and identified (Dutta, 1983; Kudo, 1986;

Battish, 1992 and Edmondson, 1992) and counted.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Monthly, one year viz. May (2004) to April (2005), results of

zooplanktonic analysis at three experimental sites of the river

Chenab and their mean have been tabulated in Tables 1 to 4.

Qualitative composition

Zooplankton, qualitatively, comprising of sixteen species, has

shown the presence of fourteen species of Protozoa (Arcella

discoides, Centropyxis ecornis, C constricta, Difflugia

tuberculata, D accuminata, D lebes, D oblonga, D corona, D

urocellata, unidentified Difflugia, Lesquereusia modesta, L

spiralis, Nebela spp. and Phacus spp.), one species of Porifera

(spicules of Eunapious carteri) and one species of arthropod

Crustacea (Diaptomus spp.) in the planktonic samples

collected from three stations of the river Chenab, Akhnoor

(Table 4).

Planktonic, qualitative, composition in the river Chenab is

different in comparison to the findings of earlier workers.

Chacko and Srinivasan (1955) reported seven zooplanktonic

genera from river Krishna. These include 2 genera of Copepoda

(Cyclops and Diaptomus), 3 genera of Cladocera (Daphnia,

Diaphanosoma and Moina) and 2 genera of Rotifera

Table 1: Monthly variations in zooplankton (number/L) at station 1 (Chardagram), akhnoor of the river Chenab (May, 2004-April, 2005)

Protozoa and Rhizophoda May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr

Arcella Ehrenberg 5

Centropyxis ecornis Leidy 2

Centropyxis constricta Penard 2

Total centropyxis 4

Difflugia tuberculata Wallich 2 1 2 3 3 4 2 3 2

Difflugia accuminata Ehrenberg 2 2 2

Difflugia lebes Penard 2 1

Difflugia oblonga Ehrenberg 5 3 3 4 1 4

Difflugia corona Wallich 1 3

Difflugia urocellata Carter 1

Unidentified Difflugia 5 4 1 3 17 2 3 3

Total Difflugia 5 13 2 6 4 6 26 6 7 9 6

Lesquereusia modesta Rhumbler 2

Lesquereusi spiralis Eherenberg 2

Total Lesquereusia

Total Rhizopoda 5 15 2 6 4 6 26 16 7 14 6

Flegellata

Phacus Dujardin

Nevela Leidy 1

Total Actinopoda 1

Total Flegellata

Total Protozoans 5 15 2 6 4 6 26 16 7 14 7

Porifera

Eunapious carteai Spicules 7

Total Porifera 7

Arthropoda Crustacea

Diaptomus 1

Total Copepoda 1

Total Zooplankton 5 15 2 6 4 6 26 16 14 15 7

(Brachionus and Filinia). From the river Cauvery, they noticed

2 genera of Copepoda (Mesocyclops and Diaptomus) and 1

genus of Cladocera (Ceriodaphnia). Vass et al., (1977) noticed

5 species of protozoans, 9 species of rotifers, 6 species of

cladocerans and 4 species of copepods from the river Jhelum,

Kashmir. Dutta (1978) reported the presence of Protozoa (4

species), Rotifera (5 species), Cladocera (9 species) and

Copepoda (4 species) from Gadigarh stream, Jammu. Badola

and Singh (1981) worked out the presence of Cladocera and

Copepoda from river Alaknanda, Garwhal Himalayas. Bhatt

Figure 1: Map of Jammu and Kashmir showing major rivers

125

Protozoa and Rhizophoda May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr

Arcella Ehrenberg

Centropyxis ecornis Leidy 3

Centropyxis constricta Penard

Total Centropyxis 3

Difflugia tuberculata Wallich 2

Difflugia accuminata Ehrenberg 2 2

Difflugia lebes Penard 4

Difflugia oblonga Ehrenberg 4 2 6

Difflugia corona Wallich

Difflugia urocellata Carter 2 2

Unidentified Difflugia 5

Total Difflugia 7 12 2 8 2

Lesquereusia modesta Rhumbler

Lesquereusia spiralis Eherenberg

Total Lesquereusia

Total Rhizopoda 7 12 2 8 2

Flegellata

Phacus Dujardin 2 2

Nebela Leidy 7

Total Actinopoda 7

Total Protozoans 7 12 2 10 3 4

Porifera

Eunapious carteai Spicules

Total Porifera

Arthropoda crustacea

Diaptomus

Total Copepoda

Total Zooplankton 14 12 4 18 3 4

Table 3: Monthly variations in zooplankton (number/L) at station 3 (namander), akhnoor of the river Chenab (May, 2004-April, 2005)

et al., (1984) noticed 3 species of protozoans, 6 species of

rotifers, 3 species of cladocerans and 3 species of copepods

from river Kosi, Kumayun Himalayas, U.P. Zutshi (1992)

reported 6 species of Protozoa, 3 species of Rotifera, 2 species

of Cladocera and 3 species of Copepoda from river Tawi,

Jammu; Ali et al., (2003) reported 44 zooplanktonic species

Protozoa and Rhizophoda May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr

Arcella Ehrenberg 3

Centropyxis ecornis Leidy 2

Centropyxis constricta Penard

Total Centropyxis 2

Difflugia tuberculata Wallich 8 1 1 3

Difflugia accuminata Ehrenberg 2

Difflugia lebes Penard 3 2 1

Difflugia oblonga Ehrenberg 3 3 1 2 4

Difflugia corona Wallich 14

Difflugia urocellata Carter

Unidentified Difflugia 3 3 2

Total Difflugia 17 3 18 4 4 7 3

Lesquereusia modesta Rhumbler 1

Lesquereusia spiralis Eherenberg

Total Lesquereusia

Total Rhizopoda 20 3 18 4 4 8 3 2

Flegellata

Phacus Dujardin

Nebela Leidy

Total Actinopoda

Total Protozoans 20 3 18 4 4 8 3 2

Porifera

Eunapious carteai Spicules

Total Porifera

Arthropoda crustacea

Diaptomus

Total Copepoda

Total Zooplankton 20 3 18 4 4 8 3 2

Table 2: Monthly variations in zooplankton (number/L) at station 2 (Ambarain), akhnoor of the river Chenab (May, 2004-April, 2005)

ZOOPLANKTON OF RIVER CHENAB

126

(Protozoa-22 spp., Rotifera-10 spp., Cladocera-6 spp. And

Copepoda-6 spp.) from river Indus at Ghazi Ghat, Punjab.

Pakistan. Singh (2005) reported 67 species of zooplankton

Parameters Total Total

Protozoan zooplankton

Water temperature -0.09 -0.11

Transparency 0.13 0.13

pH -0.32 -0.17

TDS -0.26 -0.22

Salinity -0.25 -0.17

Electrical conductivity -0.28 -0.22

Free CO2

-0.36 -0.35

DO -0.56 -0.53

BOD 0.38 0.32

COD 0.21 0.16

HCO3

-0.22 -0.12

Chloride 0.42 0.39

Calcium -0.17 -0.15

Magnesium 0.25 0.33

Total hardness -0.15 -0.05

Sulphate -0.06 -0.02

Silicate 0.05 0.01

Nitrate -0.27 -0.22

Phosphate 0.04 -0.01

Table 5: Coefficient of correlation (Protozoan and zooplankton)

with physico-chemical parameters of water

S. P. S. DUTTA AND K. K. VERMA

Protozoa and rhizophoda May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr

Arcella Ehrenberg 1 2

Centropyxis ecornis Leidy 1 2

Centropyxis constricta Penard 1

Total Centropyxis 2 2

Difflugia tuberculata Wallich 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1

Difflugia accuminata Ehrenberg 1 1 1 1

Difflugia lebes Penard 1 1 1 1 1

Difflugia oblonga Ehrenberg 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1

Difflugia corona Wallich 5 1

Difflugia urocellata Carter 1 1 1

Unidentified difflugia 4 2 1 2 6 1 1 1

Total Difflugia 10 8 8 3 3 5 10 6 3 5 3

Lesquereusia modesta Rhumbler 1 1

Lesquereusia spiralis Eherenberg 1

Total Lesquereusia 1 1 1

Total Rhizopoda 11 9 8 3 3 6 10 9 2 3 7 3

Flegellata

Phacus Dujardin 1 1

Nebela Leidy 2 1

Total Actinopoda 2 1 2

Total Protozoans 13 9 8 3 3 6 10 10 2 3 7 5

Porifera

Eunapious carteai spicules 2

Total Porifera 2

Arthropoda Crustacea

Diaptomus 1

Total Copepoda 1

Total Zooplankton 13 9 8 3 3 6 10 10 2 5 8 5

Table 4: Monthly mean variations in zooplankton (number/L) at station 1, 2 and 3, Akhnoor of the river Chenab (May, 2004 - April, 2005)

Figure 2: Confluence of Chander and Bhagha at Tandi

Figure 3: General view of station-1 (Chardha Gram) at Akhnoor

belonging to 10 species of Protozoa, 14 species of Rotifera, 7

species of Cladocera, 8 species of Copepods and 2 species of

Ostracoda from river Beas, Punjab. Zafar and Sultan (2005)

noticed five species of Protozoa, six species of Rotifera, six

species of Cladocera and five species of Copepoda from river

Ganga at Kanpur. Pandey et al., (2007) noticed nineteen

species of Rotifera, five species of Cladocera and three species

of Copepoda from river Panar, Bihar.Sharma (2009) analysed

zooplankton of Basantar river and noticed the presence of

127

Protozoa (23 species), Rotifera (12 species), Oligochaeta and

water Nematoda.

Poor zooplanktonic diversity in the river Chenab, in

comparison to the observations made by earlier workers (op.

cit), has its correlation with:

I. Fast turbulent flow.

II. Cold water having a narrow annual variation in water

temperature between 9.30C to 17.30C.

III. Wide fluctuations in water discharge which is high during

summer and monsoon and it is reduced during winter

season. Chandler (1937) and Basu and Pick (1995)

reported that plankton is influenced by river discharge,

depth and turbidity.

IV. Poor deposits of dead organic matter on the bottom.

V. Perennial turbid water, except during winter season.

VI. Absence of pools in upper catchment area.

VII. Absence of macrophytic vegetation.

Zooplanktonic analysis in the river Chenab has shown the

dominance of Protozoa and is in agreement to the findings of

Zutshi (1992); Ali et al., (2003); Sharma (2009) and Rathore

(2009).

Protozoans, qualitatively, showed their perennial presence.

Among the rhizopod protozoans, genus Difflugia except in

the month of January (2005) showed its perennial presence.

Among its various species, Difflugia corona is observed twice

(July and November, 2004), D urocellata thrice (May,

December, 2004 and March, 2005), D accuminata four times

(June, August, 2004 and February, April 2005), D lebes five

times (May, June, September, October, 2004 and March, 2005)

and unidentified Difflugia eight times (May to July, October to

December, 2004 and February, March, 2005), D oblonga ten

times ( May to December, 2004 and March, April, 2005) and

D tuberculata eleven times (May to December, 2004 and

February to April, 2005).

Centropyxis, another genera of class Rhizopoda, is seen twice

(December, 2004 and January, 2005). Among its various

species Centropyxis constricta is seen once (December, 2004)

and Centropyxis ecornis twice (December, 2004 and January,

2005).

Lesquereusia, among rhizopod protozoans, is observed thrice

(June, October and December, 2004). Among its two species,

Lesquereusia spiralis is seen once (June, 2004) and L modesta

twice (October, December, 2004).

Arcella (May, 2004 and March, 2005) and Nebela (May, 2004

and April, 2005), another rhizopod protozoans, are seen twice

in the planktonic samples collected from the river Chenab.

Phacus, the only flagellate protozoan, noticed in the river

Chenab, showed its presence twice (December, 2004 and

April, 2005).

Protozoan maximum qualitative diversity is seen in the month

of May (2004) and minimum in the month of June and February

(2005).

Among the Porifera, spicules of Eunapious carteri were seen

only once in the month of February (2005).

Diaptomus, the only genus of order Copepoda, class Crustacea

and phylum Arthropoda, showed its presence in the month of

March (2005).

Zooplanktonic analysis in the river Chenab has revealed May,

June, November and December (2004) high and August,

September (2004) and January, February (2005) low

qualitative diversity. Maximum and minimum zooplanktonic

diversity is seen in the month of May (2004) and January

2005, respectively (Table 4).

Quantitative analysis

The order of quantitative dominance of various zooplanktonic

groups has been observed as Protozoa (2-13n/L) > Porifera

(0-2n/L) and > Crustacea (0-1n/L). Protozoan dominance, as

seen presently, has also been reported by Zutshi (1992),

Sharma, J (1999), Sharma, A (2009) and Rathore (2009).

Protozoans count recorded high May, June, November and

December (2004) and low count in August, September,

October (2004) and January, February and April (2005). These

observed May (2004) highest (13n/L) and January (2005)

lowest (2n/L) count (Table 4).

May (2004) Rise in quantitative count of total zooplankton is

contributed by protozoans and may be attributed to increased

production of detritus and bacterial richness, at higher

temperature, on which protozoans are known to feed (Zutshi,

1992; Sladeck ,1983; Sharma, 1999 and Wetzel, 2001). Rapid

multiplication, at higher temperature, may also account for

May (2004) rise in protozoan count. Low protozoan count in

January (2005) coincided with winter low temperature.

The order of quantitative dominance of various species of

protozoans, in the river Chenab, has been seen as unidentified

Difflugia (0-6n/L) > Difflugia corona (0-5n/L) > Difflugia

tuberculata and Difflugia oblonga (0-3n/L) > Arcella,

Figure 4: General view of station-II (Ambarain) at Akhnoor

Figure 5: General view of station-III (Namander) at Akhnoor

ZOOPLANKTON OF RIVER CHENAB

128

Centropyxis ecornis and Nebela (0-2n/L) and > Centropyxis

constricta, Difflugia accuminata, D lebes, D urocellata,

Lesquereusia modesta, L spiralis and Phacus (0-1n/L).

Porifera recorded its presence only once (2 n/L) in the month

of February 2005.

Diaptomus (0-1n/L), a crustacean arthropod, is noticed only

once in the month of March (2005).

An overall study of total zooplankton has shown May,

November and December (2004) peaks. Quantitatively, total

zooplankton recorded May (2004) highest (13n/L) and January

(2005) lowest (2n/L) count (Table 4).

Earlier, Rai and Sharma (1986) noticed positive correlation

between total protozoan and chemical factors like pH, DO,

HCO’

3, alkalinity etc. Dutta et al., (1990) found rise in

temperature, high value of pH, DO, Ca++ and total hardness

as favorable for qualitative and quantitative rise in protozoans.

Dutta et al., (1991) worked out low temperature, rise in pH,

low bicarbonate, Ca++, Mg++ and total hardness favoring

winter highest protozoan peak in a pond.

Analysis of co-efficient of correlation (r) of total protozoans

and total zooplanktons has shown mostly insignificant results

(Table 5) and is in accordance to the findings of Zutshi (1992),

Sharma (1999), Sharma, A (2009) and Rathore (2009).

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S. P. S. DUTTA AND K. K. VERMA