A study on phytoplankton diversity of Lake Pichhola of Udaipur Rajasthan

Abstract

The historic lake Pichhola of Udaipur Rajasthan is facing influence of anthropogenic activities leading to nutrient loading at different sites in the lake. To assess the phytoplankton diversity, four stations were predetermined in the lake for collection of plankton samples. A total of 35 genus of phytoplankton were found in the lake during the study. Out of these, 11 genera of Cyanophyceae 9 genera of Bacillariophyceae, 12 genera of Chlorophyceae and 3 genera belonging to Desmidiaceae were recorded at all four stations of the lake. The study explains a rich biodiversity of phytoplankton, in Lake Pichhola with dominance of Cyanophyceae which assigned eutrophic status of the lake. The study also revealed 12 pollution indicating algal species in Pichhola Lake.