Diversity and density of cladoceran population in different types of water bodies of Ludhiana, Punjab (India)

Abstract

The present study was conducted to record the diversity and density of cladoceran population during the year 2015. Water samples were collected from different types of water bodies viz; village ponds, fish ponds and paddy fields of Ludhiana, Punjab (India). Identification of cladocerans was done on the basis of morphological features and their enumeration with the help of Sedgewick-Rafter counting chamber (S-R cell). Out of the recorded nine species of cladocerans, six were found to belong to family Daphnidae, two to family Moinidae and only one to family Chydoridae. Average percent composition of cladocerans in village ponds showed the distribution pattern with predominance of Daphnidae (51.01%) > Moinidae (48.27%) > Chydoridae (0.68%). In fish ponds Moinidae family was found to be predominant (62.95%) > Daphnidae (34.61%) > chydoridae (1.29%). Paddy fields were represented by Moinidae family only.