Study on role of temperature and turbidity on density of zooplankton population in a rural fishery pond in Birbhum, West Bengal

Abstract

Zooplanktons represent an important agent of aquatic food chains and significant in aquaculture. In the present study seasonal variations of zooplankton density with respect to water temperature and water turbidity or TDS in a rural aquatic pond near Suri, Birbhum, W.B. was studied for six months during the period of September, 2021 to February, 2022. During the study period zooplanktons of four different groups (Rotifera, Cladocera, Copepoda and Ostracoda) were collected and counted. Maximum abundance of zooplankton species were found during winter when water temperature was lower and water was relatively more turbid or less transparent. Strong negative correlation found between water temperature and zooplankton density (R= ˗0.9263) and slight positive correlation between TDS and zooplankton density(R= +0.04167).