Year : 2015 | Volume : 1 | Issue : 1 | Page : 1-7
Effect of cyanobacterial biodiversity on quality of water and fisheries in ponds of urban Ranchi, North Eastern India
A. S. Khalkho, M. P. N. Singh
Department of Botany, Marwari College, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
Received 2 Feb 2015; received in revised form 28 Feb 2015; accepted 12 Mar 2015
Corresponding author. A. S. Khalkho
Abstract
Cyanobacteria or blue-green algae are found in almost every endolithic ecosystem. Cyanobacterial blooms can be toxic, and frequently lead to the closure of recreational waters. There is an apparent link between presence of cyanobacteria and the quality of water. Present study was aimed to determine seasonal changes in physiochemical properties of water in four separate fish ponds of urban Ranchi, India. The study was also aimed to evaluate the cyanobacterial biodiversity and its effect on fishery. Water samples were collected from ponds (Pond A, B, C and D) during monsoon, winter and summer. Samples were examined for temperature, transparency, pH, CO2, HCO3- alkalinities, Cl-, Fe, Mg2+, Ca2+, SO42-, BOD, COD and ORP. Among 26 observed cyanobacterial species, majority were found in Pond A (16 species) and Pond D (13 species). Results indicated strong correlation between physiochemical properties of pond water and cyanobacterial biodiversity. BOD and COD showed considerable strength of association with pH of pond water and recorded as r=0.893 and r=0.912. The study indicated direct association between physiochemical properties of water and cyanobacterial biodiversity. Through the study it was hypothesized that few species of cyanobacteria may complement fish growth.
Keywords: Cyanobacteria; Water quality; Ponds; Fishery
