effect of certain physico-chemical factors on the …

EFFECT OF CERTAIN PHYSICO-CHEMICAL FACTORS ON THE PLANKTON OF THE

NANGAL LAKE

BY K. K. TANDON AND HARBANS SINGH (Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh-14, India)

Received May 13, 1971

(Communicated by Dr. S. Jones, F.A.SC.)

ABSTRACT

Physical factors such as temperature of air and water and penetration of light, and chemical factors like pH, total alkalinity, dissolved oxygen and phosphates were studied for one year. Maximum and minimum temperatures of air were recorded in June 1969 and February 1969 respectively and that of water in September 1968 and February 1969. Dis- solved oxygen was maximum in May and June 1969 and minimum in October, 1968. pH did not show much variation. Penetration of light was maximum in April 1969 and minimum in June, 1969. Maximum total alkalinity was observed in October 1968 and minimum in August 1968. Phosphates were absent in October 1968. Maximum abundance of zooplankton generally followed the phytoplankton bloom.

INTRODUCTION

THE relationship between growth and distribution of plankton is mainly affected by physico-chemical factors. The present work is in relation to these factors in the Nangal lake. Studies on the freshwater reservoirs, lakes and rivers in India started in 1933. The important works in this line are those of Pruthi (1933), Sewell (1934), Ganapathi (1943), Job (1943-44), Choodamani (1945), Alikunhi (1946, 47), Chacko and Krishnamurthy (1954), Dutta et al. (1954), Roy (1955), Das and Srivastva (1956 a, b), Chakrabarty et al. (1959), Gulati and Sarkar (1961), Singh (1961), Shetty etal . (1961), George (1962), Upadhaya (1963), Sarkar and Rai (1964), Pahwa and Mehrotra (1966), Ray et al. (1966)~ George (1968), Varkey and Alexander (1968) and Vasisht (1968).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The collections were made from stations A, (1,737 to 2,286 metres) and B (2,286 to 2,834.6 metres) (Fig. 1). The data were collected twice a monthp

15

16 K . K . TANDON AND HARBANS SINGH

once in the morning and the other in the evening but alternately from stations A and B for a period of one year (August 1968 to July 1969). The mean of the morning and evening values was computed.

VILLAGE BIBHAUR ~AHIb /

(3. Wi 2286m #z b , 2834111 1737m

O ~ " BANKS OF STATEN A b b" ~ANKS OF STATION E

F F | ~ I ~ S [EHT ~A~3AL TOWN. I IT, I BUILDING M M;~C)L E POINT OF THE LAKE S 5UTLEJ SADAN

OIAGRAMMATIC REPRESENTATION N NANGAL HYDEL CHANNEL,

OF THE NANGAL LAKE i . RIVER 5UTLEJ

WIW2 WASHING GHATS

F]o. 1. Map showing tho places of collection.

The collections were made from an ordinary fishing boat for one hour. A conical net of nylon cloth having 24 meshes per sq. ram. and 76-2 cm. in length and 26 cm. in mouth diameter was tied to a boat with a rope of about 4.57 metres length and was run in the lake. An unknown quantity of water was filtered. The samples were brought to the laboratory for complete analyses after preserving them in 57o formalin. In the laboratory each sample was thoroughly stirred to ensure uniform distribution of the plankton in the bottle. One ml. of the stirred sample was taken with the help of a graduated wide-mouthed dropper. The sample was then drained into the plankton counting chamber of one ml. capacity and examined under a stereoscopic microscope. Five such samples were taken and the mean was calculatcd. Thus in the graphs number of plankton refers to average number of plankton per ml.

The temperature of air and wateJ, pH, and dissolved oxygen were measured on the spot. The temperature was taken with the help of a centi- grade thermometer. For the water temperature, the bulb of thermometer was dipped 15 cm. For the air temperature, the thermometer was held in hand with the bulb facing the ground on the shady side. pH was measured with the help of narrow range standard pH papers and Lovibond pH corn-

Physico-Chemical Factors on Plankton of Nangal Lake 17

parator. The dissolved oxygen was measured by Winkler's method. The visibility of Sechhi's disc was noted and values were expressed in centi- metres, Total alkalinity was determined in the laboratory by titrating the sample against N/50 H2SO~ using phenophthalein and methyl orange as indicators. The phosphates were measured by adding ammonium molyb- date, hydroquivon and sodium sulphite to the sample and comparing with standard solution. The values have been expressed in terms of parts per million.

The identification of the plankton has been done up to the generic and group level, if not stated otherwise.

TOPOGRAPHY OF THE LAKE

Nangal is situated at a distance of about 100km. from Chandigrah and has a latitude and longitude of 3t°20 ' and 76°30 ' respectively, qhe Nangal lake is an artificial lake (Fig. 1) with a total lenglh of approximately 4.24 kin. This distance is measured from the Nangal Dana, taking it as the starting point. The collection of the plankton was restricted from 1,737 to 2,834 metres. The lake is broadest beyond 2,834 metres but becomes narrower towards dana side. The maximum depth noted in the area under report is about 15-84 metres and breadth 290 metres. The rise and fall of the level of water are due to the overflow of water from Bhakra or the closing and opening of the sluices of the dam at Nangal.

The weeds grow freely in the lake, especially in the shallow areas, and appear at the surface when the water level is low.

Almost in the middle of the lake a point ' M ' was fixed and collections have been made ~ 610 metres from this point, a, a' indicate the banks of the Station A whereas b, b' that of Station B. a and b' have high hills and the water is deep along their sides, a' and b have similar features but devoid of any hill. Nangal town is situated along a' and b' whereas a small village is situated along a and b banks, the latter has two washing ghats, q-his is the only extra discharge into the lake.

OBSERVATIONS

l(ydrological Features

Monthly fluctuations in the mean values of the various hydrological features studied are given in Figs. 2 to 4.

132

18 K . K . TANDON AND HARBANS S1NGH

Physical Factors

I. Temperature.--In February 1969 the air temperature was minimum. In the following months it continued to show upward trend and reached maximum in June of that year. This was followed by decline of temperature in the subsequent months. Similarly, minimum temperature of surface water was recorded in February 1969. The surface temperature continued to show rise in the subsequent months and showed gradual decline from May onwards, followed by rise in August and was maximum in September indicating that September was the hottest month. In this connection it is worthwhile to state that Pahwa and Mehrotra (1966) also observed September to be the hottest month at centre B (Allahabad) in their studies on the river Ganges. Incidentally, it may be mentioned here that the primary peak of the plankton was observed in September.

30~

25,

20,

15.

I0,

5.

AIR L .

W A T E R ~ __ - - - - - - O

pHa,- . . . .

g . m . ~ . . •

MONTH S

FIG. 2

I O

, 5

Qr

2. Penetration of light.--Minimum penetration of light was observed in June 1969 and maximum in April 1969. In other words turbidity was maximum in June and minimum in April •969. Maximum turbidity in June is attributed to the heavy rains which bring a lot of silt from the adjoin- ing areas. From November onwards the water starts becoming clear.

Physieo-Chemieal Factors on Plankton of Nangal Lake

TOTAL ALKALINITY , ~, PHOSPHATES x • x

19

OF) W I - - .~ ~..3 ;Fo. ~r) a. 0 - " -r Q-

MONTHS

FiG. 3

-Ioo

.8o ~.

.

. 6 o : I J

-40~. . o

.20

PENETRATION OF LIGHT v - - - - _..~ DISSOLVED OXYGEN

15

x.

5"

0

P - - ~ .140 /

/ /

/ ~ .12o / \

J

f- " \ ? .Ioo //N / \ /

/ \ / \ / " ~ l .8o

" * \ / " / .60 ~'

4(

20

MONTHS

Fxos. 2.-4. folttl~res.

FIG. 4

G r a p h s showing th• m o n t h l y m e a n f lu , tua t ions of the various h~drolo$ica |


Chemical Factors

1. pH.- -The pH did not show much variation, i t ranged from 7.4 to 7"6, the latter condition prevailing during January 1969.

2 Dissolved oxygen.--Maximum dissolved oxygen (14.2ppm.) was observed in May and June 1969. It may be stated that the turbidity of water was high in May and highest in June. This shows that with the increase in turbidity the dissolved oxygen is likely to go up. This is contrary to the observations of Pahwa and Mehrotra (1966). Minimum dissolved oxygen was noticed in October 1968. It may be stated here that during October phosphates could not be recorded in the surface waters and the total alkalinity was the highest.

3. Total alkalinity.--It was maximum in October 1968. From November to June it fluctuated between 80 to 90 ppm. It was minimum in August 1968.

4. Phosphates.--They were absent in October 1968. The rapid decrease of phosphates in September and their total absence in October have been attributed to the occurrence of primary crop of phytoplankton in September followed by the presence of large number of zooplankton in October.

Plankton

The monthly mean numerical fluctuations of the phyto- and zoo-plankton are given in Fig. 5.

Phytoplankton.--It shows one primary peak in September 1968 and secondary peaks in December, February and June 1969. The primary peak in September is due to the occurrence of large number of diatoms and Oscillatoria. Of the diatoms, Cymbella, Navicula, Nitzschia and Synedra were very common. The secondary peaks were also constituted by diatoms and Oscillatoria. In December, in addition to the above genera of diatoms, Gomophonema, and Diatoma also contributed their share whereas in the February peak Melosira .and Gyrosigma were also included. The June peak was due to the presence of a large number of Navicula, Cymbella, Nitzschia and Oscillatoria.

Besides the above-mentioned diatoms, Cocconeis, Amphora, Epithenzia, Cymatopleura and Surirella were also observed in each month. Amongst the higher group of phytoplankton were Ceratium, Staurastrum, Peridinium, Anabaena, Oedogonium and Spirogyra besides Oscillatori~


It has been further observed that Cymbella, Navicula and Nitzchia domi- nated the population of diatoms whereas of the other algae Oscillatoria, Spirogyra and Staurastrum were important.

~O00C

I O 0 0

ZOOPLA NI(TON , ,

pHYTOPLANKTON

~-° ..... ~

NONTHS

FIG. 5. Graphs showing the monthly mean fluctuations of Zoo- and Phyto plankton (on Logarithmic scale).

Zooplankton.--Zooplankton showed thtee peaks. The primary peak was observed from September to November 1968 and the secondary peaks in March and May 1969. The primary peak is constituted by calanoids, cyclopoids, Ceridaphnia and Daphnia and to some extent by ostracods. The secondary peak in March was formed mainly by Daphnia. The May peak was constituted by Daphnia, cyclopoids, calanoids, Diaphaltosoma and ostracods. Of these groups cyclopoids occurred the year round. Calanoids were not recorded in November and Apr;1 whereas Ceridaphnia and Daphnia were absent in August, June and July. Daphnia was minimum in July 1969.

Of the other members of the zooplankton, Diaphanosoma, and rotifers occurred in small numbers in certain months whereas Chydorus and Grabto- lebris were recorded in almost all months in small numbers. Of rare occurrence were dipteran larvae and insects. Occasionally nematods and oligo- chaetes were also recorded.

It appears that surface temperature above 16 ° C. but less than 20 ° C., high range of penetration of light and low total alkalinity favour the growth of cyclopoids. The abundance of calanoids is related to slightly higher


air temperature and phosphates. Daphnia tolerates a wide range of physico- chemical factors for its growth and abundance. The peak of Ceriodaphnia was noticed when dissolved oxygen was minimum.

DISCUSSION

The relationship of the plankton with various physico-chemical factors indicates that the peaks of phyto- and zoo-plankton are not governed by a single factor According to Byars (1960) no relationship can be deduced between chemical conditions and plankton population at any specific time. Davis (1954) stated that a number of physical, chemical and biological environmental circumstances acting simultaneously must be taken into con- sideration in understanding the fluctuations of plankton populations.

Allen (1920), Prasad (1956) and Byars (1960) stated that temperature is the determining factor in the seasonal distribution of the organisms. It has been seen that the primary peak of zooplankton occurred from September to November 1968. It may be pointed out here that the surface temperature was maximum in September. Again the secondary peaks of March and May 1969 were found when the temperature was rising. These observations, therefore, appear to be in conformity with eallier workers. Kofoid (1903) observed that in colder months less plankton is produced than in the warmer months. The sudden fall in zooplankton in the month of April 1969 with the rise in temperature cannot be explained although it may be attributed to the high metabol;srn and death of zoor~lankton. It thus appears that temperature alone does not influence the abundance of plankton. Holden and Green (1960) also observed that temperature when compared with certain other factors has only less significance in influencing the abundance of plankton. The fall of zooplankton with increased penetration of light is due to the walming up of the surface water. However, the influence of other climatological conditions such as cloudy weather ar.d stolmy day cannot be ruled out.

Welch (1952), Roy (1955) and Chakrabarty etal. (1959) stated that during monsoons high turbidity values result in the death of plankton. It is true of June 19'69 when maximum turbidity was observed and corres- pondingly poor values for the plankton, especially the zooplankton, were recorded.

The complete absence of phosphates in October 1968 may either be due to fast current on the surface during June, July and August or due to increased abundance of phytoplankton in September 1968 followed by bloom


of zooplankton. It is known that rapid loss of phosphates from open waters of lakes is due not only to the storage by phytoplankton but also by zooplankton and littoral vegetation (Ruttner, t963).

An important feature of the present observations is that no single factor can govern the production of plankton. On the other hand the production is controlled by the cumulative or conjoint action of several factors in different degrees. Further the ecological niches in an aquatic medium are very plastic and are likely to fluctuate widely, e.g., between morning and evening, or between an overcast day and a clear day. With the result one may encounter corresponding fluctuations in the composition and abundance of plankton. A particular species is able to exploit its ecological niche to its maximum, but any change in that niche upsets the population. The peaks of phyto- and zoo-plankton are, therefore, due to different types of ecological niches.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are grateful to Dr. G. P. Sharma, Professor and Head of the Departmertt of Zoology, Punjab University, for providing the laboratory facilities. Our thanks are also due to Mr. S. K. Chakraborti, Joint-Director of Fisheries, Punjab, for permission to work on the Nangal Lake, and to Dr. B. D. Narang, Public Analyst, Haryana, for the use of his laboratory for water analyses. We are also grateful to Dr. C. K. G. Nayyar and Dr S C. Verma for their help in the identification of the material.

Alikunhi, K. N.*

ALLEN, W. E.*

Byars, J. A.

Chacko, P. I. and Krishnamurthy, B.

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24 K . K . TANDON AND HARBANS S1NGH

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effect of certain physico-chemical factors on the …

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