Seasonal variations of zooplankton community in two sacred temple tanks of Ponda, Goa, India

Abstract

Zooplankton are good indicators of the changes in water quality, because they are strongly affected by environmental conditions and respond quickly to changes in water quality. Hence, qualitative and quantitative studies of zooplankton are of great importance. In the present study, qualitative and quantitative studies of zooplankton in two sacred temple tanks of Goa were carried out for one annual cycle. (Dec. 2009 to Nov. 2010). Present investigations revealed that, 17 species of Zooplankton belonging to four major groups i.e., Calanoid (six sps.), Cladoceran (five sps.), Rotifera (four sps.) and Cyclopoid (two sps.), were present. Densities as well as diversity of zooplankton were higher at Sije-lthan Site-2. Among zooplankton, Copepod group was dominant at both the sites throughout the study period. Density of zooplankton during different seasons at two sites was as follows; Site 1: Winter season more than Summer season more than Rainy season and Site 2: Summer season more than Rainy season more than Winter season.