Correlation between Physico-chemical attributes andphytoplanktons of fresh water bodies in Goa

Abstract

Freshwater bodies are degraded by both natural and anthropogenic activities, which deteriorate their quality, and push them to the brink of extinction in the process of unplanned development, giving rise to the need for suitable conservation strategies. The management of natural surface water resources needs the understanding of water quality. In present study physico-chemical parameters for determining water quality and density of phytoplanktons of four water bodies was undertaken. During the period two years, seasonal variations in pH, Temperature, TDS, Turbidity, DO, Nitrates, Phosphates, and Total Chlorophyll were recorded. The statistical correlation analysis between the various physico-chemical parameters and dominant phytoplanktons belonging to Chlorophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Cyanophyceae and Bacillariophy ceae were computed. The results of this study revealed that the concentration of the analyzed parameters varied in pre monsoon, monsoon and post monsoon season. These variations influenced the density of recorded phytoplanktons. Among the selected water bodies three were euptophic and one was mesotrophic.