Main Article Content
Abstract
Presence of microscopic algae can cause taste and odour problems, water discoloration, or form large mats that can interfere with boating, swimming, and fishing. The present study was conducted to assess the phytoplankton assemblages which in turn can serve as a suitable method to assess the quality of river ecosystem. Diversity of phytoplankton in river Ganga in Allahabad at five sampling stations was conducted from March to April 2014. Plankton identified in the river mainly composed of the members of Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae and Cyanophyceae families.
The Palmer pollution index values were calculated to know the level of organic pollution and to support the data. On the basis of quantitative and qualitative estimates 15 significant algal species were identified which can tolerate high degree of pollution. The abundance of phytoplanktons in april was greater than in march. Abundance of phytoplanktons and algal bloom was maximum at Chhatnag ghat whereas at Sangam low phytoplankton diversity was found.
In general, moderate temperature, low current velocity and high transparency of water appear to be better the conditions for algal growth in the river Ganga. These findings highlighted the deterioration of water quality of the river due to industrial, commercial and anthropogenic activities. The status of phytoplankton diversity of river Ganga was quite low indicating that the river is highly polluted.
Keywords
Article Details
Authors retain the copyright without restrictions for their published content in this journal. GCTL is a Sherpa Romeo Journal.
Publishing License
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of 
References
- Santra S.C.; Environmental Science, New Central Book Agency (P) Ltd.2005.
- Bilgrami, K. S. (1991b). Biological profile of the Ganga: Bacteria and Bacteriophages. In C. R. Krishnamurti, T.S.Bilgrami, T. M. Das, & R. P Mathur (Eds.), The Ganga: A Scientific study (pp. 72–77). New Delhi: Northern Book Center.
- Bilgrami, K. S., Dattamunshi, J. S., Siddiqui, E. N., & Singh, N. K.. Primary productivity of phytoplankton of the river Ganges. Biological Bulletin, 1, (1979) 39–42.
- Bhagi, Ajay Kumar, Chatwal, Environmental Science.
- Needham and Needham; A Guide to the study of Fresh Water Biology, Fifth edition.
- APHA; Standard Methods, 21st Edition.
- Parikh Ankita N. and Mankodi P.C., Limnology of SamaPond, Vadodara City, Gujarat, Res. J. Recent Sci., 1(1), (2012) 16-21.
- Jha, D. N.. Influence of water pollution on the distribution of algae in the river Ganga at Kanpur. Ph.D. thesis. Kanpur University, Kanpur (1982).
- Chick, H. A study of unicellular green algae occurring in polluted water with special reference to its nitrogen metabolism. Proc. Roy. Soc. London. 71: (1902) 458-470. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspl.1902.0129
- Singh Anand Prakash and Chaudhary B. R., Phonological diversity of chlorophycean algae from river Ganges at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, J. Algal Biomass Utln., 2 (1): (2011) 21 – 29.
- Khanna D.R., Bhutiani Rakesh, Matta Gagan, Singh Vikas and Bhadauriya Gaurav, Study of planktonic diversity of river Ganga from Devprayag to Roorkee, Uttarakhand (India), Environment Conservation Journal 13(1&2), (2012) 211-217.
- Palmer C.M., A composite rating of algae tolerating organic pollution, J. Phycology, (1969) 78-82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8817.1969.tb02581.x
- Upadhyay Rahul, Pandey K. Arvind, Upadhyay S.K., Assessment of Lake Water Quality by Using Palmer and Trophic State Index- A Case Study of Upper Lake, Bhopal, India, International Research Journal of Environment Sciences ISSN 2319–1414 Vol. 2(5), May (2013) 1-8.
- Manual for Phytoplankton Sampling and Analysis in the Black Sea Dr. Snejana Moncheva, Dr. Bill Parr, Updated June 2010.
References
Santra S.C.; Environmental Science, New Central Book Agency (P) Ltd.2005.
Bilgrami, K. S. (1991b). Biological profile of the Ganga: Bacteria and Bacteriophages. In C. R. Krishnamurti, T.S.Bilgrami, T. M. Das, & R. P Mathur (Eds.), The Ganga: A Scientific study (pp. 72–77). New Delhi: Northern Book Center.
Bilgrami, K. S., Dattamunshi, J. S., Siddiqui, E. N., & Singh, N. K.. Primary productivity of phytoplankton of the river Ganges. Biological Bulletin, 1, (1979) 39–42.
Bhagi, Ajay Kumar, Chatwal, Environmental Science.
Needham and Needham; A Guide to the study of Fresh Water Biology, Fifth edition.
APHA; Standard Methods, 21st Edition.
Parikh Ankita N. and Mankodi P.C., Limnology of SamaPond, Vadodara City, Gujarat, Res. J. Recent Sci., 1(1), (2012) 16-21.
Jha, D. N.. Influence of water pollution on the distribution of algae in the river Ganga at Kanpur. Ph.D. thesis. Kanpur University, Kanpur (1982).
Chick, H. A study of unicellular green algae occurring in polluted water with special reference to its nitrogen metabolism. Proc. Roy. Soc. London. 71: (1902) 458-470. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspl.1902.0129
Singh Anand Prakash and Chaudhary B. R., Phonological diversity of chlorophycean algae from river Ganges at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, J. Algal Biomass Utln., 2 (1): (2011) 21 – 29.
Khanna D.R., Bhutiani Rakesh, Matta Gagan, Singh Vikas and Bhadauriya Gaurav, Study of planktonic diversity of river Ganga from Devprayag to Roorkee, Uttarakhand (India), Environment Conservation Journal 13(1&2), (2012) 211-217.
Palmer C.M., A composite rating of algae tolerating organic pollution, J. Phycology, (1969) 78-82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8817.1969.tb02581.x
Upadhyay Rahul, Pandey K. Arvind, Upadhyay S.K., Assessment of Lake Water Quality by Using Palmer and Trophic State Index- A Case Study of Upper Lake, Bhopal, India, International Research Journal of Environment Sciences ISSN 2319–1414 Vol. 2(5), May (2013) 1-8.
Manual for Phytoplankton Sampling and Analysis in the Black Sea Dr. Snejana Moncheva, Dr. Bill Parr, Updated June 2010.