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The thermal springs of Bakreswar, India physico-chemical conditions, Flora and Fauna.

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Abstract

The physico-chemical characteristics as well as floristic and faunistic life of the seven thermal springs and one cold spring of Bakreswar, West Bengal form the basis of this paper. A compendium pertaining to the origin, geology and morphometry of these springs has been incorporated in brief.

The temperature of the thermal springs remained almost constant over the past two decades and the location of the fissures of the springs is unchanged. On the basis of temperature these thermal springs are grouped into “acrothermal” and “euthermal”. The water of all the springs was alkaline with a pH between 7.4 and 9.2 No carbon dioxide was detected during the period of study. Absence of nitrite and traces of nitrate are characteristic features of these springs.

The variation of colour of the water may be related to the presence of algal mats at the bottom of the springs. The quantity of plankton was maximal and minimal in thermal springs having highest and lowest temperature respectively. Oscillatoria sp., Navicula sp., Cyclotella sp. and Tetraëdron sp. were noted at temperatures between 26° C and 51° C. It is a new record from India that diatoms like Navicula sp. and Cyclotella sp. can survive in the temperature range of 43–51° C. The thermophilic nematode, Tobrilus sp., Cyclops sp., Nauplius larvae, and Lecane sp. were recorded from Swetganga with a maximum temperature of 44° C. The mechanism of thermophily of the organisms is discussed in brief.

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  1. Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India

    B. B. Jana

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Jana, B.B. The thermal springs of Bakreswar, India physico-chemical conditions, Flora and Fauna.. Hydrobiologia 41, 291–307 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00016623

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