Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A preliminary study on the microzooplankton of Chilika Lake, a brackish water lagoon on the east coast of India

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Abundance and composition of microzooplankton in Chilika Lake were studied covering three seasons during 2012–2013. Ciliates (19 species), rotifers (13 species), crustacean larvae (2 taxa) and heterotrophic dinoflagellates (2 species) were the four major groups. Ciliates, however, have emerged as the most dominant group throughout the lake in all the seasons except in the freshwater-influenced areas. The average contribution of ciliates was highest (avg. 55.3 ± 38.7 %) during the premonsoon season followed by post-monsoon (avg. 49.0 ± 32.5 %) and monsoon (avg. 47.8 ± 41.6 %) seasons. Crustacean larvae formed the second dominant group whose percentage contribution was marginally high in the premonsoon (avg. 41.2 ± 38.8 %) followed by monsoon (avg. 29.1 ± 27.0 %) and post-monsoon (avg. 28.7 ± 23.4 %). Results of cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling on abundance of microzooplankton depicted well-defined clusters. The stations with high salinity formed a different group indicating seasonal variation in species composition and abundance of microzooplankton is primarily governed by salinity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altaff, K. (2004). A manual of zooplankton. New Delhi: University Grants Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Yamani, F. Y., Skryabin, V., Gubanova, A., Khvorov, S., Prusova, I. (2011). Marine zooplankton practical guide for the Northwestern Arabian Gulf. Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (Publisher). ISBN 978- 99966-95-07-0.

  • Andersen, O. K., Goldman, J. C., Caron, D. A., & Dennett, M. R. (1986). Nutrient cycling in a microflagellate food chain: III. Phosphorus dynamics. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 31, 47–55.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Banerjee, A. C., & RoyChoudhury, N. C. (1966). Observations on some physico-chemical features of the Chilka Lake. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 13, 395–429.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biswas, S. N., Godhantaraman, N., Rakshit, D., & Sarkar, S. K. (2013). Community composition, abundance, biomass and productive rates of Tintinnids (Ciliata: Protozoa) in the coastal regions of Sundarban Mangrove wetland, India. Indian Journal of Marine Sciences, 42(2), 163–173.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calbet, A., & Landry, M. R. (2004). Phytoplankton growth, microzooplankton grazing, and carbon cycling in marine systems. Limnology and Oceanography, 49, 51–57.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calbet, A., & Saiz, E. (2005). The ciliate-copepod link in marine ecosystems. Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 38, 157–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, K. R., & Gorley, R. N. (2001). PRIMER v5: user manual/tutorial. United Kingdom: PRIMER-E Ltd, Plymouth Marine Laboratory.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, K. R., & Warwick, R. M. (2001). Change in marine communities: an approach to statistical analysis and interpretation. United Kingdom: PRIMER-E Ltd, Plymouth Marine Laboratory.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conley, D. (2000). Biogeochemical nutrient cycles and nutrient management strategies. Hydrobiologia, 410, 87–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diodato, S. L., & Hoffmeyer, M. S. (2008). Contribution of planktonic and detritic fractions to the natural diet of mesozooplankton in Bahía Blanca Estuary. Hydrobiologia, 614, 83–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, E. S., & Burkill, P. H. (1995). Abundance, biomass and distribution of microzooplankton in the Irish Sea. Journal of Plankton Research, 17, 771–782.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fukami, K., Watanable, A., Fujitha, S., Yamoka, K., & Nishijima, T. (1999). Predation on naked protozoan microzooplankton by fish larvae. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 185, 285–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gauns, M., Mohanraju, R., & Madhupratap, M. (1996). Studies on the microzooplankton from the central and eastern Arabian Sea. Current Science, 71, 874–877.

    Google Scholar 

  • George, G., Sreeraj, C. R., & DamRoy, S. (2011). Brachionid rotifer diversity in Andaman waters. Indian Journal of Marine Sciences, 40(3), 454–459.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh, A. K., Pattnaik, A. K., & Ballatore, T. J. (2006). Chilika Lagoon: restoring ecological balance and livelihoods through re-salinization. Lake & Reservoirs: Research and Management, 11, 239–255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Godhantaraman, N. (1994). Species composition and abundance of tintinnids and copepods in the Pichavaram mangroves (South India). Ciencias Marinas, 20, 371–391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Godhantaraman, N. (2001). Seasonal variations in taxonomic composition, abundance and food web relationship of microzooplankton in estuarine and mangrove waters, Parangipettai region, southeast coast of India. Indian Journal of Marine Sciences, 30, 151–160.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Godhantaraman, N. (2002). Seasonal variations in species composition, abundance, biomass and estimated production rates of tintinnids at tropical estuarine and mangrove waters, Parangipettai, southeast coast of India. Journal of Marine Systems, 36, 161–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Govindasamy, C., & Kannan, L. (1991). Rotifers of the Pitchavaram mangroves (Southeast Coast of India): a hydrobiological approach. Mahasagar, 24, 39–45.

  • Grasshoff, K., Kremling, K., Ehrhardt, M. (1999). Methods of Seawater analysis, third edition. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim, Germany.

  • Gupta, G. V. M., Sarma, V. V. S. S., Robin, R. S., Raman, A. V., Kumar, M. J., Rakesh, M., & Subramanian, B. R. (2008). Influence of net ecosystem metabolism in transferring riverine organic carbon to atmospheric CO2 in a tropical coastal lagoon (Chilka Lake, India). Biogeochemistry, 87, 265–285.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, B., Bjornsen, P. K., & Hansen, P. J. (1994). Prey size selection in planktonic zooplankton. Limnology and Oceanography, 39, 395–403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heinbokel, J. F., Coats, D. W., Henderson, K. W., & Tyler, M. A. (1988). Reproduction rates and secondary production of three species of the rotifer genus Synchaeta in the estuarine Potomac River. Journal of Plankton Research, 10, 659–674.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jeong, K.-S., Kim, D.-K., Pattnaik, A., Bhatta, K., Bhandari, B., & Joo, G.-J. (2008). Patterning limnological characteristics of the Chilika lagoon (India) using a self-organizing map. Limnology, 9, 231–242.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jyothibabu, R., Madhu, N. V., Jayalakshmi, K. V., Balachandran, K. K., Shiyas, C. A., Martin, G. D., & Nair, K. K. C. (2006). Impact of freshwater influx on microzooplankton mediated food web in a tropical estuary (Cochin backwaters—India). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 69(3–4), 505–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kanuri, V. V., Muduli, P. R., Robin, R. S., Kumar, B. C., Lovaraju, A., Ganguly, D., Patra, S., Rao, G. N., Raman, A. V., Subramanian, B. R. (2013). Plankton metabolic processes and its significance on dissolved organic carbon pool in a tropical brackish water lagoon. Continental Shelf Research, 61, 52–61.

  • Kjaeret, A. H., Naustvoll, L. J., & Paasche, E. (2000). Ecology of the heterotrophic dinoflagellate genus Protoperidinium in the inner Oslo fjord (Norway). Sarsia, 85, 5–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kofoid, C. A., & Campbell, A. S. (1939). Reports on the scientific results of the expedition to the Eastern Tropical Pacific, in charge of Alexander Agassiz, US Fish Commission steamer “Albatross”, from October 1904 to March 1905. University California Publications in Zoology, 34, 1–403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krinsic, F. (1987). On the ecology of tintinnines (Ciliata – Oligotrichida, Tintinnina) in theopen waters of the south Adriatic. Marine Biology, 68, 83–90.

  • Krishnamurthy, K., Santhanam R. (1975). Ecology of tintinnids (Protozoa: Ciliata) in Porto Novo region. Indian Journal of Marine Sciences, 4, 181–184. 

  • Krishnamurthy, K., & Naidu, W. D. (1977). Swarming of the tintinnids (Protozoa: Ciliata) in the Vellar estuary. Current Science, 46(11), 384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leaky, R. J. G., Burkill, P. H., & Sleigh, M. A. (1996). Planktonic ciliates in the northwestern Indian Ocean: their abundance and biomass in waters of contrasting productivity. Journal of Plankton Research, 18, 1063–1071.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maeda, M. (1986). An illustrated guide to the species of the Family Halteridae and strombilidae (Oligotrichida, Ciliophora), free swimming protozoa common in the aquatic environments. (eds. Asai T, Kobayashi K, Sakai H, Nemoto T, Kajihara T), Ocean Research Institute. University of Tokyo, 21, 67

  • Naustvoll, L. J. (2000). Prey size spectra and food preferences in thecate heterotrophic dinoflagellates. Phycologia, 39, 187–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nival, P., & Nival, S. (1976). Particle retention efficiencies of an herbivorous copepod, Acartia clausi (adult and copepodite stages): effects on grazing. Limnology and Oceanography, 21, 24–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paerl, H. W. (1997). Coastal eutrophication and harmful algal blooms: importance of atmospheric deposition and groundwater as “new” nitrogen and other nutrient sources. Limnology and Oceanography, 42, 1154–1165.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Panigrahi, S. N., Wikner, J., Panigrahy, R. C., Satapathy, K. K., & Acharya, B. C. (2009). Variability of nutrients and phytoplankton biomass in a shallow brackish water ecosystem (Chilka Lagoon), India. Limnology, 10, 73–85.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Panigrahy, R. C. (2000). The Chilka lake: a sensitive coastal ecosystem of Orissa, east coast of India. Journal of Indian Ocean Studies, 7(2&3), 222–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Panigrahy, R. C., Pati, P., Panda, R., Mohapatra, L. (2012). Environmental status and conservation measures of some sensitive coastal ecosystems of Odisha, east coast of India: an overview. Proceedings of National Seminar on “Recent Advances in Research on Marine Environment” 22-40pp.

  • Park, G. S., & Marshall, H. G. (2000). The trophic contributions of rotifers in tidal freshwater and estuarine habitats. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 51, 729–742.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rajawat, A. S., Gupta, M., Acharya, B. C., & Nayak, S. (2007). Impact of new mouth opening on morphology and water quality of the Chilika Lagoon—a study based on Resourcesat‐1 LISS‐III and AWiFS and IRS-1D LISS-III data. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 28(5), 905–923.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rakshit, D., Biswas, S. N., Sarkar, S. K., Bhattacharya, B. D., Godhantaraman, N., & Satpathy, K. K. (2014). Seasonal variations in species composition, abundance, biomass and production rate of tintinnids (Ciliata: Protozoa) along the Hooghly (Ganges) River Estuary, India: a multivariate approach. Environment Monitoring and Assessment, 186, 3063–3078.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raman, A. V., Satyanarayana, C., Adiseshasai, K., & Prakash, K. P. (1990). Phytoplankton characteristic of Chilka lake, a brackish water lagoon along the east coast of India. Indian Journal of Marine Sciences, 19, 274–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao, R. K., Mohan, P.C. (1977). Rotifers as indicators of pollution. Current Science, 46(6), 190–190.

  • Robertson, J. R. (1983). Predation by estuarine zooplankton on tintinnid ciliates. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 16, 27–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryther, J. H. (1956). The measurement of primary production. Limnology and Oceanography, 1(2), 72–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahu, B. K., Pati, P., & Panigrahy, R. C. (2014). Environmental conditions of Chilika Lake during pre and post hydrological intervention: an overview. Journal of Coastal Conservation, 18, 285–297. doi:10.1007/s11852-014-0318-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sailley, S. F., & Buitenhuis, E. T. (2014). Microzooplankton functional responses in the lab and in the field. Earth System Science Data Discussions, 7, 149–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, K., Atkison, A., Petzke, K., Voss, M., & Pond, D. W. (2006). Protozoans as a food source for Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba: complementary insights from stomach content, fatty acids, and stable isotopes. Limnology and Oceanography, 51, 2409–2427.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R. C., Ainley, D., Baker, K., Domack, E., Emslie, S., Fraser, B., Kennett, J., Leventer, A., Mosley-Thompson, E., Stammerjohn, S., & Vernet, M. (1999). Marine ecosystem sensitivity to climate change. Bioscience, 49, 393–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoecker, D. K., Weigel, A., & Goes, J. I. (2014). Microzooplankton grazing in the eastern Bering Sea in summer. Deep Sea Research Part-II, 109, 145–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strickland, J. D. H., Parsons, T. R. (1972). A practical handbook of sea water analysis. Bulletin Fisheries Research Board Canada, 2nd ed., 167, 310 pp.

  • Mishra, S., & Panigrahy, R. C. (1999). The tintinnids (Protozoa: Ciliata) of Bahuda estuary, east coast of India. Indian Journal of Marine Sciences, 28, 219–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, E. J., Hyun, J. J., Kim, D., Park, J., Kang, S. H., Shin, H. C., & Lee, S. H. (2012). Mesoscale distribution of protozooplankton communities and their herbivory in the western Scotia Sea of the Southern Ocean during the austral spring. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 428, 5–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Head of the Department of Marine Sciences for providing necessary facilities to carry out the work. The authors are also thankful to students and research scholars of the department for their help during the field trips. One of the authors (BKS) is thankful to DST, Govt. of India for providing fellowship.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Sciences, Berhampur University, Berhampur, Odisha, 760007, India

    Biraja Kumar Sahu, Suchismita Srichandan & R. C. Panigrahy

Authors
  1. Biraja Kumar Sahu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Suchismita Srichandan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. C. Panigrahy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Biraja Kumar Sahu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sahu, B.K., Srichandan, S. & Panigrahy, R.C. A preliminary study on the microzooplankton of Chilika Lake, a brackish water lagoon on the east coast of India. Environ Monit Assess 188, 69 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-5062-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-5062-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation