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Phytoplankton diversity in relation to physicochemical attributes and water quality of Mandakini River, Garhwal Himalaya

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Abstract

Phytoplankton are important biological indicators of water quality. This current study assessed the physicochemical parameters and phytoplankton diversity of Mandakini River, an important tributary of the River Ganga. Water and phytoplankton samples were collected from three sampling sites located at three different altitudes for a period of twelve months (July 2018–June 2019). Water samples were analyzed for fourteen important physicochemical parameters along with the identification of phytoplankton by following the standard methodology. A total of 21 species of phytoplankton under three major groups Bacillariophyceae (Cymbella aequalis, Diatoma vulgaris, Fragilaria arcus, Frustulia rhomboids, Gomphonema geminatum, Navicula confervacea, Nitzchia diversa, and Synedra ulna); Chlorophyceae (Volvox sp., Cladophora glomerata, Closterium longissima, Hydrodictyon sp., Microspora amoena, Spirogyra sp., Oedogonium sp., Ulothrix zonata, and Zygnema cylindrospermum); and Cyanophyceae (Anabaena ambigua, Chlorococcum humicola, Nodularia sp., and Oscillatoria sancta) were observed and recorded during the study period. Site S3 (Rudraprayag) had the highest species diversity. From this study, the effect of physicochemical parameters on the diversity and density of phytoplankton was observed. It also includes the overall significance of phytoplankton and physicochemical parameters to the water quality of the Mandakini River along with the key factors that were responsible for the degradation of water quality. The current study also provides baseline information to future researchers working in a similar discipline.

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Abbreviations

CCA:

Canonical correspondence analysis

WHO:

World Health Organization

BIS:

Bureau of Indian Standards

CPCB:

Central Pollution Control Board

ICMR:

Indian Council of Medical Research

TDS:

Total dissolved solids

DO:

Dissolved oxygen

Free CO2 :

Free carbon dioxide

A.T.:

Air temperature

W.T.:

Water temperature

Turb.:

Turbidity

W.V.:

Water velocity

T.P.:

Transparency

E.C.:

Electrical conductivity

Alkal.:

Alkalinity

T.H.:

Total hardness

Cl- :

Chlorides

PO4 3- :

Phosphates

NO3 - :

Nitrates

SO4 2-:

Sulfates

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Acknowledgments

The authors (Rama Kumari, Chandi Prasad, Stanzin Namtak, Akash Deep) thankfully acknowledge the fellowship given by the University Grant Commission, New Delhi, through Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India, for undertaking the present work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, H.N.B. Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand, 246174, India

    Rahul Kumar, Rama Kumari, Chandi Prasad, Vijayta Tiwari, Neetu Singh, Stanzin Namtak & Akash Deep

  2. Amity Institute of Microbial Technology (AIMT), Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201313, India

    Swati Mohapatra

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Mahatma Gandhi University, Anneparthy, Nalgonda, Telangana State, 508254, India

    Ramchander Merugu

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  1. Rahul Kumar
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Kumar, R., Kumari, R., Prasad, C. et al. Phytoplankton diversity in relation to physicochemical attributes and water quality of Mandakini River, Garhwal Himalaya. Environ Monit Assess 192, 799 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08768-3

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