Assessing Freshwater Integrity Using Planktonic Biological Monitoring Methods

Abstract

The dire state of freshwater ecosystems in an era of worsening anthropogenic threats necessitates a timely development of effective water quality monitoring approaches based on biology. The objective of this study was to test the role of plankton as bioindicators to quantify integrity of freshwater systems in Indian water bodies. General aims included analysis of diversity patterns of phytoplankton and zooplankton, relating planktonic abundance to physicochemical parameters and assessment of the degree of usefulness of some Bio-indices to assess pollution. Description: A mixed-method approach combining field sampling and laboratory analysis was employed over a number of freshwater lakes and rivers. First, that the planktonic diversity indices are significantly related to water quality variables so that they can reflect the health of the ecosystem. Results showed Shannon-Weiner diversity index values between 1.2 and 3.4 within sites indicative of trophic conditions. Palmer's Pollution Index also indicated that organic pollution in water bodies under anthropogenic influence was moderate to high The dominance of Cyanophyceae and Chlorophyceae groups implied the eutrophic levels of the phytoplankton, whereas the composition of zooplankton was associated with the pollution stress. The dissolved oxygen, pH and planktonic density all correlated statistically significantly with these design parameters. It was discussed that biological monitoring, particularly in freshwater ecosystems, is a known and cost-effective reliable assessment of integrity, as opposed to or chemical methods alone (Suter, 1993). Planktonic biological monitoring constitutes a tool potentially suited to provide a more holistic assessment of freshwater quality that should be included in frameworks for environmental management.