Studies on zooplankton diversity and physico-chemical parameters of ramnagar annua, cachar, Assam

Diversity of Zooplankton is one of the most important ecological parameters as these are the intermediate link between phytoplankton and fish and plays a key role in cycling of organic materials in an aquatic ecosystem. These are one most important biotic component influencing all the functional aspects of an aquatic ecosystem such as food chains, food web and cycling of matter. The study conducted with an aim to study the zooplankton diversity including physico-chemical parameters. The study was carried out in Ramnagar annua (N 24049´57.3˝, E 92045´23.7˝) which is an oxbow-lake from September 2012 to August 2013 during different seasons. The physico-chemical parameters indicate the prevalence of good quality of water in the wetland. A total of 26 species of zooplankton were found from the study area. The species richness of the group rotifera (44.18%) was highest. A total of 12 species belonging to 7 genera and 6 families were found during the period of investigation. These were followed by cladocerans, which were represented by 6 families comprising 9 species and 9 genera. There were 4 species of copepoda belonging to 2 families and 2 genera. The lowest diversity was exhibited by ostracods being represented by only species belonging to a single family.