ZOO-BENTHlC DIVERSITY IN POLLUTED ZONE OF RIVER GOMTI ATDALIGANJ, LUCKNOW

摘要

To assess the biodiversity of river Gomti in Lucknow the industrially dominated spot Daliganj (Near Mohan Mekin) was identified. The water quality in this region was poor with low pH and low dissolved oxygen (on many occasions 0.80 ppm) and higher levels of nutrients (NO_2, NO_3 & PO_4) and chemical oxygen demand. The substratum was clayey and black in colour. The mean population density (26,490 m~(-2)) and biomass (25.18 g~(-2)) were high. Seasonally mean maxima for density (48,452 m~(-2)) and biomass (41.31 g~(-2)) were observed during post-monsoon. Oligochaetes and chironomids (Diptera) dominated the fauna. The genera Tubifex, Nais, Dero, Limnodrilus, Lumbricillus, Lumbriculus and Chaetogaster pre-dominated among oligochaetes. Other groups occasionally present were Nematodes, Ephemeroptera, Coleoptera and Gastropoda. The benthic productivity is high with poor diversity in this zone compared to other river systems. The dominance of worms coupled with poor water quality due to anthropogenic effluent discharge the area is highly polluted. Though the productivity is high in this region it may not culminate in good production at higher trophic level. The study revel that the area is highly polluted and reached at an alarming level.