RESPONSE OF SEDIMENTARY DIATOMS AND PHYTOLITHS TO WET/DROUGHT EVENTS SINCE LAST similar to 100 YEARS IN THE CATCHMENT OF GHODAJHARI LAKE, CHANDRAPUR DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA: A PALEOLIMNOLOGICAL APPROACH

摘要

The core sediments of the Ghodajhari Lake of the Chandrapur District, Maharashtra has disclosed 50 species of diatoms belonging to 23 genera in the present findings. The Ghodajhari Lake revealed the common planktonic diatoms, such as Aulacoseira granulata, Discostella stelligera and Cyclotella meneghiniana and benthic diatoms such as Nitzschia microcephala, Amphora ovalis and Pinnularia abujensis. The variations in diatom diversity of the lake would be in response to changes in dry and wet period that existed in its watershed. The diversity in the lakes is mainly noticed during the wet period. Thus, relatively small size diatoms also indicate dry periods/less rainfall. The dominant phytolith types are cross, dumbell and trapezoid. The data of diatom size variations and phytolith types of this lake relatively supports the actual precipitation confirming the existence of relationship of mean linear diameter (MLD) of diatoms with the wet and dry periods over the studied region.