Diversity of Zooplankton Community of Chatla Floodplain Lake of Barak Valley, Assam, North East India in Relation to Physicochemical Characteristics of Water

Abstract

A study was carried out to investigate zooplankton diversity over a period of one year (March, 2019-February, 2020) in Chatla floodplain lake (popularly known as Chatla Haor) in Cachar district of Assam, North East India. The study was carried out in three different areas of the wetland. Composition, density and diversity of zooplankton community were studied in relation to physicochemical characteristics of water. Zooplankton community was comprised of 33 taxa out of which 13 belong to Cladocera, 6 to Copepoda, 13 to Rotifera and 1 to Ostracoda. The mean density of total zooplankton in Chatla floodplain ranges from 1170.49 ut.L−1 (Site III) to 1378.50 ut.L−1 (Site I). Relative abundance of the zooplankton classes were studied. The community structure was analysed using Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H^'), Menhinick's richness index, Evenness index (J^') and Berger-Parker dominance index (D_BP). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also performed. Correlation and regression analysis was performed to estimate the effect of physicochemical properties of water on the diversity of zooplankton.