Assessment of zooplankton diversity of a tropical wetland system

Abstract

Zooplankton community is cosmopolitan in nature and they inhabit all freshwater habitats of the world. These spices are not only useful as bioindicators, but are also helpful for ameliorating polluted waters. Hence qualitative and quantitative studies of zooplankton diversity are of great importance. In the present study, monthly changes in diversity and density of zooplankton assemblages had been recorded during June 2008-May 2009, at three selected sites of Varasda wetland, situated between 22°29’30.69″ N latitude and 72º 30’ 30.23’’ E longitude of Kheda district, Central Gujarat, India. The population at Varasda wetland consisted of 36 genera of zooplankton. The recorded genera were categorized into 6 different groups – Rhizopoda, Cladocera, Rotifera, Ciliophora, Copepoda and others which included Zooflagellates, Ostracoda, Callanoids and Herpacticoids.