Hydrobiological analysis of a peat bog with emphasis on its planktonic diversity and population dynamics in Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, eastern Bhutan |
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Authors: | BK Sharma Shivaraj Bhattarai |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, India;(2) Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan, Kanglung, Bhutan |
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Abstract: | A pioneering limnological investigation was carried out in Bhutan in a small peat bog in the Trashiyangtse district (1950 m
above sea level) from February 2000 to January 2002. The sampled pond water had low transparency (55.0–95.0 cm), was typically
acidic (pH 5.69–6.58) with soft water (alkalinity, 11.0–36.0 mg/l; total hardness, 10.0–34.0 mg/l), and had low to moderate
specific conductivity (17.0–62.0 μS/cm). Further, moderate Na (2.0–6.8 mg/l), K (1.8–13.5 mg/l), sulphate (0.85–2.99 mg/l),
and silicate (2.5–15.0 mg/l) concentrations as well as low nutrient levels such as phosphate (0.006–0.170 mg/l) and nitrate
(0.003–0.180 mg/l) characterize the water in the peat bog. The recorded net plankton comprised 27 species of phytoplankton
and 49 species of zooplankton, with the latter indicating greater homogeneity and breaking down into Rotifera (23 species)
> Cladocera (13 species) > Rhizopoda (8 species) > Copepoda (3 species) > Ostracoda = Nematoda (1 species each). On the other
hand, the net plankton density ranged between 93 and 692 number/l (n/l) with numerical dominance by phytoplankton (68.5% ±
12%), of which Chlorophyceae were predominant (90 ± 63 n/l). Zooplankton showed moderately high diversity (2.745 ± 0.293)
and evenness (0.925 ± 0.049) and exhibited almost equal abundance of four recorded groups, namely Cladocera (20 ± 15 n/l)
> Rotifera (15 ± 6 n/l) > Copepoda (14 ± 7 n/l) > Rhizopoda (14 ± 4 n/l). While no significant impact of abiotic factors was
recorded on zooplankton density, rainfall alone was the most important factor that influenced net plankton and various groups
of phytoplankton. Comments on some comparative limnological attributes are also made with similar as well as different habitats
in the nearby Himalayan countries. |
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Keywords: | Water quality Phytoplankton Zooplankton Correlation |
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