Periodical Assessment of Phytoplankton Diversity in Navalgund Lentic water body of Dharwad District in Karnataka, India

The present paper deals mainly with, the study of Phytoplankton belonging to five different classes of algae which vary in different months. Detailed Physico-chemical characteristics of this Lentic water body of Arekurahatti were analyzed at monthly interval for a period of one year from May-2012 to April 2013. The variation in water quality parameters played an important role in the diversity of Phytoplankton and favoured the maximum blooming of Euglenophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Cyanophyceae members especially during Monsoon over the population of Dinophyceae. But during winter and summer season much fluctuation was observed in the density of Euglenophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Cyanophyceae members. Surprisingly, Dinophyceae members were appeared only in the months of March and April, during summer season when phosphates were was observed found least in the lentic water body. On an average, the per cent occurrence of Cyanophyceae members was found maximum followed by Chlorophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Dinophyceae. Total of eighty one species were recorded throughout the year belonging to Euglenophyceae (7), Chlorophyceae (31), Bacillariophyceae (26), Cyanophyceae (16) and Dinophyceae (1). Based upon the recorded physicochemical parameters the status of the lentic water body in the present study indicates its oligotrophic nature. Therefore, investigation may suggest that the water of Arekurhatti Lake may be used for domestic purposes but not for drinking according to drinking water quality standards.