Influence of macrophytes on zooplankton distribution in Manasbal lake, Kashmir

In the Manasbal lake, a typical marl lake of the Kashmir Himalayan region, zooplankton assemblages were studied in two zones viz littoral and limnetic, litoral zone, being former colonized by relatively high density of macrophytes. Dominant macrophytic species in the littoral zones were Phragmites australis, Typha angustata, Cyprus sp., Nymphoides peltatum, Nelumbo nucifera and Potamogeton natans while Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Potamogeton lucens, P. crispus, P. pectinatus and Hydrilla verticillata dominated in the limnetic zone. Water samples and zooplankton samples were collected in each zone for two years on a monthly basis. Bosminia longirostris, Chydorus sphericus, Graptoleberis testudinaria and Macrothrix rosea were dominant in littoral zone while as Diaphanosoma brachyurum, Acropeus harpae and Acanthodiaptomus denticornis were found more prevalent in limnetic zone. The correlation coefficient yielded significant differences between sites in relation to different physico-chemical parameters and density of zooplankton species. The results indicate that the microhabitat structure, created by macrophytes, is an important factor in determining the diversity and abundance of zooplankton communities.