Diatoms Community Structure in Relation to Physico-Chemical Factors in Yercaud Lake, Salem District, Tamil Nadu, India
R. Venkatachalapathy1, G. Nandhakumar2, P. Karthikeyan3
1R.Venkatachalapathy, M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D Professor, Department of Geology, Periyar University, Salem (Tamil Nadu), India.
2G.Nanthakumar, M.Sc., M.Phil Assistant Professor, Department of Geology, Periyar University, Colleges of Arts & Science, Mettur (Tamil Nadu), India.
3P.Karthikeyan, M.SC Research Scholar, Department of Geology, Periyar University, Salem (Tamil Nadu), India.
Manuscript received on 12 March 2013 | Revised Manuscript received on 21 March 2013 | Manuscript Published on 30 March 2013 | PP: 220-222 | Volume-2 Issue-4, March 2013 | Retrieval Number: D0549032413/13©BEIESP
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Abstract: Diatoms are likely to natural conditions in lake and their distribution is mainly governed by the physicochemical composition of the water. Monitoring of water quality with regards to physicochemical parameter is insufficient. Organic indicators of water quality monitoring urbanized during the recent years have served as excellent tools in the area of water pollution studies. Among all the algae, fresh water diatoms are the most commonly used indicators of the conditions of water. Several diatom indices are tested for rivers in other countries, but have not been used for lake water systems. Diatom monitoring studies in India have suffered given that their recognition is difficult and extensive reporting is not accessible mostly. . Diatoms and water samples were collected in 10 locations during summer season (May 2012). As a result the study aims at applying some of the diatom indices to monitor fresh water lakes of Yercaud city. Three water quality indices and sixteen water chemistry variables were analyzed. 21 diatom species are identified. They are as follows: Amphora ovalis, Bacillaria paxillife, Cyclotella atomus, Cyclotella stelligera, Cymbella tumida, Eunotia curvate, Eunotia pectinalis, Fragilaria rumpens, Frustulia megaliesmontana, Gomphonema lanceolatum, Gomphonema Parvulum, Gomphonema undulatum, Navicula ryhnchocephala, Navicula virudila. Navicula sigmatifera, Nitzschia microcephala, Nitzschia obtuse, Nitzschia palea, Pinnularia boreanis, syndera ulna, Tabularia tabulate. Fresh water diatoms indices can be applied in water quality monitoring of lakes. Changes in the Diatom of large temperate freshwater lakes have long been recognised as providing a good indicator of the trophic status and environmental quality of the system. To assess the relative importance of environmental influences on diatom assemblages good lake. In this paper we deals with the current status of the diatom of a Yercaud lake make comparisons with diatoms community structure in relation to physico-chemical factors. Among the physical and chemical variables measured, water pollution, particularly organic contamination and eutrophication, measured from pH, electrical conductivity and total ionic concentration, respectively, appeared to be one of the most important environmental factors determining the composition and structure of species associations in the area studied.
Keywords: Freshwater Lakes, Environmental Quality, Physico Chemical Factors.
Scope of the Article: Community Information Systems