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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
OF CURRENT RESEARCH
International Journal of Current Research
Vol. 7, Issue, 11, pp.22329-22335, November, 2015

ISSN: 0975-833X

RESEARCH ARTICLE

ASSESSMENT OF PHYTOPLANKTON DIVERSITY AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL

PHYSICO CHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN
CHIKKAKERE, PERIYAPATNA, MYSORE, KARNATAKA STATE, INDIA
*Mahesh

Kumar M.K. and M.K. Mahesh,

Kumar,

Department of Botany, Yuvarajas College, Mysore, India

ARTICLE INFO

ABSTRACT

Article History:

The present studies were carried out on the diversity of phytoplankton in relation to
physico chemical parameter from July 2012 to June 2013 in chikkakere, Periyapatna,
physicoMysore, Karnataka. The water samples were analyzed to physical and chemical parameters
by following the standard methods of APHA (2005) and Trivedi and Goel (1984). The
quantitative analysis of phytoplankton was done by Lackeys drop method modified by
saxena (1987). Total 29 species were recorded which are belonging to Bacillariophyceae,
Chlorophyceae,
hlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Euglenophyceae and Desmidiaceae. Diversity indices have
been discussed by using PASTA Software Program. The diversity indices includes
Shannon and Weiner index, Berger and Parker index, Simpson index, Margalefs index and
Pielous index which determines status of the water body. The statistical program Pearsons
Pielous
correlation matrix has been discussed by using SPSS 20.0 Software program. The
Pearsons correlation matrix explained Total Hardness is directly correlated with calcium,
chloride
hloride and total alkalinity. The higher values of nitrate and phosphate observed in the
month of May which leads in formation blooms in the lake. Microcystis aeruginosa blooms
are dominant and occurred throughout year in the lake.

Received 26th August, 2015

Received in revised form
08th September, 2015
Accepted 12th October, 2015
Published online 30th November, 2015

Key words:
Phytoplankton,
Pearson's correlation,
Biodiversity indices,
Microcystis aeruginosa .

Copyright 2015 Mahesh Kumar and Mahesh. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Att
Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Citation: Mahesh Kumar, M.K., and Mahesh, M.K., 2015. Assessment

Assessment of phytoplankton diversity and physico
physico-chemical parameters in
Chikkakere, Periyapatna, Mysore, Karnataka State, India,
India International Journal of Current Research, 7, (11
11), 22329-22335.

INTRODUCTION
Water is the prime source for all life forms on the earth. The
physical, chemical and biological parameters determine the
quality of water. The decline in biotic community
communi and changes
in water quality majorly depends on the rapid industrialization,
pesticides used in agriculture, sewage disposal and
anthropogenic activities. The phytoplankton have been an
interesting group for investigation because of their very
primitive nature and a worldwide distribution, which is due to
their capability to exist under most varied environmental
condition (Musharaf Khan et al., 2011). Phytoplankton are
free floating unicellular filamentous and colonial autotrophic
organisms that grow in aquatic environments whose movement
is more or less dependent upon water currents (Millman
(
et al.,
2005).
). Algae are ideally suited for water quality assessment
because they have rapid reproduction rates and very short life
cycles making them valuable indicators
cators of short term impacts.
Algal assemblages are sensitive to some pollutants and they
*Corresponding author: M.K. Mahesh,
Department of Botany, Yuvarajas College, Mysore, India

readily accumulate pollutants and algal metabolism is also

sensitive to the variation of environment and natural
disturbances (Wan
Wan Maznah Wan Omar, 2010
2010). Algal diversity
in lakes plays an important role in their conservation. More the
diversity more useful is a water body. The qualitative and
quantitative studies of phytoplankton have been utilized to
assess the quality of water (Adoni
Adoni et al., 1985; Chaturevedi et
al., 1999; Ponmanikam et al.,., 2007
2007.) One of the remarkable
aspects of the lakes environment is the llarge number of
phytoplankton species that are present at any given time. Such
species diversity appears as a paradox ((Hutchinson, 1967). The
physico- chemical characteristics of water plays an important
role in algal biodiversity and population dynamics of planktons
(sumita srivastava et al., 2010)

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study area
Chikka kere is situated at latitude of 12 20 31.38N, longitude
of 12 05 71.64E
.64E at an elevation of 2815ft. It is about 68Km
from Mysore near Periyapatna taluk in upparagere village. The
shape of the lake is irregular. There is no source for the lake

22330

Mahesh Kumar and Mahesh, Assessment of phytoplankton diversity and physico-chemical parameters in Chikkakere, Periyapatna,
Mysore, Karnataka State, India

water and it depends on the rain water. Inflow of sewage from

the village was observed. The three temples situated near the
lake as a result frequently animals sacrifice and ethical
incarnation was made by the devotes. The water used for many
anthropogenic activities like washing clothes, cattles,
agricultural purpose and for fishing activity. Foul smelling of
water was observed due to the death and decay of the
microorganisms mainly Microcystis. Microcystis bloom was
observed throughout the year because of this water looks
greenish in color and aquatic weeds like Typha, Aquatic
Ipomoea and limenodendron was observed.
Physico-chemical analysis
Water samples were collected on a monthly basis from the
chikkakere lake of Periyapatna, Mysore district, Karnataka for
a period of one year from July 2012 to June 2013. For the
present study, three sampling sites in lake were selected taking
into account anthropogenic activities such washing of clothes
and utensils, bathing, ethical incarnation etc. Surface water
was collected from all the three sampling sites in lake.
Collections were made using plastic cans of 1-L capacity. The
plastic containers were rinsed thoroughly with sampling water
before use. After filling the containers, they were labeled with
site number and date of collection and transferred to laboratory
for the analysis of chemical parameters (APHA, Trivedi and
Goel). The pH, water temperature, total dissolved solids
(TDS), electric conductance and salinity were measured using
the multi parameter tester 35 devises on the spot. Turbidity
was measured using digital turbidiometer model H1- 93703
portable microprocessor turbidity meter on the spot.
The estimation of free carbon dioxide was also done on the
spot by titrating samples against 0.1N Sodium hydroxide using
phenolphthalein as an indicator. The fixation of dissolved
oxygen (DO) was also done on the spot. For DO fixation, the
water samples were taken carefully into 300 mL BOD Bottles,
avoiding air bubbles. Potassium iodide and manganous
sulphate reagents were added soon after collection
precipitation formed, which is dissolved by adding conc.
Sulphuric acid and titrated against 0.025N sodium thiosulphate
using starch as an indicator. For the rest of the chemical
parameters (chloride, calcium, total alkalinity, total hardness,
BOD, COD, nitrate and phosphate) a water sample was
brought to the laboratory and was analyzed.
Biological parameters
Phytoplankton were collected for biological analysis at three
different sites of the lake by filtering the water sample with the
help of plankton net of mesh size 63 m and 30cm diameter.
The final volume of filtered sample is 50ml. The sample is
transferred to 100ml sterile plastic bottle and labeled
mentioning the time, date and place of sampling. The collected
sample is preserved by using 1ml of 4% formaldehyde and 4-5
drops of lugols iodine solution. Lugols iodine solution is
added to the sample to preserve the color of the organism. The
preserved samples are taken to laboratory for further analysis.
The quantitative analysis of phytoplankton was done by
Lackeys drop method modified by saxena (1987). In Lackeys
drop method, the coverslip was placed over one drop of water

sample in the slide, permanent slide is done by using DPX and

whole coverslip were examined under Labomed trinocular
microscope (LX400) with image transferor (DCM 35 USB 2.0)
and photographs was taken and species identification was done
by using standard monographs like Prescott, Desikachary,
research articles and research personnel. After that organisms
were counted in each drop. This procedure is repeated three
times for each samples and number of organism is measured as
organism per liter.
Formula used for the calculation of plankton as Org/L is
Plankton Org/L =

nXc X100

n= No. of plankton counted in 0.1ml of sample

c= total volume of concentrated in ml
V= total volume of water filtered through net

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Physicochemical parameters
Variation in the physico- chemical parameters are shown in
table1. Water of the lake shows alkaline nature throughout the
year. The pH was fluctuated 9.64 to 10.23 and was highest in
February and lowest in June. The water temperature (WT)
ranges from 22.16 C to 36.6 C. it was recorded highest in
April and lowest in December. Fluctuation in water
temperature was observed due to difference in the sampling
time. The electric conductance varies from 594ppm to 3.08ppt.
The highest of EC recorded in May it is due to the
accumulation of the ionic compounds and lowest in January.
Total dissolved solids (TDS) found varies from 433 ppm to
2.23 ppt. The minimum value of TDS found in July and
maximum value in May. In the present study TDS was
constantly increases indicate the disturbance due to
anthropogenic activities. Salinity depends on the amount of
ions present in that water body. The Salinity ranges from 133
ppm to 1010 ppm. The minimum value of Salinity found in
January and maximum value in May. Suspended particles
present in the water gives a turbid nature to the water.
Suspended particles like clay particles and phytoplankton
increases the turbidity. The penetration of the light decreases
with the Increase in the turbidity as a result phytoplankton
growth affected. Turbidity ranges from 2 NTU to 175.67 NTU.
The minimum value of Turbidity found in June and maximum
value in May.
Carbon-di-oxide (CO2) recorded in Chikka kere ranges from
0.00 ppm to 5.86 ppm. The minimum value of CO2 found in
July, August, September, November, January, February,
March, April, May and June and maximum value in December.
The values of Dissolved oxygen (DO) range from 2.70 ppm to
4.33 ppm. The minimum value of found in the month of
October, March and May and maximum value in the month of
June. The DO is the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water.
Decrease in the value of the DO indicates the pollution status
of the water body. The presence of carbonates and
bicarbonates in the water results in hardness. Total Hardness
ranges from 134.67 ppm to 405.33 ppm. The minimum value
of total hardness found in October and maximum value in
May. The amount of Calcium ranges from 18.71 ppm to

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International Journal of Current Research, Vol. 7, Issue, 11, pp.22329-22335, November, 2015

59.85 ppm. The minimum value of calcium found in October

and maximum value in June. Chloride value varies from
103.19 ppm to 996.84 ppm. The minimum value of found in
the month of August and maximum value in the month of
May. The amount of total alkalinity ranges from 153.3 ppm to
453.33 ppm. The Higher values of salinity indicate the
pollution (Das et al., 2009). The minimum value of total
alkalinity found in September and maximum value in May.
Both Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and Biological oxygen
demand (BOD) is used as an indicator of organic pollution.
Increase in the values indicates the organic pollution due to
sewage inflow.
The COD values in ranges from 101.33 ppm to 797.33 ppm.
The minimum value of COD found in November and
maximum value in May. BOD is the measure of a microbial
activity in the water. The BOD value varies from 32.44 ppm to
54.07 ppm. The minimum value of BOD found in January and
maximum value in May. The presence of higher values of
nitrate and phosphate results in the eutrophic nature of the
water. This may further responsible for the formation of algal
blooms. Increase in values of nitrate and phosphate due to the
increase in domestic wastes and sewage contamination. The
Nitrate values ranges from 0.05 ppm to 1.51 ppm. The
minimum value of Nitrate found in August and maximum
value in May. The Phosphate values ranges from 0.02 ppm to
0.96 ppm. The minimum value of Phosphate found in August
and maximum value in May.

pH increased with the increase in temperature. The salinity is

highly correlated with electric conductance (r=.984, p0.01,
n=12). The salt ions of both carbonates and bicarbonates which
are results in increased the electric conductance. As the amount
of ionic concentration increases salinity also increases.
Total dissolved solids was negatively correlated with Total
hardness(r=-.611, p0.05, n=12), Calcium (r=-.700, p0.05,
n=12), Chloride (r=-.612, p0.05, n=12), Phosphate (r=-.584,
p0.05, n=12) and Euglenophyceae (r=-.611, p0.05, n=12).
Turbidity had showed positively highly correlation with
Chloride (r=.730, p0.01, n=12), total alkalinity (r=.754,
p0.01, n=12), Nitrate (r=.723, p0.01, n=12). The dissolved
oxygen is negatively correlated with turbidity (r=-.625,
p0.05, n=12) it shows that the debris, clay particles which are
present in the water increases the turbidity level and gradually
decreases dissolved oxygen. Total hardness had showed
positive correlation with Calcium(r=.807, p0.01, n=12),
Chloride (r=.909, p0.01, n=12), total alkalinity (r=.838,
p0.01, n=12) and Phosphate(r=.729, p0.01, n=12). Presence
of calcium, chloride ions results in hardness which in turn
results in the alkalinity of the water.
Chloride had showed positively highly correlation with total
alkalinity (r=.886, p0.01, n=12), biochemical oxygen
demand (r=.730, p0.01, n=12), Nitrate (r=.848, p0.01,
n=12), Phosphate(r=.853, p0.01, n=12) and Euglenophyceae
(r=.801, p0.01, n=12).

Table 1. Monthly variation in the Physico- chemical parameters from July 2012- June 2013
Parameters
July
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
pH
9.72
9.81
10.03 9.68
9.85
9.8
10.01 10.23 10.2
10.11
9.96
WT
25.3
25.03 25.93 26.9
24.63 22.16 25.2
33.46 35.1
36.6
27.26
EC
611
636.7 627
643.3 726.7 796.3 594.8 985.7 1134.3 1424.3 3.08*
TDS
433
450
445
458.7 514.7 565.3 621.3 698.3 819
1.04*
2.23*
Salinity
296.7 309.3 305
315
354
389
425
486.3 574.33 753.66 1.68*
Turbidity
23.89 41.71 28.69 2.96
2.34
4.11
52.57 62.16 118.3
12.95
175.7
CO2
0
0
0
3.98
0
5.86
0
0
0
0
0
DO
3.78
2.97
3.78
2.7
3.51
3.78
2.97
3.24
2.7
3.51
2.7
Hardness
158.7 137.3 138.7 134.7 149.3 150.7 169.3 258.7 184
226.67 405.3
Calcium
18.7
18.7
38.48 18.17 23.51 20.31 18.7
28.86 21.38
27.79
54.51
Chloride
113.6 103.2 123.1 118.3 147.7 160
195
236.7 217.73 370.15 996.8
TA
246.7 200
153.3 173.3 200
173.3 226.7 306.7 213.33 273.33 453.3
COD
106.7 541.3 269.3 456
101.3 106.7 133.3 152
325.33 346.67 797.3
BOD
38.93 34.6
41.09 34.6
47.58 36.77 32.44 36.77 38.93
43.25
54.07
Nitrate
0.29
0.05
0.39
0.42
0.45
0.46
0.51
0.15
0.47
0.29
1.51
Phosphate
0.04
0.02
0.03
0.03
0.04
0.04
0.05
0.15
0.37
0.82
0.96
WT- water temperature, EC-Electric conductance, TDS- Total dissolved solids, CO2- Dissolved Carbon-di-oxide,
DO- Dissolved oxygen, TA- Total alkalinity, BOD- Biochemical oxygen demand, COD- Chemical oxygen demand
(* indicates the month of May EC is in ms and salinity is in ppt, in the month of April, May and June TDS is in ppt)

June
9.64
26.3
1795.7
1.21*
879.66
2
0
4.33
302.67
59.85
326.6
200
176
36.76
0.22
0.13

Pearsons correlation matrix

Statistical analysis of physico-chemical and biological
parameters for Pearsons correlation matrix was shown in table
2. Pearsons correlation matrix is used to find out the inter
relationship between the physico- chemical parameters and
biological parameters. The obtained data of physico-chemical
and biological parameters are subjected to SPSS 20.0 version
to get a Pearsons correlation matrix. The pH is positively
correlated with water temperature (r=.727, p0.01, n=12).
The water temperature is influenced by the environmental
temperature. During the pre monsoon season the water level in
a lake decreases by increasing in environmental temperature as
well as water temperature. It makes mark on that the level of

Total alkalinity had showed positively highly correlation with

Phosphate (r=.785, p0.01, n=12) and Euglenophyceae
(r=.736, p0.01, n=12). Chemical oxygen demand had
showed negatively correlation with the dissolved oxygen (r=.616, p0.05, n=12). Nitrate shows negative correlation with
the electric conductance (r=-.604, p0.05, n=12) and salinity
(r=-.586, p0.05, n=12) and marked strong correlation with
parameter BOD (r=.724, p0.01, n=12). The biological
parameters Cyanophyceae had showed negative correlation
with Chlorophyceae (r=-.809, p0.05, n=12) and
Euglenophyceae shows positive correlation with phosphate
(r=.950, p0.01, n=12).

22332

Mahesh Kumar and Mahesh, Assessment of phytoplankton diversity and physico-chemical parameters in Chikkakere, Periyapatna, Mysore, Karnataka State, India

Table 2. Pearsons correlation matrix for physico- chemical and biological parameters
1
2
3
4
5
1
1
2
.727**
1
3
.020
.435
1
4
.331
-.013 -.163
1
5
.079
.453
.984**
-.142
1
6
.496
.303
-.455
.000
-.436
7
-.385
-.373 -.097
.174
-.129
8
-.361
-.269 .533
-.319
.482
*
9
.158
.273
.022
-.611
.011
10
-.085
.017
.182
-.700*
.136
11
.169
.184
-.280
-.612*
-.276
12
.326
.310
-.358
-.407
-.343
13
.038
.143
-.440
-.424
-.462
14
.162
.110
-.338
-.475
-.381
15
.086
-.094 -.604*
-.322
-.586*
16
.403
.560
-.055
-.584*
-.036
17
-.535
-.499 .150
.093
.122
18
.566
.527
-.031
.177
.037
19
-.189
-.505 -.334
.213
-.400
20
.187
.082
.136
.465
.117
21
.269
.418
-.120
-.705*
-.094
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

1
-.344
-.625*
.613*
.299
.730**
.754**
.631*
.479
.723**
.623*
-.274
.165
-.201
.150
.439

1
.011
-.313
-.305
-.214
-.346
-.095
-.280
.012
-.261
.084
-.128
.662*
.504
-.196

1
-.041
.335
-.257
-.355
-.616*
-.071
-.402
-.293
.310
-.420
.080
-.080
-.198

1
.807**
.909**
.838**
.459
.559
.614*
.729**
-.289
.154
-.218
-.190
.641*

1
.676*
.429
.311
.476
.426
.436
-.190
-.117
-.162
-.266
.390

1
.886**
.665*
.730**
.848**
.853**
-.365
.161
-.093
-.133
.801**

1
.549
.640*
.697*
.785**
-.364
.300
-.171
-.239
.736**

1
.437
.587*
.621*
-.222
-.042
-.084
-.166
.605*

1
.724**
.692*
-.399
.185
.160
-.137
.685*

1
.640*
-.401
.188
.121
.039
.593*

1
-.462
.279
-.250
-.026
.950**

1
-.809**
.093
.224
-.447

1
-.100
-.193
.241

1
.332
-.166

1
-.200

1.pH, 2. WT, 3. EC, 4. TDS, 5. Salinity, 6. Turbidity, 7. CO2, 8. DO, 9. Total hardness, 10. Calcium, 11. Chloride, 12. Total alkalinity, 13. COD,
14. BOD, 15. Nitrate, 16. Phosphate, 17. Chlorophyceae, 18. Cyanophyceae, 19. Bacillariophyceae, 20. Desmidiaceae, 21. Euglenophyceae
Table 3. List of Phytoplankton species of Chikkakere
Chlorophyaceae
Characium gracilipes F.D.Lambert S
Scenedesmus quadricauda (Turpin) Brbisson
Scenedesmus dimorphus (Turpin) Ktzing
Golenkinia radiata Chodat
Oedogonium Sp
Oocystis gigas W.Archer
Tetraedron apiculatum (Reinsch)
Zygnema pectinatum (Vaucher) C.Agardh
Tetraedron minitum A.Braun
Selenastrum minutum (Ngeli) Collins
Cyanophyaceae
Oscillatoria prolifica Gomont
Arthrospira gomontiana Setchell
Oscillatoria princeps Vaucher
Merismopedia convoluta Brbisson ex Ktzing
Anabaena microspora Kleb.

Anabaena circinalis Robenhorst

Arthrospira platensis (Nordstedt) Gomont
Microcystis aeruginosa
Phormidium fragile Gomont
Bacillariophyaceae
Synedra ulna (Nitzsch) Ehrenberg
Fragilaria rumpens (Ktzing) G.W.F.Carlson
Melosira granulata (Ehrenberg) Ralfs
Navicula gracilis Ehrenberg
Nitzschia gracilis
Fragilaria brevistriata Grunow
Desmidaceae
Cosmarium lundelli
Closterium lunula Ehrenberg & Hemprich ex Ralfs
Euglenaceae
Euglena minuta Prescott
Lepocinclis ovum Ehrenberg

22333

International Journal of Current Research, Vol. 7, Issue, 11, pp.22329-22335, November, 2015

Phytoplankton diversity

Shannon wiener index

Diversity of Phytoplankton is helpful in assessing the status of

the lake. List of recorded phytoplankton species was shown in
table 3. In present study 29 species of algae was recorded
which belongs to Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae,
Cyanophyceae, Euglenophyceae and Desmidiaceae. In these 5
classes, Cyanophyceae members are dominant among them
Microcystis aeruginosa were the dominant species which
present throughout the year. In summer season the species
level increases considerable. Due to death and decay of this
species the foul smelling was emitted from the lake. To know
the diversity of phytoplankton the data was subjected to PAST
software. The calculated diversity indices are shown in Table
4.

Shannon wiener index (1949) contains both richness and

dominance of the species. The Shannon Weiner index
increases with increase in number of taxa.
It is represented as follows,
(H)=pi in pi
Where pi=proportion of the ith species and in natural
logarithm.
This index helps in determining pollution status of the water
body. According willham and Dorris (1966) stated that values
of the index 3 indicates clean water, values 3 indicates

Table 4. Calculation of diversity indices of Chikkakere

Taxa_S
Individuals
Simpson_1-D
Shannon_H
Evenness_e^H/S
Margalef
Fisher_alpha
Berger-Parker

4
8400
0.67
1.24
0.87
0.33
0.40
0.50

5
9800
0.73
1.48
0.87
0.44
0.51
0.43

4
8400
0.67
1.24
0.87
0.33
0.40
0.50

5
11200
0.69
1.39
0.80
0.43
0.50
0.50

6
14000
0.76
1.61
0.83
0.52
0.60
0.40

The diversity indices explain about the dominance, evenness

and abundance of the species. Diversity indices like
Simpsons, Shannon wiener, Pielous evenness, Margalefs
index, Fishers alpha index and Berger-Parker index were
disused.
Simpsons diversity index
Species richness as a measure on its own takes no account of
the number of individuals of each species present. It gives
equal weight to those species with very few individuals and
those with many individuals. Simpsons index (D) is a measure
of diversity, which takes into account both species richness,
and an evenness of abundance among the species present. In
essence it measures the probability that two individuals
randomly selected from an area will belong to the same
species. The formula for calculating D is presented as:

n n 1
i

NN 1

Where ni = the total number of organisms of each individual

species
N = the total number of organisms of all species
The value of D ranges from 0 to 1. With this index, 0
represents infinite diversity and 1 no diversity. That is, the
bigger the value the lower the diversity. The index value
ranges from 0.4063 to 0.7347. The maximum value observed
in January and minimum value observed in March, April and
May. The result shows that the species are not evenly
distributed.

5
14000
0.74
1.47
0.87
0.42
0.49
0.40

4
12600
0.52
1.00
0.68
0.32
0.38
0.67

3
12600
0.49
0.85
0.78
0.21
0.28
0.67

3
11200
0.41
0.74
0.70
0.21
0.28
0.75

3
11200
0.41
0.74
0.70
0.21
0.28
0.75

3
11200
0.41
0.74
0.70
0.21
0.28
0.75

4
8400
0.67
1.24
0.87
0.33
0.40
0.50

moderate pollution and values 1 considered as heavily

polluted. In the present study, the value ranges from 0.7356 to
1.609. The higher value recorded in November and lower
values in March, April and May. The lake is moderately
polluted in months of June, July, August, September, October,
November, December and January. It heavily polluted during
February, March, April and May.
Pielous evenness index
Pielous evenness index (1975) measures the evenness of the
species. The index is expressed as,
J=

log(S)

If H is the observed Shannon Weiner index, the maximum

value this would take is log(S) where S is the total number of
species in the habitat. The Pielous index ranges from 0.6814
to 0.8743. The higher value observed in August and the lower
value in January. The result shows that the phytoplankton
diversity is not evenly distributed.
Margalefs index
The Margalefs index is also similar to Menhinick index. It
also measures richness of species. It is calculated using the
formula
D=

It is calculated as the species number (S) minus 1 divided by

the logarithm of the total number of individuals (N). The
present work showed Margalefs index values ranges from
0.2118 to 0.5237. The higher value observed in November and
the lower value in February. From the above result the species
diversity is less in the lake.

22334

Mahesh Kumar and Mahesh, Assessment of phytoplankton diversity and physico-chemical parameters in Chikkakere, Periyapatna,
Mysore, Karnataka State, India

Fishers alpha index

The index is the alpha parameter. The index of diversity that
assumes that the abundance of species follows the log series
distribution:

x, , ,.

The index value ranges from 0.28 to 0.59.The maximum value

observed in November and the minimum value in February.
The higher value in November shows that the abundance of
species where as lower values in February shows less
abundance of species.
Berger-Parker index
it is simple measures of the numerical importance of the most
abundant species. It is represented as follows:

D=

Where Nmax is the number of individuals in the most

abundant species and N is the total number of individuals in
the sample. In the present study it indicates that individuals of
the community in all months are not evenly distributed. The
index ranges between 0.75 to 0.4.The value is higher in month
of March, April and May and lower value found in month of
November and December.
Conclusion
Based on the above study, during summer season water quality
of chikkakere becomes heavily polluted due to the lowering of
water level and increase in organic load. Higher values of both
physical and chemical parameters like pH, EC, Salinity,
turbidity and total hardness, calcium, chloride, nitrate,
phosphate, BOD, COD respectively leads to eutrophication in
the lake. The Phytoplankton diversity helps in assessing the
water quality of the lake. The diversity of phytoplankton is
affected by these physico- chemical parameters. From the
biodiversity indices it is clear that the Phytoplankton diversity
is not evenly distributed in the lake which indicates the
pollution status of the water body. From both physicochemical and phytoplankton diversity it can be concluded that
the water quality of the lake is very poor and it is unfit for
drinking purpose. The domestic, agricultural, anthropogenic
activities and sewage contamination reduces the water quality
and disturb the lake ecosystem.
Acknowledgment
The authors would like to thank the Principal, Yuvaraja's
College, Mysore for providing laboratory facilities and first
author would like to thank the University of Mysore for giving
UGC Non-Net fellowship for financial assistance.

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