Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.33765/thate.16.4.3
Published in: Holistic Approach Environ. 16(2026) 4, pp. 174 – 182
Paper reference number: HAE-2601
Download Full text PDF

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

DIVERSITY AND SEASONAL VARIATION OF ZOOPLANKTON IN LALIYA LAKE (GUJARAT, INDIA)

Shitalkumari Arvindbhai Patel^*, Nitinkumar Ranchhodbhai Solanki^*, Jayaben Mahendrabhai Patel^*

^* Sir P.T. Sarvajanik College of Science (Autonomous), Affiliated to Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat, Gujarat, India

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

ABSTRACT

Plankton are a fundamental component of aquatic ecosystems, serving as primary producers and bioindicators of environmental health. This study investigated zooplankton diversity and its seasonal variation in the Laliya Lake (Gujarat, north-west India) over a one-year period. In total, 24 zooplankton species were recorded during the study period, of which 12 species (44 % of total fauna) belong to Copepoda, 8 species (30 %) belong to Rotifera, and 4 species (15 %) belong to Cladocera. Zooplankton diversity was highest during the summer, followed by the winter, and lowest in the monsoon season. The relatively lower diversity in the monsoon season was attributed to water dilution effects caused by increased water inflow and other ecological disturbances. The family Cyclopidae showed remarkable species richness and seasonal stability. The diversity of copepods and rotifers indicates a relatively stable zooplankton community, as they were consistently present under different seasonal conditions.

Keywords: Copepoda, Rotifera, plankton community, freshwater habitat
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________