Vol. 11, Special Issue 4 (2022)

Author(s):
Sunil, SK Sharma, ML Ojha, Nayan Chouhan and Laxman Jat

Abstract:
Plankton productivity was estimated in Ana Sagar lake, Ajmer from March 2021 to June 2021 on bi-weekly basis. GPP value ranged between 0.107 and 0.117 gC/m³/h, NPP ranged between 0.62 and 0.68 gC/m³/h and Community respiration ranged from 0.41 to 0.50 gC/m³/h. Water temperature varied from 24.5 °C to 33.9 °C. pH ranged between 7.9 and 8.2. Variation in dissolved oxygen (DO) was from 7.53 to 8.73mgL^-1. This research highlights existing understanding on the potential of phytoplankton and zooplanktons as lake health indicators. Primary productivity was found to be high, owing mostly to sewage discharge, industrial effluents, and agricultural runoff from the surrounding metropolitan population. Its eutrophic state was also revealed by its high production and nutrient levels. The lake has a fairly rich fish fauna and so far 24 species representing 7 families have been recorded in the present investigation, of these, Indian major carps among the Cyprinidae family and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) belonging to cichlidae family was dominant in the catch.