Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

LIMNOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF TASEK LAKE –A TECTONIC LAKE OF GARO HILLS, MEGHALAYA, INDIA AND ITS IMPACT ON LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT

Arup Kumar Hazarika and Unmilan Kalita

Abstract

The present study covered the limnological investigation in relation to plankton and fishes of Tasek Lake of East Garo Hills, Meghalaya (India) which was undertaken in the year 2018. Moreover, the study was done keeping in mind the economic significance of the lake vis-à-vis prospects of aquaculture. Water samples were randomly collected throughout the year (January to December) to find out monthly variation in physicochemical parameters and abundance of plankton of Tasek Lake, and brief interactions were made with local villagers regarding its economic prospects. The limnological investigation revealed that the abundance of plankton population was minimum of 1027 u/L in the month of May to 5377u/L in the month of January. A total of 43 species of fishes belong to 8 orders and 12 families have been identified during the study period. A distinct relationship with monthly variation in physic-chemical parameters and plankton as well as positivity in fish farming prospects has been well observed as part of this study.