Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

Vol. 28, May Suppl. Issue 2022; Page No.(338-343)

ECOLOGY OF LAKEBED IN RELATION TO BENTHIC ORGANISMSIN SASTHAMKOTTA LAKE IN SOUTHERN KERALA, INDIA

Munisha Murali S.and S. Sheeba

Abstract

Sasthamkotta Lake is the drinking water resource to Kollam city and suburban areas.The lake is designatedas Ramsar site since November 2002. The present study aims to assess the sediment quality and proportionof sediment-dwelling organisms in the lake. The physicochemical characteristics of sediment were withinthe desirable limit. Sediment particle size distribution showed that they have higher percentage of clay(clay > silt > sand). Order Diptera is dominant group in Sasthamkotta Lake. Phaenopsectra sp. is the abundantorganism accounting to about 97.927% in the total of benthic invertebrates. The study revealed that thelakebed is suitable for the survival of benthic organisms and maintains a healthy aquatic ecosystem.