ASSESSMENT OF HABITAT AND HYDROLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF THE LOTIC AND LENTIC WETLANDS OF THE SONITPUR DISTRICT, ASSAM, INDIASangeeta Mili and Prasanta Kumar SaikiaAbstract This paper represents the riparian zone and water parameters in twelve selected sampling sites of both lotic and lentic wetlands of Sonitpur district. The study has been carried out from January 2021 to February 2023. Data were collected representing all the four seasons of the year. Physical Characteristics viz; soil colour, soil moisture, soil texture, vegetation coverage, canopy coverage and litter depth were assessed during the survey period. Vegetation and canopy coverage of the riparian zone adjacent to the lotic wetlands were found to be the highest. Litter depth (3.1cm) was found to be recorded at a single sampling site S4. Water quality assessment recorded that Water temperature was found to be one of the major factors having the most intense direct and indirect effect on the riverine system ranged from 4.85±0.02 to 27.60±0.10 in the lotic wetlands and between 11.15±0.02 to 27.44±0.05 in the lentic wetlands. The overall pH value ranged from 6.09±0.05 to 7.24±0.32 in the lotic wetlands and between 6.44±0.02 to 7.52±0.08 in the lentic wetlands which is a convenient zone. DO values ranged from 6.01±0.32 to 7.37±0.22 in the lotic wetlands and between 6.39±0.30 to 7.63±0.30 in the lentic wetlands. Maximum DO value was recorded in the monsoon period. Water velocity was observed to vary from 0.20±0.03 to 1.30±0.28 in the lotic wetlands. Highest water velocity was recorded during the monsoon period and lowest in the winter period. |