HYDROBIOLOGY OF WASTEWATER-FED MAN-MADE LOTIC FISH CULTURE PONDS IN RELATION TO POLLUTION: DISTRIBUTION AND DIVERSITY OF BENTHIC MACROFAUNAN.K. MANNA, S. BANERJEE AND M.L. BHOMIKAbstract Benthic macrofauna and possible effects on community structure of circulation of municipal wastewater through a serially made four maturation cum fish ponds in Kalyani, North-Eastern India, were investigated. Ten genera of benthic macrofauna belonging to 4 molluscs, 3 annelids and 3 arthropods were identified. Numerical abundance of total benthos registered 2075±80 /m2 to 6040±733/m2. Arthropod constituted main group (57.2%) following annelida (40.45%) and mollusca (2.35%). The larvae of Chironomus sp. was exclusively dominant species following Tubifex sp. Total benthic macrofauna showed unimodal pattern of seasonal variation being maximum density in pre-monsoon while minimum in post-monsoon. Water temperature, available phosphorus and dissolved organic matters have significant (p<0.05) effect on species composition and seasonal abundance. Community analysis through diversity indices revealed that species evenness had a greater influence on species diversity than species richness. Furthermore, species richness values depicted more or less stable benthic community structure in the experimental ponds. Shannon-Wiener values confirmed high pollution status of the system, although pollution level did not eliminate all aquatic organisms.
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