Rakhmat Shah and Gh Nabi Shah
Abstract
The present study was carried out on Tawi river with the seasonal variations in the diversity of phytoplankton and zooplankton population at two different sites of the river (one is Bhaderwah Doda (Trail site-A, âS-1â) and second is Samba Jammu (Trail site-B, âS-2â). Studies revealed that phytoplankton population was dominated by members of Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophycea, Myxophycea and Euglenophycea and Zooplanktons population was dominated by Protozoa, Rotifers, Cladocera and Copepoda. Studies on plankton of Tawi river, was made to assess the pollution of water from January 2022 to December 2022. The qualitative and quantitative evaluation and variations in river water showed high quantity of phytoplankton and zooplankton population throughout the study period and rotifers formed dominated group over other groups of organisms. Further, the study revealed that the water of Tawi river is highly polluted at Trail site-B, Samba Jammu in comparison to Trail site-A Bhaderwah Doda by direct contamination of sewage and other industrial effluents. Conclusions were drawn from the study that the plankton population of Tawi river is highly influenced by the discharge from different industrial effluents in Samba Jammu region (Trail site-B, âS-2â). The shift in the planktonic community structure and dominance of pollution tolerant forms at discharge zone indicated deterioration of water quality in this stretch of the river. The pollution in this stretch of the river emphasizes the fact that water is unfit for consumption and domestic use. The effect of water on human and domestic animals would also be harmful to health.