Mithila Chinchalkar and Ravindra Kshirsagar
Abstract
Freshwater planarians, members of the phylum Platyhelminthes, play an essential role in aquatic ecosystems due to their sensitivity to environmental changes. This study investigates the ecological distribution and water quality associations of Dugesia punensis, a newly documented species from Pashan Lake, Pune, Maharashtra. Through detailed environmental analysis, including a correlation heat map of various water quality parameters, we assess the habitat preferences and potential bio indicator role of this species.