International Research Journal of Environment Sciences________________________________ ISSN 2319–1414 Vol. 2(6), 39-48, June (2013) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 39 Investigation on Eutrophication of Taroda Nala at Nanded (India) through Physico-Chemical Analyses of Water and Composition of Planktonic Community within the Aquatic Ecosystem Isak Rajjak Shaikh *1,2,3 , Parveen Rajjak Shaikh 3,4 , Rafique Ahmed Shaikh 5 and Alamgir Abdulla Shaikh 1,2 1 Department of Chemistry, Shri Jagdishprasad Jhabarmal Tibrewala University, Vidyanagari, Jhunjhunu-Churu Road, Chudela, Jhunjhunu District – 333001, Rajasthan, INDIA 2 Post Graduate Department of Chemistry, Poona College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Camp Area, Pune – 411 001, MS, INDIA 3 Razak Institution of Skills, Education and Research, Shrinagar, Nanded – 431 605, MS, INDIA 4 School of Earth Sciences, Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Vishnupuri, Nanded – 431 606, MS, INDIA 5 National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune – 411 008, MS, INDIA Available online at: www.isca.in Received 25 th April 2013, revised 25 th May 2013, accepted 15 th June 2013 Abstract The present paper embodies an investigation on chemical and physical quality parameters of water and the composition of phytoplankton and zooplankton community as related to eutrophication processes and their consequences in aquatic ecosystem of the study area. Experiments were carried out on samples from an oxbow canal (known locally in Hindi language as nala) at Taroda village of Nanded (India) and were analyzed and interpreted. This research work identified anthropogenic eutrophication as a key ecological problem for the Taroda nala. Results from phosphate concentration and the composition of planktons confirmed serious eutrophic condition. High dissolved solids, total hardness, calcium and magnesium hardness and ions like chloride and magnesium show deterioration of water quality. The percent composition of phytoplankton classes found in the water body in a descending order is: Chlorphyceae and Bacillariophyceae > Cyanophyceae > Zygnematophyceae > Flagilariophyceae > Ulvophyceae, Treboxiphyceae and Euglenoidea. The dominant trend of zooplankton in the present investigation is as follows: Bronchipoda > Maxillopoda and Monogononta > Ciliatea and Ostracoda. The physico-chemical analyses of water samples and the phytoplankton and zooplankton structures present within the water were correlated with pollution and eutrophication of Taroda nala. Keywords: Physico-chemical analysis, water, plankton, eutrophication. Introduction Nowadays eutrophication is a growing pollution problem to freshwater ecosystems and produce harmful ecological consequences 1-2 . Eutrophication (Greek: “ευτραφής” meaning well nourished) – in its more generic definition that applies to both fresh and marine waters – is the process of enrichment of waters with plant nutrients that stimulates aquatic primary production and in its more serious manifestations leads to visible algal blooms, algal scums, enhanced benthic algal growth of submerged and floating macrophytes 3 . We simplify the definition of eutrophication as the response to natural or cultural addition of nutrients in excess to an aquatic ecosystem. Freshwater quality degradation due to the cultural (anthropogenic) eutrophication is one of the most prevalent environmental problems worldwide 2,4-7 . Agricultural run-off carrying fertilizers, untreated sewage effluent, pollution from septic systems and sewers, and other human-activities increase the flow of both inorganic and organic substances into water bodies. Eutrophication relates to the rapidly increasing nutrients, primarily include nitrogen and phosphorous in the form of their nitrates and phosphates respectively. It is therefore necessary to understand scientific fundamentals of the eutrophication of waters with special reference to nitrogen and phosphorus. Of the two, phosphorus is considered to be the major factor in Eutrophication. It is a growth limiting factor for algae in freshwaters. Humankind has increased the rate of phosphorus cycling on Earth 8 . Hence, phosphorus is regarded as the main culprit in cases of aquatic primary production in lakes or canals subjected to "point source" pollution from sewage pipes. Studies conducted in the Experimental Lakes Area in Ontario (Canada) have confirmed a relationship between the addition of phosphorus and the rate of eutrophication 9 . Exceeding aquatic vegetation disrupts normal functioning of the ecosystem by causing scarcity of dissolved oxygen needed for fish to survive. The water turns cloudy and coloured with a bright shade of green, yellow, reddish or brown. Eutrophication thus decreases the value of rivers, ponds, lakes, canals, etc. Human health problems can occur where eutrophic conditions exist near residential areas and interfere with drinking water treatment 10 . Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, are contributors to Eutrophication 11 . Eutrophication disturb the balance of water ecosystems by increasing the quantity of phytoplankton and also by changes in phytoplankton community structure. An increase