IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology (IOSR-JESTFT) e-ISSN: 2319-2402,p- ISSN: 2319-2399.Volume 10, Issue 9 Ver. I (Sep. 2016), PP 120-128 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/2402-100901120128 www.iosrjournals.org 120 | Page Limnological status and plankton dynamics in two fresh water wetlands of Aligarh, North India Syed A. Untoo, *Saltanat Parveen and Uzma Ahmad *Limnology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. 202002 (U.P) India; email: saltanatparveen@yahoo.co.in Abstract: The present study deals with the plankton dynamics and physicochemical variables in two fresh water wetlands of Aligarh. Phytoplankton comprised five major groups, namely Myxophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Desmidiace, Bacillariophyceae and Euglenophyceae, while Zooplankton comprised four major groups, namely Cladocera, Rotifera, Copepoda and Ostracoda. Statistically, G.P.P. and N.P.P. values were found to have significant positive relationship with Chlorophyll ‘a’ and water temperature in both the wetlands, whereas the relationship with phytoplankton was observed non significant positive at Wetland B and negative at Wetland A. Keywords: Wetlands, Phytoplankton, Zooplankton, G.P.P., N.P.P. , C.R. and Chlorophyll ‘a’ I. Introduction Wetlands are generally small in area, shallow and rain fed. They perform some useful functions in maintaining ecological balance of the nature (WWF, 1987). Wetlands show a wide spectrum of habitats ranging from extensive peat bogs of northern region to tropical mangrove forest; from seasonal ponds and marshes to flood plains and permanent riparian swamps; from fresh water ponds shallow lakes and large reservoirs to salt lakes, brackish lagoons, estuaries and coastal salt marshes. The wetlands exhibit very large differences in their habitat characteristics such as hydrological regimes, bottom soil quality and in the nature and diversity of their biota. Wetlands provide people, directly or indirectly, with enormous range of goods and services like staple food, plants, fertile grazing land, and support for coastal and inland fisheries, flood control and breeding grounds for waterfowl, fish etc. Plentiful water and a high productivity have made wetlands among the richest and most diverse ecosystems of the world (WWF, 1992). The plankton are small and microscopic organisms (Size: < 2 micrometers - 200 micrometers) drifting or floating in the sea or fresh water, consisting chiefly of diatoms, protozoan, small crustaceans, and the eggs and larval stages of larger animals. Phytoplankton are the microscopic plants that act as the primary producers in an aquatic environment, convert acquired light energy into carbohydrates through photosynthesis. Energy not used by the phytoplankton for maintenance is available as food for the animals that consume it. Zooplankton are heterotrophic organisms that consume phytoplankton and others and in turn, they become food for larger, secondary consumer animals and fish. The productivity in terms of planktonic biomass in fresh water lakes, rivers, ponds or wetlands, is regulated by various physico-chemical factors viz., temperature, transparency, pH, electrical conductivity, hardness, nitrogen and phosphorus. Unfortunately, rapid urbanization has led to the loss of wetland habitats through encroachment, bad management and pollution from sewage and waste and litter disposal activities. These factors have seriously affected the survival of these water bodies and posed serious threat to the flora and faunal supported by them. The objective of the present study is to find out the limnological status, i.e., the water quality and plankton productivity in selected wetlands for their future utilization for fish culture. II. Material and Methods Study Area: Aligarh city (North latitude 27 0 28' and 28 0 10' and East longitude 77 0 29' and 78 0 36') and its adjoining areas are richly well off with wetlands which support an extensive and regular fisheries of various kinds. They are surrounded by two river systems, Ganga and Jamuna with their many tributaries. In the present investigation two water bodies have been selected as wetlands to study their limnology, namely Wetland A and wetland B. Wetland A (WA) is locally termed as Dhobi-ghat, perennial, rectangular, eutrophic sewage fed wetland and used as drainage basin. Wetland B (W B) is an old age water body having irregular shoreline and the main source of its water supply are the monsoon rains, village drainage and surface runoff from the adjoining areas.