~ 1568 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2017; 5(3): 1568-1572 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2017; 5(3): 1568-1572 © 2017 JEZS Received: 04-03-2017 Accepted: 05-04-2017 Ankita Thakur Ph.D Scholar, Department of Zoology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India Devinder Kaur Kocher Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India Correspondence Devinder Kaur Kocher Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India Diversity and density of cladoceran population in different types of water bodies of Ludhiana, Punjab (India) Ankita Thakur and Devinder Kaur Kocher Abstract The present study was conducted to record the diversity and density of cladoceran population during the year 2015. Water samples were collected from different types of water bodies viz; village ponds, fish ponds and paddy fields of Ludhiana, Punjab (India). Identification of cladocerans was done on the basis of morphological features and their enumeration with the help of Sedgewick-Rafter counting chamber (S- R cell). Out of the recorded nine species of cladocerans, six were found to belong to family Daphnidae, two to family Moinidae and only one to family Chydoridae. Average percent composition of cladocerans in village ponds showed the distribution pattern with predominance of Daphnidae (51.01%) > Moinidae (48.27%) > Chydoridae (0.68%). In fish ponds Moinidae family was found to be predominant (62.95%) > Daphnidae (34.61%) > chydoridae (1.29%). Paddy fields were represented by Moinidae family only. Keywords: Cladocerans, density, diversity, water bodies 1. Introduction Among aquatic biota, freshwater zooplankton community comprises of protozoans, rotifers, cladocerans, copepods and ostracods. Out of these, cladocera is an ancient group of palaeozoic origin [6] and found in almost all kind of aquatic habitats. Cladocerans are tiny aquatic crustaceans and popularly known as “water fleas." They vary in size from 0.2 to 6 mm. About 600 species of fresh water cladocerans have been reported to occur throughout the world [9] and in India 110 species have been recorded so far [14] Besides acting as major source of natural food for fish and shellfish, they also play an important role in recycling nutrients as well as cycling energy within their respective environments. They are highly responsive against pollutants and can even react to very low concentration of contaminants [5] Thus, the abundance of zooplankton in a water body is regarded as an indicator of productivity. Both the qualitative and quantitative abundance of zooplankton in a fish pond are of great importance in managing the successful aquaculture operations, as they vary from location to location and pond to pond within the same location and even within similar ecological conditions [2] . These water fleas are important components of the fauna of fresh waters and are particularly significant in the food web of stagnant waters thus, play a critical role in the aquatic biotope [6] . Cladocerans are also found to be promising candidates as for mosquito control, as they reduce the size of larval mosquito population through suppressing both mosquito oviposition and larval development [4] [11] . In view of the fact that no published report on cladocerans community in different types of water bodies of Ludhiana (Punjab) is available. The present study was therefore, aimed to ascertain cladoceran diversity and its abundance in different types of local water bodies. 2. Materials and Methods Monitoring of water bodies was carried out at monthly intervals from January to December during the year 2015. Three different types of water bodies i.e. fish ponds at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Atta village ponds located at 35 kms away from Ludhiana city and paddy fields of Punjab Agricultural University and adjoining Ludhiana city of Punjab (India) were selected to record the diversity and population abundance of cladocerans. Water samples were collected during morning hours between 8 to 10 a.m. by using zooplankton net having mesh size 60 μm. Water was sieved from 3 sites/location (approx.10L/site) through zooplankton net. Filtered zooplankton were fixed and preserved in