Assessment of water quality and zooplankton community structure in the Gambhiri River (Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India)

Abstract

This study examines water quality parameters and zooplankton community structure in the Gambhiri River, Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan, India, to assess the ecological health and trophic state of this vital freshwater ecosystem. Seasonal sampling was conducted from January to December 2023 at six sampling sites to observe spatial and temporal variations in physicochemical parameters and zooplankton communities. Key water quality parameters, including water temperature, pH, total dissolved solids, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total hardness, chloride, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, and biological oxygen demand, were measured using standard analytical techniques. Zooplankton samples were collected with a plankton net, preserved, and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level, following standard keys. In the study period, 65 species of zooplankton were analyzed, of which 26 species of Rotifera, 25 species of Cladocera, 8 species of Copepoda, and 6 species of Ostracoda were recorded. Cladocera appeared as the dominant group of zooplankton with a higher density (38.67%), followed by Rotifera (35.72%), Copepoda (18.57%), and Ostracoda (7.03%). The season-wise zooplankton analysis revealed that Cladocera and Rotifera were the dominant groups across all seasons, while Copepoda and Ostracoda contributed comparatively less to the total density. Cladocera showed higher density than Rotifera during summer and post-monsoon seasons, whereas during monsoon and winter, Rotifera slightly dominated over Cladocera. Copepoda consistently remained the third dominant group in all seasons, while Ostracoda recorded the lowest density throughout the study period. The study highlights the importance of zooplankton as sensitive bioindicators for evaluating the health of freshwater ecosystems and recommends routine monitoring and pollution control measures to preserve the ecological integrity of this crucial water resource in Rajasthan’s semi-arid region.