International Journal of Environmental Sciences

Biomonitoring of river Sutlej was conducted at S₁ (Ropar Head Works), S₂ (U/S of Budha Nallah at Phillaour), and S₃ (D/S of Budha Nallah in district Ludhiana (Pb.). Total 43 species of phytoplankton and 41 species of zooplankton were recorded. Simpson and ShannonWiener species diversity indices for three stations have been calculated. The order of degree of plankton abundance in the different stretches of the river was S₂ > S₁ > S₃, whereas species diversity was S₁ > S₂ > S₃. On the basis of pollution load and Palmer's algal index, S₁ could be designated as oligomesosaprobic, S₂ as mesopolysaprobic and S₃ as polysaprobic. On the basis of the absence, frequency of appearance and disappearance and abundance or organisms in relation to saprobity, different species were designated as bioindicators of pollution. Organisms like Ankistrodesmus falcatus, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlamydomonas sp., Closterium acerosum, Euglena viridis, Navicula cryptocephala, Nitzschia palea, Oscillatoria brevis, Spirulina sp., Stigeoclonium tenue and Synedra ulna among phytoplankton, and forms like Aspidisca sp., Bodo sp., Brachionus angularis, Colpoda sp., larvae of Chironomus sp. and Eristalis tenax, Daphnia pulex, Mesocyclops sp., Tubifex tubifex, Rotaria rotatoria and Stylonychia sp. were found to be tolerant to polysaprobic conditions. On the basis of water quality standards given by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the water quality was between ‘AB’ at S₁, ‘BC’ at S₂, and ‘DE’ at S₃.