Micro algal diversity of the lake inside the government zoological garden, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala India

Species diversity is a key concept in ecology. In this study phytoplankton diversity of the lake inside Thiruvananthapuram Zoological Garden has been carried out. Nine diversity indices have been derived using the PAST software program. They include Dominance index, Evenness, Simpson's index, Shannon and Wiener index, Menhinich's and Margalef richness index, Equitability index, Fisher's index and Berger Parker dominance index. Diversity indices are important in understanding the distribution of planktonic algae in fresh water bodies. A total of 102 algal species have been identified. Chlorophycean members observed were dominant throughout the study period. The plankton study is a very useful tool for the assessment of water quality, trophic status and pollution level. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index was most useful in indicating the trophic status which in this case depicted a moderate level of pollution of this lake.