Seasonal Abundance of Net Zooplankton Correlated with Physico-Chemical Parameters in a Fresh Water Ecosystem

Seasonal abundance of population structure of net zooplankton (NZP) was studied in connection with physico-chemical parameters of Kamal sayer, a low flushing >200 years old, shallow (8–10 m depth), fresh water lake at Burdwan (23° 16' N; 87° 54' E). About 13 taxa of NZP were recorded, of which 2 each belonged to Copepods and Decapods, 5 to Rotifers, 3 to Cladocerans and 1 to Ostracods. Rotifers expressed superiority in species abundance followed by Decapods, Copepods, Cladocerans and Ostracods. Low values of hardness, nitrate and phosphate, and high values of dissolved oxygen (DO) were suggestive of this lake's oligotrophic nature. The abundance of Copepods also indicated stable aquatic environmental conditions. Net zooplankton abundance were found to exhibit positive relationship with pH, DO, combined carbon dioxide, nitrate and phosphate; hence these variables were the important factors governing the abundance of zooplankton in lake Kamal sayer.