Phytoplankton Species-Diversity of Jagatpur Wetland, Bhagalpur, Bihar (India)

Jagatpur wetland in the Middle Ganga flood plain in Bihar supports higher phytoplankton density and diversity. Chlorophyceae were dominant and had numerical superiority over the others with regard to density and diversity. Shannon and Weaver (1963) diversity index was calculated from the phytoplankton data recorded during the survey (August, 2003-July, 2005), and was found to be in the range of 2.8–4.7. Species diversity values when compared to the scales of Wilhm and Dorris (1968), and of Staub et al. (1970) suggested the wetland to be slightly or moderately polluted. The higher values of the species diversity in most of the months indicate the absence of the stress factors in those months. The relatively low values during monsoon months may be due to more stressful environment of the wetland.