STUDIES ON THE ZOOPLANKTON OF CHILKA LAKE WITH REFERENCE TO ITS ROLE IN FOOD CHAIN AND ITS RELATION TO FOOD PRODUCTION

Principal Investigator: Dr. Kishore.C. Sahu,  Dept. of Marine Sciences, Berhampur University, 

                                      Berhampur-760 007, Orissa

Sanctioned cost:          INR 684100.00        

Man Power:                 2 JRF

Tenure:                        3 Year

Objectives

i.                    Qualitative and quantitative estimation of phytoplankton and zooplankton in three seasons

ii.                  Determination of physico-chemical parameters and their correlation with phytoplankton and zooplankton abundance

iii.                The relationship between phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish in the food chain of Chilka lake.

Findings:

i.                    Copepods are abundant and their distribution is uniform in pre-monsoon but during monsoon they are more in central sector and during post-monsoon they are more in central sector and in outer channels.

ii.                  Seasonal  and spatial variations were noticed with respect to species of phytoplankton, seaweed and other vegetation.

iii.                A total of 10-15 phytoplanktons were commonly found.

iv.                 Increase of salinity from 3 to 12 ppt during the year 2003 is  the key factor in distribution of zooplankton

v.                   The level of chlorophyll-a was found to be high in monsoon and post-monsoon.

Publications:

1. Effect of medicines on certain diseases of larvae of tiger prawn (P. monodon ). Published in Nature, Environment and Pollution Technology ( Technoscience Publication ) Vol.2, no.3 Sept.2003.

2. Effect of certain drugs in growth of freshwater mussel ( L. marginalis). Indian Journal of Fisheries, Vol.51
   ( Accepted )

 Benefits: 

1. It will serve as a useful information on the food chain of Chilka ecosystem

2. Physico-chemical parameters will be of much useful for studying other  aspects of this fragile ecosystem