Abstract
Two alkaline saline inland lakes of Indian arid region were studied during 1984 and 1985, to assess functioning and interaction of various environmental and biological factors. Changes in physical and chemical variables, planktonic composition, chlorophyll content and phytoplankton primary productivity were examined.
Salinity in both lakes fluctuated from almost fresh water (1.80‰), to hypersaline (300‰) and acted as the main controlling factor for almost all the biotic parameters. Maximum total alkalinities were 2162 mg 1-1 and 2090 mg 1-1, respectively in Sambhar and Didwana lakes. Dissolved oxygen ranged from completely anoxic conditions to maxima of 11.68 and 7.29 mg l-1, respectively in Sambhar and Didwana lakes. Nutrient enrichment in the lakes was low.
The phytoplankton species composition of Sambhar lake was reduced from an earlier reported 20 genera to only 11 (Nostoc, Microcystis, Spirulina, Aphanocapsa, Oscillatoria, Merismopedia, Nitzschia, Navícula, Synedra, Cosmarium and Closterium). Phytoplankton of Didwana was composed of only 9 genera including Anabaena and Nodularia. Sambhar lake, which once contained Artemia, is now totally devoid of them. On the other hand, Artemia was the most dominant zooplankter in Didwana lake at a salinity range of 15–288‰. Other zooplankters such as Moina, Cyclops and Brachionus flourished at lower salinity levels in Didwana lake. The seasonal quantitative and qualitative phyto- and Zooplankton changes in relation to salinity are documented.
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Jakher, G.R., Bhargava, S.C., Sinha, R.K. (1990). Comparative limnology of Sambhar and Didwana lakes (Rajasthan, NW India). In: Comín, F.A., Northcote, T.G. (eds) Saline Lakes. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 59. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0603-7_21
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0603-7_21
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