Ecological perspectives on water quality and zooplankton diversity in the Ravi River

Abstract Freshwater ecosystems are intricately linked to the diversity and abundance of zooplankton assemblages, which serve as vital indicators of environmental conditions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the habitat ecology in relation to zooplankton abundance of the Ravi River. Sampling was conducted at selected sampling sites along the Ravi River basin, encompassing various habitat types and environmental gradients. A total of 13 species of zooplankton were observed during the study in which Copepoda was most dominant followed by Cladocera. Cyclops sp. (152 ind/L) and Bosmina sp. (145 ind/L) were the dominant genera throughout the study. Asplanchana sp. (44 ind/L) was observed as a rare species during the study. Some habitat ecological parameters like water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and total dissolved solids show a declining trend in Zone 3. Turbidity was highest in Zone 3 and lowest in Zone 1, and almost all zooplankton genera showed a declining trend in Zone 3. Dissolved oxygen shows a significant positive correlation and directly influences the distribution of zooplankton assemblage structure. This study concludes that certain anthropogenic activities like municipal dumping, sand mining, and altered water flow have negatively impacted water quality and zooplankton diversity in the Ravi River. So, these types of activities should be monitored regularly and controlled immediately.