Studies on Physico-chemical Aspects and Zooplankton Diversity of Chellikurichi Lake, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu, India

Seasonal variations of zooplankton populations and selected physico-chemical parameters of Chellikurichi lake (Lat 10o21’N; Long 79o, 23’E) Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu was carried out for a period of twelve months from July 2023 to June 2024. The physico-chemical parameters such as air and water temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen and total hardness were analyzed. In the study period, 23 species of zooplankton were analysed, of which 8 species of rotifera, 7 species of copepoda, 5 species of cladocera and 3 species of ostracoda were recorded. Rotifera appeared as dominant group of zooplankton with higher density (36.34%) followed by cladocera (30.63%), copepoda (20.12%) and ostracoda (12.88%). The season wise zooplankton analysis showed a maximum abundance of species in post monsoon and summer months and minimum in pre monsoon an monsoon months.