Plankton Diversity in Baur Reservoir, Gularbhoj, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, India

This study is focused on plankton diversity of the Baur reservoir for 2 years during the year 2022-23. Plankton samples were collected monthly from the Baur reservoir. During the present study, phytoplankton and zooplankton were identified under the microscope with the help of standard photographs of Edmondson (1959). During the 1st year of the study period, Chlorophyceae (46%) was the dominant group in zooplankton, followed by Bacillariophycae (40%), Cyanophyceae (8%), and Euglenophyceae (6%). In the 2nd year of the study period, Chlorophyceae (47%) was the dominant group in zooplankton, followed by Bacillariophycae (39%), Cyanophyceae (8%), and Euglenophyceae (6%). Zooplankton diversity was also identified during 1st year of the study period. During the 1st year of study, rotifers (52%) was the dominant group in zooplankton, followed by Cladocera (39%) and Copepoda (9%). Zooplankton diversity was also identified during 2nd year of the study period. During the study, rotifera (52%) was the dominant group in zooplankton, followed by Cladocera (38%) and Copepoda (10%). It was also found that plankton diversity was higher during the winter season followed by summer season and minimum during the monsoon season. It was also revealed that anthropogenic activities also reduce the plankton diversity. . KEYWORDS :Baur reservoir, Phytoplankton, Zooplankton, Chlorophyceae, Rotifers