Seasonal Variation in Physicochemical Characteristics and Protozoan Diversity in Kaylana Lake, Jodhpur (Rajasthan)

A Study on the physico-chemical status and diversity of Protozoa in Kaylana Lake was carried out at Site1 over a period of two years (2022-23 and 2023-24) across four distinct seasons: spring, summer, monsoon and winter. The findings revealed that the water temperature, pH, BOD, COD, Total Alkalinity, Total Hardness, and chloride levels peaked during the summer months and reached their lowest levels in winter. Eight groups of Protozoa, namely Amoeba proteus, Balantidium coli, Euglena sp., Paramecium sp., Vorticella sp., Euglena viridis, Difflugia oblonga and Arcella vulgaris were examined and it was observed that their abundance followed a seasonal decline in order of summer, spring, monsoon, and winter. A correlation was established between various physico-chemical parameters and the Protozoa present in Kaylana Lake; as temperature, pH, Total Hardness, Total Alkalinity, COD, and BOD increased during the summer, the number of Protozoa also rose. Conversely, a decrease in temperature during winter corresponded with a reduction in physicochemical parameters and a significant decline in Protozoan populations.