Title: Diatoms for assessing the ecological condition of inland freshwater bodies

Authors: Bijaya Kumar Padhi, Jnanendra Rath, Pratap Kumar Padhy

Addresses: Centre for Environmental Studies, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan 731 235, India. ' Department of Botany, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan 731 235, India. ' Centre for Environmental Studies, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan 731 235, India

Abstract: The ecological responses of diatoms to pollution and nutrient enrichment, caused by domestic and municipal sewage, in the five fresh water ponds have been examined. It was observed that diatoms were completely absent in P3 and some species were also absent in P1 and P2. Similarly, diatom diversity was lower in P1 and P2 than in P4 and P5. However, diatom abundance was higher in P4. The Biological Index for Diatoms indicates a better water quality in P4 and P5 than in P1, P2 and P3. It was suggested that diatoms are useful for biological monitoring of water quality.

Keywords: diatoms; biomonitoring; biological index; IBD; biological diatom index; freshwater ponds; water quality; water pollution; domestic sewage; municipal sewage; biological monitoring.

DOI: 10.1504/WRSTSD.2010.032743

World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 2010 Vol.7 No.4, pp.352 - 359

Published online: 18 Apr 2010 *

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