IMPACT OF MAJOR AND MINOR ELEMENTS ON THE PLANKTON COMMUNITY OF A POND RECEIVING TEXTILE INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS

The chemistry of water sampled from four stations of a pond receiving textile industrial effluents was campared for 16 major (Ca, K, Mn, Fe) and minor (Ti; Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, Nb, Pb) elements. Impact of these elements on the plankton community was also evaluated. Mean concentration of elements in mg/l for four stations ranged:Ca, 9 .58-13.24; K, 3.87-4.64; Fe, 1.03-1.61; Mn, 0.127-0.16; Ti, 0.025-0.77 ; Cr, 0.003-0.006; Ni, 0.002-0.01; Cu, 0.01-0.071; Zn, 0.026-0.185; As , 0.003-0.009; Br, 0.015-0.026; Rb, 0.009-0.012; Sr, 0.104-0.115; Zr, 0.002-0.048; Nb, 0.00-0.012 and Pb, 0.004-0.01. Throughout the experim ent it was revealed that the plankton count in the stations receiving effluents directly (SI and Sill) was much lower than those not receivi ng the effluents (SII and SIV). Correlation analysis between planktoni c standing crop and elements showed significant relationship with five minor elements. All the relationships are negative in character indic ating that these metals, namely Sr, Cu, Zn, Mn and Br are responsible for the pollution in the pond causing the retardation of plankton grow th.