ECOTENDENCY OF PHYTOPLANKTON - AN APPROACH FOR CATEGORIZING ALGAE AS BIO-INDICATORS FOR MONITORING WATER-QUALITY

Hydrobiological investigations were made in a channel of river Ganges at Bhagalpur to study the ecotendency of phytoplankton. Different inte r-correlations between abiotic parameters and phytoplankton abundance were estimated. Functional relationship between NO3 and Zygnematales s howed 83% of variance. A multiple regression model of phytoplankton ab undance accounted for 88% of variance. Of the abiotic parameters inclu ded in the analysis, water temperature, total alkalinity and SiO2 incr eased phytoplankton population. A shift in specific algae with increas e in trophicity and saprobity was clearly demarcated. This information may be useful in categorizing algae as bio-indicators for monitoring water quality.