A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION ON BIODIVERSITY OF DESMIDS IN WETLANDS OF KORATAGERE IN THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

Desmids are regarded as clean water algae and also as indicator organisms. Enumeration of Desmids diversity is one of the important criterions in assessing the suitability of water for potable purposes. Contemporary work was carried out with a goal to understand the diversity, monthly occurrence and seasonality of Desmids with respect to Physico-chemical parameters in four wetlands of Koratagere in the state of Karnataka. 4 genera and 13 species of Desmids were identified from the water samples collected from all the four wetlands. Seasonal dynamics of Desmids showed that, the maximum density was recorded during rainy in three wetlands except in Gokulakatte wetland where, it was recorded during summer. Much variation was observed with regard to minimum density. Poor diversity and low density of Desmids indicated that, water in these wetlands as such is not directly used for potable purposes. It is high time to introduce remedial measures to keep wetlands away from reaching eutrophic condition.