Distribution of Benthic Macroinvertebrates in the Narmada River Hoshangabad Region of Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

The present work titled, Distribution of Benthic Macroinvertebrates in the Narmada River, Hoshangabad Region of Madhya Pradesh was conducted for a period of two years (from July 2015 to April 2017). The sampling sites was selected starting from Sakatpur (Hoshangabad district) to Anwalighat (Hoshangabad district) namely are station S1- Sakatpur, station S2- Bandrabhan, station S3- Sethani Ghat, Station S4- Dongarwada and Station S5- Anwali-ghat. All the five sampling sites have been selected on the basis of habitat characteristics, easy access and potential for evaluating seasonal fluctuations. newlineWater Quality newlineStandard methods (APHA, 1985 and Adoni, 1985) were followed for the estimation of the physico-chemical parameters viz., Air temperature, Water temperature, Depth, pH, Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solid, Transparency, Turbidity, Chloride, Total alkalinity, Free CO2, Dissolved Oxygen., Total hardness, Calcium hardness, Magnesium hardness, Nitrate and Orthophosphate. newlineThe air temperature calculated between 18.3 0C to 38.2 0C. The minimum temperature 18.3 0C was recorded at sampling station S2 during the winter of year 2015-16. The maximum air temperature 38.2 0C was recorded in summer in year of 2016-17 at sampling station S5. Similarly water temperature was between, 17 - 27.7 oC. newlineDuring the present study, the depth at all the stations varied from 2.5 m to 21.1 m. The minimum depth 2.5 m was recorded at the sampling station S1 in the summer season of year 2015-2016. The maximum depth 21.1 m. was recorded at sampling station S5 in the year of 2016-2017. The transparency of the system showed wide fluctuation and ranged between 20-175 cm. The lowest value 20 cm was recorded in monsoon 2015-2016 at sampling station S1. The maximum transparency 175 cm was recorded in winter season at the sampling station S2 in the year of 2016-2017. newlineMacrozoobenthic fauna.