Investigation of Hydro Biology and water quality parameters of Periyar lake, Thekkady Kerala

Abstract

This is the case study of anthropogenic impacts on the hydrobiology of a Lake, which is commercially exploited over a hundred years and is integral to awildlife sanctuary. A comprehensive and systematic analysis of the physico-chemical environmental complex, nutrient and pollution status, phytoplankton density and community structure are critically examined in the thesis. Pertinent literature related to all the aspects of the problem are reviewed in the beginning. Regular monthly investigations from six permanent sampling stations for three years were carried out to collect baseline data on the seasonal changes in climate, hydrology, physico-chemical water quality parameters, nutrient content, primary productivity, pollution status and hydrobiology in relation to tourism in the Lake. Yearwise and seasonwise variations in total density and also density of different species of phytoplankton were found out. The significance of such variations of each particular parameter across the stations and that over the seasons and the years were calculated. The observations point to the significance of considering reservoirs and the surrounding forested watershed systems as integrated whole systems requiring careful management and continuous monitoring. Overall, the discussions explain how the environmental complex of a precious tropical biological system is disturbed under the pressure of developmental activities such as tourism.