STUDIES ON ZOOPLANKTON DIVERSITY IN RELATION TO WATER QUALITY OF AMBE GHOSALE LAKE OF THANE CITY, (MS) INDIA

Zooplanktons are known to dominate freshwater habitats. Zooplankton studied from the Ambe Ghosale Lake, Thane city of Maharashtra state was studied during January to December 2011. Fifteen Rotifers and twelve cladocerans and six Copepods were recorded during the study. In this study, we found that organisms like nauplii and rotifers predominated even among the cladocerans. We also found that zooplankton community of the lake of this system was characterized by species already known in similar environments. The climate, the presence of suspended solids, the consequent decreased availability of food, and the progressive water quality gradient towards eutrophication were the main factors governing the composition and structure of the zooplankton community and the climate was one of the main factors controlling population size in this community.