Agricultural and Biological Research

Bioassessment of water pollution using periphyton efficiency in summer seasons, Yamuna River, Prayagraj, India

Shweta Singh*, Ashutosh Kumar Srivastava, Sunita Bhandari, Sarita, Gayathri P.M and Abhishek James

Periphyton are ecological attribute when bioindicator for biological assessment of environment stress and human impact in aquatic ecosystem. Four sampling sites were selected from a river and sample collected in summer season (April, May and June). Monthly variation of Water quality parameter such as pH, Temperature, Turbidity, DO, BOD, Phosphate, Nitrate and TDS, Biological parameter (AFDW and Chlorophyll-a) and periphyton composition are found. Examination of the Periphytic algal groups of Yamuna were represented by 20 taxa which had a place with 4 noteworthy classes in particular Bacillariophyceae (13), Chlorophyceae (3), Cascinodiscophyceae (1) and Cyanophyceae (3). Hence, an endeavour was made to evaluate water pollution in the Yamuna River by utilizing periphyton productivity, measured in terms of biomass Ash-Free Dry Weight (AFDW), and chlorophyll-a content. The comprehensive analysis, considering all parameters, concluded that all the stations exhibited minimal pollution effects. Therefore, it was not universally applicable that an increase in biomass AFDW, resulting from nutrient enrichment, would invariably lead to an increase in chlorophyll-a in accumulated periphyton. The study highlighted the varied effects of increased nutrients in river water, demonstrating the seasonality and species specificity of periphyton biomass influenced by seasonal changes and eutrophication. Additionally, the research emphasized the independent variable observed during summer seasons.