SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF ROTIFER DIVERSITY IN SELECTED FISH PONDS AND MARALA HEADWORKS SIALKOT, PAKISTAN Authors: G. Dastgeer, M. Hussain, K. Aftab, M.S. Tufail, M.F. Malik, M. Umar, M.S. Sajid Journal: Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences (JAPS) ISSN: 1018-7081 (Print), 2309-8694 (Online) Volume: 30 Issue: 5 Pages: 1298-1308 Year: 2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2020.5.0148 URL: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2020.5.0148 Publisher: Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum Abstract:

Seasonal distribution and diversity of Rotifers was explored at Marala Headwork (Lake) and selected fish ponds of district Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan. Samples were collected randomly from the selected sites in the morning (09 am-11am) with the help of zooplankton net during different seasons in 2017-2018. Rotifers counting was accomplished by Sedgewick-Rafter chamber under a compound microscope. We recorded fourteen species, 09 genera and 04 families at Marala Lake whereas 07 species, 05 genera and 06 families in fish ponds. B. angularis, B. calyciflorus, F. minuta, K. cochlaeris, K. valga, L. lunaris and P. roseola were common species recorded at both habitat types. Brachionidae was the most prevalent family throughout the year at both habitat types. Data recorded showed variations in the temperature (21 °C - 32.8 °C in Fish Ponds and 19.3 °C - 28.1 °C in Marala Lake), the gravity in fish ponds and Marala Lake varied from 1.001 to 1.003, electrical conductivity (317 µs/cm to 396 µs/cm in fish ponds and 259 µs/cm to 315 µs/cm in Marala Lake) and pH (6.7 to 9.2 in fish ponds and 6.5 to 9.06 at Marala Lake). Significantly different diversity (p ≤ 0.05) was recorded in fish ponds and Marala lake during different seasons i.e. autumn (H: 1.90 and H: 2.46), winter (H: 1.61 and H: 2.01) spring (H: 1.90 and H: 2.50) and summer (H: 1.91 and H: 2.52). Diversity indices showed higher population diversity of rotifers in Marala Lake than fish ponds. The study emphasized that natural bodies need to be explored extensively for the biodiversity of rotifers with special reference to physiochemical parameters for their conservation.

Keywords: Population dynamics, physico-chemical parameters, rotifers diversity