INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Volume 3, No 1, 2012 Copyright by the authors - Licensee IPA- Under Creative Commons license 3.0 Research article ISSN 0976 4402 A report on the freshwater Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) of south Rajasthan (India) Vipul Sharma, Bhoopendra Kumar Verma, Ridhhi Sharma, Madhu Sudan Sharma, Kuldeep Singh Gaur Limnology and Fisheries Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University College of Science, Mohan Lal Sukhadia University, Udaipur (Rajasthan), India vipulmadhu@gmail.com doi:10.6088/ijes.2012030131027 ABSTRACT The Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) are primarily a freshwater group and an important component of the crustacean zooplankton. 77 water bodies have been sampled from South Rajasthan State (India) for the study of Cladocerans comprising seven districts: Udaipur, Rajsamand, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, Dungarpur, and Banswara. These are located in the southern part of Rajasthan between 23 o 11' to 27 o 50 North latitude and 72 o 16' to 75 o 25' East longitude. In Rajasthan, India, many studies have been conducted on the diversity of freshwater fishes, phytoplankters, rotifers, and copepods; however, no proper record on cladocerans is available till date. Zooplankton samples from 77 different water bodies of South Rajasthan were analyzed to investigate the Cladocera inhabiting these water bodies. In all, 54 species of cladocerans were reported during the study, belonging to six families viz. the Sididae, Daphniidae, Moinidae, Bosminidae, Macrothricidae, and Chydoridae. In general, it was noticed that rich nutrients, the presence of weeds and shallow waters favoured rich diversities of cladocerans. Keywords: Biodiversity, Menhinick s Index, Cladocera, Freshwater, India. 1. Introduction Freshwater zooplankton consist mainly four major groups i.e. protozoa, rotifera, and two orders of crustacea viz., cladocera, and copepoda. Cladocera is an ancient group of Palaeozoic origin (Forró et al., 2008) and includes mainly microzooplankton (Dodson and Frey, 1991). Most of species occur in fresh or saline water and about 620 species are currently known, but it is estimated that the real number of species is two to four times higher (Forró et al., 2008) with the exception (up to 18 mm in single case Leptodora kindtii) nearly all cladocerans range in size from 0.2 to 6.0 mm. The cladoceran body and limbs are covered by a bivalve carapace which is composed of a single piece with no hinges dorsally. The head varies in size and shape and is characterized by the presence of compound eyes. The life history of these organisms is very interesting and for a greater part of the year only females occur which produce eggs by parthenogenesis. Cladocerans are mostly herbivores in feeding habitat. Fernando (1980a,b) find out 61 species of Indian cladocera with specific information about the absence of large cladocera. Zooplankton in general and cladocera from India in particular have recently been studied by Michael and Sharma (1987). Murugan et al. (1998) recorded 109 species of Cladocera in India, updated the list to 190 species which was confirmed later by Raghunathan and Suresh (2002). Sivakumar and Altaff (2004) studied the ecology of freshwater cladocerans in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu. Cladoceran life history Received on May 2012 Published on July 2012 275
strategies with reference to the comparison of tropical and temperate taxa have been studied by Sharma et al. (2005). In general, the cladocera fauna from Indian has been widely studied by Brehm (1963), Biswas (1964; 1971), Nayar (1971), and Khan (1983), Michael and Sharma (1987), Venkatraman and Das (1993), and Sinha and Khan (2000). However, no regional revision of the cladocerans of Rajasthan has been made. Rajasthan is famous for its Thar Desert and supports both arid and semi-arid regions. Due to the scarcity of water, a large number of artificial lakes and ponds are being built till date. These lakes are under the influence of many environmental stresses such as high concentration of salts, organic pollutants, textile effluents, industrial chemicals, and heavy metals. Due to these stresses and other physico-chemical and? Variations, a wide fluctuation can be expected in the diversity of cladoceran communities here. There has been no work on the diversity or the taxonomy of Cladocera in Rajasthan. The lakes of South Rajasthan harbour diverse planktonic flora and fauna (Sharma and Durve, 1985) A few genera are planktonic which live in the open waters while a vast majority of them are littoral and live among the weeds and some of them even live on the bottom mud. The present study mainly focused on littoral and planktonic cladoceran diversity, habitat, and taxonomy. These were the new studies for south Rajasthan in India. 2. Materials and method 2.1 Study area 77 water bodies have been sampled from South Rajasthan State (India) comprising seven districts: Udaipur, Rajsamand, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, Dungarpur, and Banswara (Fig.1). These are located in the southern part of Rajasthan between 23 o 11' to 27 o 50 North latitude and 72 o 16' to 75 o 25' East longitude. Analysis of the Cladocerans Samples were collected from surface water, littoral region (between plants), and bottom mud. For qualitative analysis, the samples were collected by towing Hensen s standard plankton net with uniform speed. The samples collected were fixed in 70% ethyl alcohol. For quantitative estimation, 50-L of surface water was filtered through small plankton net. Sub-samples of small quantities (10 ml) were taken and counting was done in counting chamber under a C. Z. Inverted Microscope. Numbers were expressed as individuals per liter. 2.2 Identification of Cladocerans Identification was done using the taxonomic keys provided by George (1961), Needham and Needham (1962), Alfred et al. (1973), Nayer (1965 and 1968), Vasisht and Batrish (1969), Sharma and Durve (1985), Edmondson (1992), Sharma and Sharma (1999, 2008) and Van Damme et al., (2010). 2.3 Biodiversity of Cladocerans Biodiversity of Cladocerans has been studied using Menhinick s Index (1964) which was calculated as follows: Menhinick s Index: 276
d1 = S / N matrimonial, where d1 = Menhinick s Index; S = total number of species; N = total number of organism (density). Figure 1: The map shows the districts of south Rajasthan (India) viz. Udaipur, Rajsamand, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, dungarpur, and Banswara (dark colour shows sampling station). 3. Result Somebody measurements of each species observed during the present study are mentioned species vise and biodiversity is mentioned in Table 1. Morphometric detail about each form is given below- 1. Daphnia carinata; King, 1853 277
Daphnia carinata is a small planktonic freshwater Cladoceran. It is characterized by an unhinged carapace, postabdomen with 10 anal spines and 12-17 claw teeth in basal pectin. Total length 0.7-1.0 mm Width 0.2 0.3 mm Occurrence 9 water bodies It is found in greenish waters. In India, D. carintata has been recorded by Sharma and Durve (1985), Baghela (2006) and Sharma et al., (2007). 2. Daphnia lumholtzi; G.O. Sars Body is rounded with a long tail spine at the posterior end, along with characteristic crest on the head. The dorsal and ventral margins of the valves are with spines. Spines on ventral margin are large and placed widely apart. There are about 10 anal spines and claw has a proximal and middle pecten. Body length 0.47mm 1.2mm Width 0.2-0.4 mm Length of cap 0.2 mm -0.5 mm Tail 0.333 mm - 0.400 mm Occurrence 9 water bodies Commonly observed in large water bodies 3. Daphnia magna; Straus, 1820 This species can be readily distinguished from all other by the deeply sinuate posterior margin of the postabdomen. The head shield bears a pair of longitudinal ridges on either side of the median keel. Posterior end of the fornix rounded. Lateral keel on the valve appears to be a continuation of fornix. Length 1-2.0 mm Width 0.06 0.5 mm Occurrence 3 water bodies Not common, observed in ponds and small lakes. 4. Daphnia pulex; Leydig, 1860 Concave ventral head margin. Small, stout polygonal markings. Marginal denticles extending less than half the length of the postabdomen. Incised anterior margin of the head. Total length 1-2.2 mm Width 0.08 0.6 mm Occurrence 6 water bodies 278
Recorded from very large oligotrophic lakes. Sharma et al., (2007) reported the occurrence of this species from various parts of India. 5. Daphnia dubia; Herrick, 1895 Spinulation in this littoral form extends over posterior ¾ of ventral margin of valve. Anterior margin of head produced into pointed helmet with apex well dorsal of mid line; helmet is retrocurved. Length 1.2-1.6 mm Width 0.08-0.1 mm Occurrence 7 water bodies Littoral, Recorded from oligotrophic water. 6. Daphnia ambigua; Herrick, 1895 Proximal, middle, and distal pecten of postabdominal claw are all of the same size. Postabdomen with 7 to 10 anal spines, ocellus present. Swimming hairs at the base of the second segment of the three-segmented ramus extends beyond tip of ramus. Swimming hairs of antennae do not extend beyond posterior margins of valves. Small head often with small anterior point during summer. Limnetic as well as littoral, found in small ponds as well as lakes. Length 0.8-1.4 mm Width 0.2-0.4 mm Occurrence 18 water bodies 7. Sida crystallina; O. F. Muller, 1875 Head with large gland on dorsal side, pointed rostrum. Antennules of female attached to side of rostrum, short, truncate, with short flagellum. Ventral ramus of antennae 2- jointed. Length 2.0-3.0 mm Width 1.0-1.2 mm Occurrence 13 water bodies Observed in lakes and ponds among weeds. 8. Diaphanosoma leuchtenbergiampnum; Fischer, 1850 Head about 2/3rd of valve length of body. Eye in middle of head near ventral margin Length 1-1.3 mm Width 0.2-0.3 mm Occurrence 22 water bodies Common, abundant in organically rich water bodies. 279
9. Diaphanosoma brachyurum; Lieven, 1848 Small head not more than 1/2 length of body, eye anterior. Recorded from organically rich water bodies. Total length 0.4-0.7 mm Width 0.08 0.1 mm Occurrence 21 water bodies Common, abundant in organically rich water bodies 10. Moina micrura; Kurz, 1874 Small transparent animal. Head relatively very large, postabdomen small with 4 to 6 spines and a much longer bident, claw pectinate. Length 0.4-0.5 mm Width 0.08 0.1 mm Occurrence 13 water bodies Observed in weedy and shallow ponds. In India Moina micrura has been recorded by Sharma and Durve (1985), Sinha and Khan (2000), Gupta (2000), Baghela (2006) and Sharma et al., (2007) 11. Moina hutchinsoni; Brehm, 1937 Head depressed, eye relatively small. 7-10 ciliated anal spines postabdomen without pecten. Length 0.9 1.5 mm Width 0.1-0.5 mm Occurrence 6 water bodies Littoral as well as limnetic. Mostly found in muddy ponds. 12. Moina macrocopa; Straus, 1820 Head extended terminal part of postabdomen long, with 10-12 spines besides bident. 5 to 6 hooks on end of antennule. Length 0.4-0.8 mm Width 0.08-0.1 mm Occurrence 15 water bodies Commonly found in shallow water bodies. 13. Moina rectirostris; Leydig, 1860 Head extended or little depressed, postabdomen with long projection and 10-15 postanal spines and bident, claw pectinate. Antennules of male 5-6 hooks at apex. 280
Length of male 0.9-1.8 mm Length of female 0.4-0.8 mm Occurrence 3 water bodies Littoral as well as limnetic, observed in Mahi dam, Saira pond and Ummed sagar. 14. Moina brachiata; Jurine, 1820 Body stout and heavy, head much depressed, postanal spines 7-8 besides bident. Claws pectinate, antennules of female with 4 hooks at tips, first leg without flagellum. Length 0.9 1.2 mm Width 0.08 0.2 mm Occurrence 2 water bodies Littoral, limnetic and not common. Observed in clean (Mahi Bajaj Sagar) as well as muddy pond (Thoor). 15. Bosminopsis deitersi; Richard, 1895 Basal part of antennules united with each other and head to form very long rostrum; diverging laterally near apex, with long, straggling, olfactory setae. Antennae with 3- jointed rami, postabdomen tapering to point at claws, one large spine near claws and several very minute spinules. Length 0.1 0.25 mm Width 0.02 0.05 mm Occurrence 2 water bodies 16. Bosmina longirostris; O. F. Muller, 1785 Eye large, sense hair is nearer to the centre of the space between the eye and the base of antennules. Postabdomen with 2 pectens. Total length 0.07 0.1 mm Width 0.01-0.04 mm Occurrence 6 water bodies Littoral as well as limnetic. Common in ponds and lakes. 17. Bosmina coregoni; Baird, 1857 The sense hair is usually near the base of antennule. Dorsal margin of carapace usually marked by hump postabdomen, claw has 5 to 6 large spines which increase in length distally. Length 0.08-0.1 mm Width 0.01 0.03 mm Occurrence 11 water bodies 281
Littoral as well as limnetic. Observed in ponds and lakes. 18. Simocephalus exspinosus; Koch, 1841 No posterior spine on the valves, postabdomen slightly narrower toward apex, anal spines up to 12 in number, evenly curved, not bent. Claw with pecten of 8-12 teeth at its base. Length 0.6-1.2 mm Width 0.2 0.4 mm Occurrence 8 water bodies Not common, found in shallow weedy pond. 19. Simocephalus vetulus; Schodler, 1858 Ocellus large, elongated, rarely rhomboidal. No spine on valves, though there is a blunt posterior angle. Postabdomen very broad, deeply emarginated anal spines about 10 decreasing from the claws. Claws long, slender, straight, with fine teeth along with entire length. Length 0.8-1.4 mm Width 0.2-0.6 mm Occurrence 19 water bodies Most common species in genus Simocephalus. Observed in weedy, shallow and organically rich ponds. Sharma and Durve (1985), Sinha and Khan (2000) reported the occurrence of this species from various parts of India. 20. Simocephalus serrulatus; Koch, 1841 Vertex angulated, spinous. Blunt rounded posterior spine on valves of order individuals. Ocellus rhomboidal. Total length 0.8 1.5 mm Width 0.4-0.9 mm Occurrence 10 water bodies Rarely found in south Rajasthan. Found in weedy and shallow ponds. 21. Scapholebris kingi; Sars, 1903 Posterior and ventral margins straight at their junction ending into a spine. Antennules very small, almost immovable set behind beak, postabdomen short and broad rounded at posterior end, 5-6 anal spines. Total length 0.6 1.2 mm Width 0.2 0.4 mm Occurrence 13 water bodies 282
Littoral and found in seasonal weedy water bodies. Often associated with Hydrodictyon weed. 22. Scapholebris aurita; Fischer, 1849 Head larger than S. kingi. Rostrum long, lying against margin of valves. Antennules behind rostrum, conical, large and movable valves with blunt projection at inferoposteal angle. Total length 0.7-1.0 mm Width 0.2-0.3 mm Occurrence 2 water bodies Not common. Found in Ahar river (weedy and domestically polluted) and Loyra pond (weedy). 23. Macrothrix rosea; Jurine, 1820 Head large, valves reticulated, crested. Antennules long, slender, not enlarged near apex, lateral sense hair near base on small, olfactory elevation setae unequal. Postabdomen extended into blunt process, on which abdominal setae are borne, claw small,and smooth. Length 0.4-1.0 mm Width 0.08 0.3 mm Occurrence 20 water bodies Common, every where in marshy and weedy pools and margins of lakes. 24. Macrothrix laticornis; Jurine, 1820 Head evenly rounded. Valves crested, the dorsal edge serrate with fine teeth. Antennule broader distally a setiferous projection on posterior margin near apex, anterior margin with several fine incisions and cluster of rows of hairs. Postabdomen with numerous fine spines and hairs. Claw small. Length 0.3 0.9 mm Width 0.07-0.1 mm Occurrence 9 water bodies Abundant in weedy water bodies. 25.Macrothrix hirsuticorni; Norman and brady, 1867 Antennules broad, flat, bent, varying in form but always enlarged distally, with 6-8 rows of stiff hairs on anterior side. Postabdomen large, broad and bilobed. Length 0.4 0.7 mm Width 0.05 0.09 mm Occurrence 6 water bodies Littoral. Observed in weedy water bodies. 283
26. Acantholeberis curvirostris; Lilljeborg, 1853 Form is angular-oval, not compressed and without crest. Antennules large, flat, somewhat curved, expanded towards apex, postabdomen large, moderately broad, not compressed or divided, hairy, with 20 smaller dorsal spines in each row. Claw short, stout broad, curved, denticulate and with 2 small basal spines, six pairs of legs, postabdomen emarginate dorsally. Length 0.7 1.2 mm Width 0.04 0.1 mm Occurrence 2 water bodies Rare, in pools and margin of lakes among weeds. Reported especially in Morvania and Ubeshwar. 27. Anchistropus minor; Birge, 1893 Length 0.25-0.4 mm Width 0.05 0.08 mm Occurrence 1 water body Limnetic forms, found in muddy water. Observed in Delwara pond. 28. Leydigia quadrangularis; Leydig, 1860 Valves without markings, keel of labrum with minute setae. Claw with basal spine. Length 0.6 1.0 mm Width 0.1 0.3 mm Occurrence 2 water bodies Observed in shallow weedy water bodies. Recorded from Bada madar tank and Daitya mangri pond. 29. Leydigia acanthocercoides; Fischer, 1854 Valves striated longitudinally. Keel of labrum with long cilia. Claws without basal spine. Length 0.6 1.0 mm Width 0.09 0.2 mm Occurrence 1 water body Littoral and rare, recorded from Daitya mangri pond. 30. Oxyurella tenuicaudis; Sars, 1862 Marginal denticles very small near anus. The distal denticles four to five much longer. Postabdomen long, slender with marginal and lateral denticles. Twelve to fifteen marginal denticles. Terminal claw straight, with one large basal spine, attached some way distal to base of claw. 284
Length 0.2-0.4 mm Width 0.04-0.09 mm Occurrence 2 water bodies Littoral, limnetic and rare. Observed in only Chikalwas and Bada madar tank. 31. Oxyurella longicaudis; Birge, 1910 About sixteen marginal denticles, valves larger distally with concentric marking. Basal spine stout, attached about 1/3 of way from base of claw. The penultimate much larger still and serrate on concave side. Length 0.5 0.6 mm Width 0.04 0.08 mm Occurrence 1 water body Limnetic and rare. Found in Mahi dam. 32 Pleuroxus hamulatus; Birge, 1879 Rostrum long, recurved. Keel of labrum small, rounded, prolonged. Postabdomen moderately long, with cluster of fine, straight denticles. About 12-14 anal spines. Valves reticulated, also marked by very fine striae. Length 0.5-0.8 mm Width 0.08-1 mm Occurrence 1 water body Littoral and rare, found in Losing tank. 33. Pleuroxus aduncus; Jurine, 1820 Valves striated, inferoposteal angle usually without teeth. Postabdomen shorter, the length of postanal emargination, dorsal margin slightly arched, with 9-12 marginal denticles, apex rounded. Length 0.2-0.6 mm Width 0.04 0.09 mm Occurrence 2 water bodies Littoral and rare. Found in Bandhar and Ahar river pond.occurs in weedy polluted water. 34. Pseudochydorus globosus; Baird, 1850 Valves smooth or reticulated. Postabdomen with small preanal angle, numerous marginal denticles and very fine lateral fascicles. Claws with 2 basal spines, the distal very long and slender. Length 0.4-0.9 mm 285
Width 0.09 0.1 mm Occurrence 10 water bodies Littoral and weedy. 35. Chydorus faviformis; Brige, 1893 Valves covered with deep polygonal cells. Length 0.4-0.6 mm Width 0.04 0.1 mm Occurrence 9 water bodies Abundant, found in weedy area. 36. Chydorus gibbus; Lilljeborg, 1880 Valves reticulated. Head small, rostrum projects from valves in characteristic way. Postabdomen with 8-10 marginal denticles. Length 0.2 0.4 mm Width 0.04 0.08 mm Occurrence 15 water bodies Littoral as well as limnetic and common, found in large as well as small water bodies. 37. Chydorus ovalis; Lilljeborg, 1880 Form round or broad oval. Postabdomen with rounded apex 12-15 marginal denticles. Claws with two basal spines, the proximal minute. Length 0.4-0.6 mm Width 0.04 0.1 mm Occurrence 5 water bodies Littoral as well as limnetic and common found in polluted as well as clean water bodies. 38. Chydorus sphaericus; O.F. Muller, 1785 Spherical or broadly elliptical. Shell usually reticulated sometimes smooth. Postabdomen with 8-9 marginal denticles. Claws small, proximal basal spine very minute. Length 0.2 0.4 mm Width 0.04 0.1 mm Occurrence 21 water bodies Littoral as well as limnetic and very common. 286
39. Chydorus bicornutus; Doolittle, 1909 Valve with deep polygonal cells and cuticular ridges. Length 0.5 mm Width 0.1 mm Occurrence 1 water body Rare, found only in Saira pond. 40. Ceriodaphnia laticaudata; P. E. muller, 1867 Rostrum absent. Head small and depressed. Cervical sinus present. Postabdominal claw with pectin and bearing 8-11 spines on lower margin. Length 0.4-0.8 mm Width 0.08 0.1 mm Occurrence 12 water bodies Littoral and limnetic in lakes. 41. Ceriodaphnia reticulata; jurine, 1820 Valves reticulated, ending in spine or angle. Antennules small with sense hair near apex. Anal spines seven to ten. Claws with pecten 6-10 teeth and denticulate. Length 0.6 1 mm Width 0.2-0.3 mm Occurrence 8 water bodies Limnetic and littoral in lakes and ponds. 42. Ceriodaphnia quadrangula; O. F. muller, 1785 Valves reticulated, often not plainly marked. Postabdomen narrowing toward apex, 7-9 sinuate above anal spines. Claws large, denticulate. Length 0.5-1.0 mm Width 0.2-0.3 mm Occurrence 5 water bodies Found among weeds, also limnetic. 43. Ceriodaphnia cornuta; Sars, 1885 Head with a short spine or horn over eye on anterior margin. Valves reticulated, postabdomen with 5-6 anal spines. Claws smooth or denticulate. Length 0.3-0.6 mm 287
Width 0.08 0.1 mm Occurrence 42 water bodies Littoral as well as limnetic and common, widely distributed. 44. Ceriodaphnia acanthina; Ross, 1897 Head and valves strongly reticulated and covered with numerous short spinules. Postabdomen narrow, with 7-9 anal spines. Length 0.4 0.8 mm Width 0.08 0.2 mm Occurrence 1 water body Littoral and rare. Observed in Lotus pond. 45. Ceriodaphnia pulchella; Sars, 1862 Head rounded, inflated in region behind eye, angulated in front of antennules. Valves reticulated but not plainly and postabdomen not sinulate above anal spines in number 7-10. Length 0.4 0.7 mm Occurrence 1 water body Found among weed and limnetic, Observed in ubhayshawar pond 46. Alona intermedia; Sars, 1862 Body evenly arched but not very high. Postabdmen long, broad, enlarged toward apex, with rounded angle, 8-9 marginal denticles rather small and thick. Length 0.2 0.4 mm Width 0.08 0.1 mm Occurrence 4 water bodies Recorded from clean water bodies. 47. Alona quadrangularis; O. F. Muller, 1785 Valves usually plainly striated, postabdomen large, flattened, dorsal margin dilated, with 15-18 serrate marginal denticles and row of lateral squamae. Claws large with long basal spine. Rare. Length 0.3 0.5 mm Width 0.08 0.1mm Occurrence 1 water body 48. Coronatella rectangula; Sars, 1861 288
Body evenly arched. Postabdomen short, slightly enlarged toward apex, rounded with 8-9 marginal denticles. Length 0.09 0.3 mm Width 0.02 0.04 mm Occurrence 3 water bodies Limnetic form and not common. Found in less weedy area. 49. Alona affinis; Leydig, 1860 Valves longitudinally striated or reticulated, postabdomen large, with 14-16 serrate marginal denticles and a lateral row of small squamae.claws long, denticulate with long basal spine and 4-5 spinules inside basal spine. Length 0.3-0.8 mm Width 0.02 0.08 mm Occurrence 2 water bodies Limnetic, not common. Observed in clean water. 50. Karualona karua; King, 1853 Basal spine of terminal claw short, less than ¼ length of claw. Postabdomen broad, expanded behind anus, apex rounded, with usually 8 marginal denticles and as many larger lateral fascicles. Claw with one small basal spine. Length 0.09 0.1 mm Width 0.02 0.06 mm Occurrence 4 water bodies Littoral found in organically rich lake. 51. Alona guttata; Sars, 1862 From much like A.costata, but usually smaller and dorsal margin less arched. Valves smooth, striate, or tuberculate. Postabdomen short, broad, slightly tapering towards apex, denticles with 8-10 pointed, small, no squamae. Claw with small basal spine. Length 0.1-0.3 mm Width 0.02-0.06 mm Occurrence 1 water body Limnetic and rare. Observed in seasonal pond (Iswal). 52. Alonella diaphana; king, 1853 Head short, rostrum not reaching more than 2/3 distance towards ventral margin. Valves striated, sometimes into reticulation, often inconspicuous. Postabdomen long, slightly 289
enlarged behind anus, with numerous, very minute marginal denticles and no other spines. Claw long, one basal spine. Length 0.2 0.4 mm Width 0.02 0.06 mm Occurrence 1 water body Littoral and rare. Observed in shallow weedy water bodies (Kadiya) with Alonella dentifera. 53. Alonella nana; Baird, 1850 Rostrum short or moderate share globose, valves conspicuously striated. Postabdomen short, preanal angle strongly projecting, apex rounded about six marginal denticles. Claw with one small spine. Length 0.09 0.1 mm Width 0.04 0.06 mm Occurrence 4 water bodies Limnetic and not common. Reported from mesotrophic and eutrophic water bodies. 54. Alonella excisa; Fischer, 1854 General appearance Pleuroxus like. Rostrum moderate to long neither so prolonged. Postabdomen long, narrow, not narrowing much towards apex with nine to ten small marginal denticles. Length 0.1-0.3 mm Width 0.02 0.06 mm Occurrence 5 water bodies Littoral and not common. Observed in weedy ponds. Table 1: Biodiversity and density of cladocerans in water bodies of South Rajashthan No. Name of water Cladocerans Density of Biodiversity body forms/species Cladocerans (ind./l) (Menhinick s Index) 1. Pichhola Lake 12 32 2.12132034355964 2. Jaisamand 8 25 1. 6 3. Mahi Dam 6 19 1.37649440322338 4. Nandsamand 6 11 1.80906806746658 5. Gangu Kund 3 9 1 6. Dewas Pond 7 19 1.60591013709394 7. Jhadol Dam 7 21 1.52752523165194 8. Nandeswar Pond 6 11 1.80906806746658 9. Zamri Dam 9 23 1.87662972651367 10. Paba Pond 3 7 1.133893 11. Rajsamand Lake 1 5 0. 447214 12. Swaroop Sagar 3 22 0. 639602 13. Thoor Pond 9 29 1.671258 290
No. Name of water Cladocerans Density of Biodiversity body forms/species Cladocerans (ind./l) (Menhinick s Index) 14. Bari Tank 4 21 0. 872872 15. Bada Madar 16 53 2. 197769 16. Chhota Madar 12 39 1.921537 17. Fatehsagar 14 31 2.514474 18. Loyra Pond 5 32 0.883883 19. Ahar river Pond 9 49 1.285714 20. Udaisagar 7 45 1. 043498 21. Gadwa Pond 1 1 1 22. Daroli Pond 0 0 0 23. Sarjana Pond 6 60 0. 774597 24. Rangsagar 3 36 0. 5 25. Pula Pond 11 50 1. 555635 26. Kanpur Pond 0 0 0 27. Distillery Pond 0 0 0 28. Sukhanaka Pond 0 0 0 29. Meja Dam 4 9 1. 333333 30. Harnimahadev 1 4 0. 5 31. Ummedsagar 2 10 0. 632456 32. Pivania 1 9 0. 333333 33. Nagdi Pond 1 6 0. 408248 34. Baghela Pond 2 12 0.577350 35. Namana Pond 4 15 1. 032796 36. Nakki Lake 4 13 1. 1094 37. Uda Pond 2 11 0. 603023 38. Dudh Talai 4 19 0. 917663 39. Gab Sagar 4 13 1. 1094 40. Daya Dam 8 29 1.485562 41. Morwania Pond 9 43 1. 372487 42. Jameshwar Pond 2 23 0.417028 43. Ubhayshwar Pond 7 158 0.556890 44. Saira Pond 5 101 0. 497519 45. Saira road Pond 4 11 1.206045 46. Lotus Pond 8 61 1. 024295 47. Chawand Pond 6 38 0.973328 48. Gingri Pond 8 36 1. 333333 49. Nela Pond 9 28 1. 70084 50. Amarchandiya Pond 3 15 0. 774597 51. Kadiya Pond 9 38 1.459992 52. Kaileshwar Pond 7 35 1. 183216 53. Mansi Vakal 3 15 0.774596 54. Awarimata Pond 4 26 0. 784465 55. Kelwara 5 28 0. 944911 56. Bhandhar Pond 6 27 1. 154701 57. Sarada Pond 3 14 0. 801784 58. Iswal Pond 2 8 0. 707107 59. Losing Pond 1 16 0. 25 60. Kuda Khada Pond 6 29 1. 114172 291
No. Name of water Cladocerans Density of Biodiversity body forms/species Cladocerans (ind./l) (Menhinick s Index) 61. Matoon Pond 3 32 0.530330 62. Ambla Pond 6 41 0.937042 63. Chikalwas Pond 7 38 1. 13555 64. Daitya magri Pond 5 29 0. 928477 65. Bhatewar 5 17 1. 212678 66. Delwara Pond 3 10 0. 948683 67. Dungla Pond 6 21 1. 309307 68. Eklingji Pond 5 19 1. 147079 69. Goverdhan Sagar 6 13 1. 664101 70. Siphon Pond 10 29 1. 856953 71. Tidi Dam 3 19 0.688247 72. Tripurasundari Pond 5 30 0. 912871 73. Chabla Pond 3 25 0.12 74. Madar Canal 2 6 0. 816497 75. Sarpada Pond 4 13 1. 1094 76. Saira Pond 2 5 56 0. 668153 77. Saira Pond 3 8 39 1. 281025 4. Discussion During the present study, species of Daphnia were mostly present in medium to large sized reservoir with low amounts of nutrients. However, D. carinata and D. ambigua were observed from organically rich water bodies. Populations of cladocera are known to be affected by grazing pressure of planktivorous fishes throughout the year resulting in elimination of large size species (Fernando, 1984). Eutrophic nature of tropical water bodies restricts species richness (Green, 1972). When all 77 water bodies were compared in respect to cladoceran biodiversity, the highest value of Menhinick s Index was found for Fateh Sagar, Bada Madar, Pichhola Lake, and Chota Madar as 2.5144, 2.197, 2.121, and 1.921 respectively. This may be due to eutrophic lake and found organically rich water bodies. Among comparatively low diverse waters, Daroli Pond, Kanpur Pond and Sukhanaka Pond showed the value of Menhinik s Index as zero because of these lake are polluted with heavy metal, industrial waste and antropogenic activity etc. Although on average how much?, the highest number of 16 species occurred in Bada Madar, 14 species in Fateh Sagar and 12 species in Pichhola Lake. In general, it was noticed that richness of nutrients, presence of weed and shallowness of the water bodies increased the diversity in Ubhayshwar, Datiya Mangri, Chikalwas and Losing Ponds. Some species of cladocera were exclusively associated with the presence of macrophytes as these were not observed in weed free waterbodies. These phytophilic cladocerans were Macrothrix, Simocephalus, Scapholeberis and Pleuroxus. During the study, the richness of species diversity was highest for the family Chydoridae that was represented by 21 species. This was followed by the family Daphniidae (17) Moinidae (5), Macrothricidae (5), Sididae (3) and Bosminidae (3). In the Daphniidae, all 6 species of the genus Daphnia were found in clean water bodies especially D. lumholtzi was found in clean and large water bodies. However, D. ambigua was found in eutrophic sewage water. The genus Ceriodaphnia was represented by 6 species. All these species were common. However, weedy ponds inhabited C. rigaudi, C. acanthine, and C. quadrangula. Highest diversity of genus Ceriodaphnia was observed in Saira pond. All three species belonging to the genus Simocephalus occur in weedy areas. Two species of the genus Scapholeberis were 292
recorded, of which S. kingi was found between macrophytes, and S. aurita was present in domestically polluted as well as weedy water bodies. In Datya Mangri Pond, all three species of Simocephalus were observed. In the family Moinidae, five species of the genus Moina were recorded. All species were found in shallow water except Moina branchiata that was found in shallow muddy waters as well as clean large water bodies. M. hutchinsoni was found only in muddy water and other three species were observed in less weedy or weedy area. In the family Bosminidae, two species of genus Bosmina were observed in oligotrophic as well as eutrophic water bodies and genus Eubosmina was observed in eutrophic waters. Bosmina and Eubosmina occurred in Pichhola Lake. Vashist and Sen (1979) observed Daphnia in small water bodies, which were free from organic pollution. However, Daphnia was found in abundance in a sewage-affected pond in Agricultural College campus during present studies. Verma and Dalela (1975) found Bosmina, Daphnia, and Alona in polluted waters. Rao (1987) stated that cladocerans are rich in eutrophic waters. Sinha and Khan (2000) explained richness of chydorids in the Rabinder Sarovar in the context to abundance of littoral macrophytes mainly belonging to Ceratophylum demersum. The cladocerans including Moina, Ceriodaphnia, and Chydorus are found associated with Eichhornia, Hydrodictyon, and Hydrilla. Pandit (1999) studied zooplankton of Kashmir lakes and observed Daphnia, Ceriodaphnia, Simocephalus, Scapholeberis, Bosmina, Graptoleberis, Alona, Alonella, and Chydorus among the Cladocera. He especially noted occurrence of Sida crystallina, Pseudosida bidentata, Bosmina coregoni, and Daphnia middendorffiana in oligotrophic lakes, while Alona sp., Chydorus sp., Graptoleberis testudinaria, Simocephalus sp., Scapholeberis, Daphnia pulex, Ceriodaphnia sp., and Bosmina longirostris were found to inhabit eutrophic waters. Arvind Kumar et al., (2001) reported species of Ceriodaphnia, Moina and Daphnia from ponds polluted with sewage and considered Moina as the most tolerant cladoceran. Prakash et al., (2002) reported Diaphonosoma excisum, Chydorus sphaericus, Ceriodaphnia cornuta, Bosmina longirostris, Bosminopsis deitersi, Sida crystallina and Daphnia lumholtzi from a freshwater pond developed from the waste land of Brick-kiln. 5. Conclusion The present study shows that Cladocera are rich in water bodies of south Rajasthan. Different species inhabited different water bodies depending upon Limnological parameter, thus certain cladocerans may play a role of bioindicators showing trophic status of water bodies. Water of Rajasthan has been very productive from fisheries point of view and some of the most productive lakes of India are situated in southern part of Rajasthan. So this study has importance for the aquaculture point of view. Cladocerans are widely used in aquaculture and large filter-feeding planktonic species have an economic impact as important fish food or phytoplankton controlling group. Acknowledgement The author would like to thanks to the department of Zoology for providing all necessary facilities to completion the work. Special thanks to Shri. Rajesh Sharma for giving technical advices. 6. References 1. Alfred J. R. B., Bernia S., Lambert J. M., Michael R. G., Rajendran M., Royan J. P., Sumitra V. and Wycliffe G., (1973), A guide to the study of freshwater organism, J. Madurai University Suppliment, p 185. 293
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