Ecological Study on Macrozoobenthic Community of Verinag Spring, Kashmir.

ABSTRACT

Benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages of Verinag spring in Kashmir corresponding to different catchment and land uses acts as indicators of water quality. Physico-chemical parameters and population density of Annelids, Arthropoda and Mollusca individuals were determined. Diptera was dominating the study area instead of Annelida. The Oxygen Concentration was high and the mean dissolved oxygen was 9.8±0.90 mg/l. The presence of relatively high oxygen value seems to be a function of good periphytic algal population liberating oxygen during photosynthesis. The water of the spring was well buffered with mean pH 7.2±8. Therefore, the pH of the water generally did not exceed 8.0.