Distribution and Ecology of Euglenoids in Selected Lakes of Tumakuru District, Karnataka

Aim: This study deals with the distribution and ecology of euglenoids in relation to physicochemical characteristics of water in four lakes of Tumakuru district.

Place and Duration of Study: Guluru, Bugudanahalli, Colony and Teeta are the four lakes of Tumakuru district selected for the present study during 2015-17.

Methodology: Euglenoids function as indicators of aquatic superiority. Composite samples were taken at two feats depth from surface level on monthly basis for the enumeration of euglenoids. Results: A total of ten species under three genera were identified. Guluru lake harboured 46.66% followed by Colony and Teeta lakes 20% each and Bugudanahalli lake with 13.33%. Seasonally all the lakes recorded maximum density of euglenoids during summer except in Colony lake, where they reached their peak during rainy season. Euglenoids showed significant positive correlation with water temperature (r = 0.664: P < 0.05), Sulphate (r = 0.757: P < 0.05) and Silica (r = 0.775: P < 0.05) at 5% level.

Conclusion: Euglenoids established negative correlation with dissolved oxygen and ammoniacal nitrogen. As the euglenoids serve as pollution indicator organisms, moderate density of euglenoids in the lakes investigated indicates that, lakes are tending towards biologically eutrophic condition.