IJSTE - International Journal of Science Technology & Engineering | Volume 2 | Issue 08 | February 2016

ISSN (online): 2349-784X

Diatoms in Detection of Organic Pollution and

Anthropogenic Eutrophication in a Polluted
Lake of Mysore
Mahadev. J
College of Agriculture, V.C.Farm, Mandya

Shivakumar. K. V
College of Agriculture, V.C.Farm, Mandya

Nagarathana
Govt first grade College for women, Mandya

Munisamappa
College of Agriculture, V.C.Farm, Mandya

Ranganatha A. D
College of Agriculture, V.C.Farm, Mandya

Abstract
Phytoplankton has long been used as indicators of water quality mainly due to their sensitivity and strong response to physical and
chemical changes in waters. A diatom based IDSE/% index was applied to DalvoiLake at Mysore. The (Index of saprobityEutrophication) IDSE eutrophication conception (Louis Leclercq, 2008) is the diatom index of saprobity with index values between
1 and 5 for the levels of degradation in the lake. It involves identification and enumeration of only diatoms. In all the cases of the
study the range of pollution is from non-existent-low-moderate-high-very high. Organic pollution in the lake ranges from nonexistence to moderate indicating that the organic pollution in the lake is not significant. The Anthropogenic eutrophication is
moderate and sometimes reaches higher levels. Species indicating organic pollution are Nitzschiapalea during most of the months,
while species indicating anthropogenic eutrophication are Synedraacus, Synedra ulna, Stauroneisphoenicenteron and
Raphalodiagibba. The study indicates that the lake has heavy anthropogenic eutrophication. Sensitivity values are also high. The
IDSE index serves as an important tool in determining organic and anthropogenic eutrophication of lake waters.
Keywords: Diatoms, Organic, Anthropogenic, Eutrophication, IDSE Index
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I.

INTRODUCTION

According to the Western Australian Planning Commission (2003) water protection integrated over time and space has become a
high priority issue for public and government at all levels. Many of the researchers have used physical and chemical methods for
water quality monitoring, but these methods have proved to be inadequate. Biological methods of water quality detection have
served as excellent tools in the area of water quality detection, special with regards to organic pollution and anthropogenic
eutrophication. Among the several groups of algae that occur in fresh waters, diatoms have been used as the most common
indicators. Many diatoms based indicators have been tested for river water quality, but studies on fresh water ecosystems is lacking.
One of the simplest and effective water quality indexes, utilizing the diatoms population is the IDSE/5 index. This index, obtained
from the OMNIDA GB 5.3 Software indicates the quality of water in terms of organic pollution as well as anthropogenic
eutrophication. Therefore the present study aims in applying the IDSE/5 diatom index to a heavily polluted Lake, Dalvoi Lake at
Mysore. The diversity, and sensitive species indicating either organic or anthropogenic eutrophication has been discussed,
II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Dalvoilake is situated in the southern escorts of Mysore city located between 11 03 and 120 50 north latitude and 750 45 and 770
45 east latitude. A state highway Mysore-Nanjangud and Tamil Nadu, Kerala road passes at a distance on the western side of the
lake. It is large water body measuring about 1.5 km length and 1.2 km breadth. The maximum depth when full is about 8 km. It is
perennial lake and receives a huge amount of city sewage from Mysore. Abundant floating vegetation like Lemna, Eicchornia,
Nymphea and Potomogeton is common. The lake water is almost green in colour and emits a foul odour. The water is used for
agricultural purpose.
Sampling of Diatoms
Water samples were collected during the first week of every month for a period of one years from June 2013 to May 2014. They
were identified using the monographs of Sarode and Kamath (1984), Gandhi (1998) and Taylor et al.,(2005).Collection,

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Diatoms in Detection of Organic Pollution and Anthropogenic Eutrophication in a Polluted Lake of Mysore
(IJSTE/ Volume 2 / Issue 08 / 069)

preservation and enumeration was done as per the method described by Lackey (1938) modified by Suxena(1987). The diatoms
were given acronyms according to the rules of the OMNIDA software and the results obtained were discussed.
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results of the occurrence of diatoms for a period of one years are presented in Table 1. A total of 18 species occurred during
the study period and were represented by 10 genera. Their occurrence was not quite significant, but served as an important data
for water quality analysis. The distribution of species ranged from a minimum of 5 during April to a maximum of 11 during
December. The population count was also highest during December. The diversity of species was equally high, but was
predominantly high during December, January, February and May. The species were evenly distributed throughout the period of
collection. The number of genera was lowest during October and highest during December and February.
The IDSE eutrophication conception (Louis Leclercq, 2008) is the diatom index of saprobity with index values between 1 and
5 for the levels of degradation in the lake. It also generates levels of organic pollution and eutrophication for group E of taxa with
saprobic values between 3.0 and 3.5, and group S of taxa with valances between 1.0 and 2.9. In all the cases the range of pollution
is from non-existent-low-moderate-high-very high (IDSE/5).
The organic pollution in the lake ranges from nonexistence for most of the months to moderate during June and low during July.
However anthropogenic eutrophication is more pronounced in the lake. It is moderate for most of the months, low during September
and high during October. The percent indicators of organic pollution is slightly high during June, while the percent indicators of
anthropogenic pollution appears during the entire period of collection. It is highest during July, October and December.
Nitzschiapalea is the most common indicator species of organic pollution with a sensitivity of 2. Synedraacus(SACU), Synedra
ulna(SLUN), Rapholodiagibba(RGIB) and Stauroneisphoenicenteron(SPHO) are the common indicators of Anthropogenic
eutrophication (Table 2).The sensitivity of these species is above 3.
IV. CONCLUSION
Dalvoi lake of Mysore is less organically polluted with only Nitzschiapalea as an indicator with low sensitivity values. Indicators
of anthropogenic eutrophication are Synedra ulna, Synedraacus, Stauroneisphoenicenteronand Rapholodiagibba. The study reveals
the fact that the there is enormous human disturbance in the lake in the form of entery of untreated sewage and needs to be treated
before letting it into the lake. The (Index of saprobity-Eutrophication) IDSE eutrophication conception (Louis Leclercq, 2008)
serves as an important tool in detection of pollution
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Authors are great thankful to the University of Mysore, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and College of Agriculture,
V.C.Farm, Mandya and also great thankful to Prof.Hosamani for providing facilities for Research Work.
REFERENCES
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Gandhi, H.P. 1998 Fresh water diatoms of central Gujarath with a review of some others. Beshen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Deradhun.
Lakey J. B.(1938) Public Health Reports 53, 2080 -2093
Louis Laclereq (2008) IDSE Diatom Index of Saprobity-Eutrophication Conception
SarodeP.T and M. D Kamath 1984 Fresh water diatoms of Maharastra. 338pp. SaikrupaPrakasan, Aurangabad
Suxena M. R. 1987 Environmental Analysis. Water, Soil and Air.AgrobotanicalPublishers.pp 977.
Taylor J C, de la Rey and Van Resenberg 2005 Rrecommendations for the collection, preparation and enumeration of diatoms from Riverine habitats for
water quality monitoring in South Africa. African Journal of Aquatic Sciences 30:65-75.

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