Occurrence of Some Freshwater Rotifers from Visapur Dam, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India
Dilipkumar G. Bhalsing *
Department of Zoology, Ahmednagar College, Ahmednagar- 414001, Maharashtra, India.
Sunil N. Pokale
Department of Zoology, New Arts, Commerce and Science College (Autonomous), Ahmednagar, Ahmednagar- 414001, Maharashtra, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Rotifers from a reservoir (Vispaur Dam, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra) were studied for a period of seven months. Samples were collected using a 50-micron mesh size plankton net, preserved in 4% formalin and identified under a compound microscope using standard rotifer literature. Nineteen species belonging to 9 families were seen in the studied samples, with family Brachionidae being species rich with 9 species. The genus Brachionus was well represented with 5 species. The results are compared with studies done on rotifers from reservoirs all over Maharashtra state. Detailed studies in the future are required for more exact estimate of rotifer diversity. Detailed studies in future will add to the checklist of rotifers from the studied waterbody.
Keywords: Rotifers, Visapur reservoir, brachionus, reservoir, Maharashtra