UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Freshwater rotifers belonging to the class Monogononta are important components of zooplankton communities and contribute to aquatic food-web functioning. The present study documents the occurrence of Monogononta rotifers in different freshwater habitats of the Nashik region, Maharashtra, India. Samples were collected from July 2021 to March 2022 at 20 locations, including seasonal ponds, seasonal streams, riversides, dam backwaters, roadside ponds, Ramkund, the Botanical Garden and Boat Club of K.T.H.M. College, and nearby villages. Sampling methods were selected according to habitat type, and live specimens were examined under a compound microscope. Identification was carried out using standard taxonomic keys and reference books. A total of 23 taxa belonging to 14 genera of the class Monogononta were recorded. The observed genera included Brachionus, Trichocerca, Dicranophorus, Lepadella, Notommata, Cephalodella, Scaridium, Euchlanis, Pompholyx, Lecane, Keratella, Notholca, Esophora and Monostyla. The occurrence of planktonic, littoral, periphytic and predatory taxa indicates habitat heterogeneity across the sampled freshwater systems. Genera such as Brachionus, Lecane, Lepadella and Keratella were important components of the assemblage. The study provides baseline information on freshwater rotifer diversity in the Nashik region. Further investigations incorporating quantitative abundance data, seasonal variation and physicochemical parameters are required for more robust ecological interpretation.