Submitted To: Submitted By:

Dr. P.K. Dobriyal Ritu

M.Sc. 4th sem.
 INDEX
Contents:
 Acknowledgement
 Certificate
 Introduction
 Review of Literature
 Map of Ramganga River
 Materials and methods
 Result and discussion
 Conclusion
 References
 Acknowledgement

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude

to my respected H.O.D Dr. M.K Sinha as well as my all
respected professors Dr.S.N.Rao, Dr.Pramod kumar
Dobriyal, Dr.Parvej Ahmed , Dr.Pramod joshi, who gave me
the golden opportunity to do this wonderful project on the topic
“Limnological Study of Ramganga River” which also helped
me in doing a lot of research and I came to know about so many
new things. I am really thankful to them.
I am making this project not only for marks but to also
increase my knowledge.
Thanks again to all who helped me.

Ritu
Zoology
M.Sc.4th Sem.
 Certificate

I hereby certify that research work entitled “Limnological

Study of Ramganga River” done by Ritu is an original piece of
work carried out under my supervision and guidance for
required period in a laboratory of department of zoology
R.H.G.P.G. College Kashipur, U. S. Nagar. It is further
certified that she has put work in required attendance. I
recommend this dissertation to submit for the award of the
master degree.

Place: Kashipur (Dr. P. K. Dobriyal)

Date:
 Introduction

One of the most important gift given by nature for mankind

is Water,which plays an important role in different vital and
structural activity.water is important for all living organismsas it
has a great social and economical value ultimately affecting
human health.

Water covers 71% of earth surface (CIA 2008) and is

vital for all known forms of life. On earth 96.5% of planet water
is found in oceans ,1.7% in groundwater,1.7% in glaciers and
.oo1% in the air as vapour, clouds. Water can dissolve many
different substances, giving it taste and odour. However pure
water is tasteless and odourless. The purity of spring and
mineral water refer to absence of toxins, pollutants.

Fresh water body can be classified into two

categories-Running water (lotic) and Standing water (lentic).
Reservoirs ponds and lakes come under second category, these
are very useful for different activities beside drinking water
sources.
 Limnology is a greek word which is often regarded as a
division of ecology or environment science. It include study of
lakes, spring and wetland.A more recent sub discipline of
Limnology studies and conserve these aquatic ecosystem. Water
resources are resources of water that are useful or potentially
useful. Use of water include agriculture, industrial, recreational
and environmental activities.

River of India play an important role in the lives of Indians.

They provide potable water, cheap transporatation and
livelihood for large no. of people over country.

Himalya literally meaning “Above of snow” is mountain

range in the South Asia which separates the Ind-Gangetic plain
from Tibetan.Himalya region is dotted with hundred of
lakes.Every river is a part of a larger system a watershed which
is the land drained by a river and its tributaries..River are large
natural streams of water flowing in channel and emptying into
larger bodies of water. The source may be fed up an
underground spring or by run off from rain, snow melt or glacial
melt.
 The ecology of Ramganga River is mostly studied for two
reasons- firstly for development of aquaculture & secondly for
measuring the extent of pollution. The physic-chemical as well
as the biological factor of river have vital role in aquaculture and
productivity of fishes. The quality of water determines the
quality of fish to be produced in it. The physical factors are
water temperature, water current and turbidity of water; whereas
the chemical parameters of river comprise pH, dissolved
oxygen, total alkalinity and total hardness of water. The
biological factors considered were macro-zoo benthos and
plankton of the river. The seasonal changes in different physico-
chemical parameters are responsible for annual variation and
growth of biological factors viz. macro-zoo benthos and
plankton etc.
 Tepe et al., (2005) found that the water quality
attributes such as water temperature, light penetration, dissolved
oxygen, total alkalinity and total hardness are the representative
of the seasonal fluctuation. Ali et al., (2006) showed that the
water quality of fresh water ecosystem undergoes complex
changes due to all physico-chemical factors and water quality as
a sequence disrupting the aquatic life. Hayat et al., (1996) and
Jena et al., (1998) revealed that temperature and ecological
conditions are responsible for the fluctuation of salt contents,
which in turn influence the production, and growth of fish.

Limited literature is available on zooplankton and

zoobenthos of Kumaun lotic water (Bhatt and Pathak, 1992 and
Bhatt et al. 1984). It is also pointed that the headwaters to
mouth, the physical features vary significantly within a lotic
water system present a continuous gradient of physical
variations, which evolves association within biota and other
abiotic features. Thus, the present work deals with qualitative
and quantitative studies on zooplankton and zoobenthos in
relation to some physico-chemicals and fish diversity in a high
altitude river, Ramganga.
 Briefly, present study concluded that physicochemical
parameters levels indicate the moderate quality of water, river
water of the study area was not polluted in respect to
physicochemical assessment. But biological studies indicate
that river water was fit for aquatic organism, such as fishes
because of there were plenty of food in the form of benthos,
zooplankton and phytoplankton.

River Western Ramganga water was habitable for fishes

and fit for development of aquaculture. There were
no sign of problems like eutrophication. It is also concluded that
the higher growth of macro-zoobenthos and planktons in the
river is favoured by low water temperature, low current velocity,
moderate turbidity with high DO, high alkalinity and high
hardness during winters season.

Ramganga damn is also called as Kalagarh dam. Dam is a

part of Ramganga multipurpose project-an irrigation and
hydroelectric project.It supports 198mw power station.In
addition it provide for flood control and recreation.
Construction on the damn began in 1961 nd completed in 1974.
 Review of Literature

From the earliest evolution of hominid species around the

lakeshores of northern Kenya to the development of main
civilization on the banks of certain major rivers, human history
can generally be considered to be water centred. The early
important civilization developed and flourished on the bank of
major rivers such as Nile, Euphrates, Tigris and Indus. Human
history can, in fact, be written in terms of interactions and inter
relations between man and water.

Singh and Dobriyal (1982) published the first paper on the

occurrence of Botio geto in the river Alaknanda of Garhwal,
Himalaya. Chattopadhaya et al. (1984) made a study on the
pollution status of river Ganga at Kanpur. Bhatt et al.(1985)
studied Ecology of Limnoflora in river Kosi of Kumaon.
 Nautiyal (1990) explained the Ecology of Ganga river
system in the upland of Garhwal Himalayan environment.
Khanna (1993) reported the pollution aspects of river Ganga at
Haridwar. Saxena and chauhan (1993) observed the physico-
chemical aspects of pollution of river Yamuna at Agra.

Sharma and pandey (1998) investigated the pollution status

of Ramganga river at Moradabad. Khanna et al. (1999) studied
correlation between abiotic factor and planktonic pollution in
river Ganga at Rishikesh. Khanna et al. (2006) studied the water
quality of river Suswa near Raiwala, Uttarakhand.
Map of Ramganga River
Fig: Ramganga river at Kalagarh dam
fig: Ramganga River at Kalagarh dam
 Materials and Methods

The sampling is carried out in Uttarakhand state in Kalagarh

dam at different spots monthly between January 2015 to March
2015.

The physicochemical factors are water temperature, water

current, turbidity of water, pH, dissolved oxygen, total
alkalinity and total hardness of water, whereas biological
factors were macro-zoo benthos and plankton of the river. Study
of physicochemical factors was carried out by using standard
methods.

Water temperature,pH and dissolved oxygen(DO) were

measured on the sampling spot. Colour was identified by Visual
Comparison Method, Odour was obsereved by Threshold
Odour Test. Temperature and pH were measured by water
analysis kit, Dissolved Oxygen by Winkler’s Method, Total
Alkanity by Simple Titration Method and Total Hardness by
EDTA titration method.
 Result and Discussion

Water temperature
The average water temperature of river was found to be varying
from 9.30 °C to 14.51 °C during January to March
respectively. Thus, water of Ramganga is coldest in winter and
hottest in Summer .

Month Jan Feb Mar

Spot 1 8.05 10.98 11.87 12.61 13.42 13.66
Spot 2 9.20 11.45 11.68 13.54 13.56 13.35
Spot 3 9.45 9.29 12.89 13.58 13.87 14.96
Spot 4 10.56 9.35 11.02 12.98 12.99 15.02
Spot 5 9.24 11.74 11.16 13.11 13.18 15.55
Average 9.30 10.56 11.72 13.16 13.41 14.51

Table showing Average monthly in water temperature( C) of

river

Temperature was measured by Water Analysis Method.

 120

100

Series1
80
Series2

60 Series3
Series4
40 Series5
Series6
20

0
Month Spot 1 Spot 2 Spot 3 Spot 4 Spot 5 Average

Graphical representation of Water Temperature( C) of

Ramganga river
 fig: Ramganga River at Kalagarh dam

In the present study, the water temperature of the

river was observed to be moderate throughout the year. This
moderate water temperature is due to its spring-fed nature of
origin. It is also supported by Odum (1971) that photoperiod
was shorter in winter than summer which is directly related to
temperature and hence water temperature is highest in March.
pH

pH fluctuation occur only within a narrow range. The pH of

river was found to be varying from 8.28 to 8.3 during January to
March. Therefore, during summer the water is most basic and it
seems less basic during winter.

Month Jan Feb Mar

Spot 1 8.3 8.2 8.2 8.1 8.2 8.5
Spot 2 8.3 8.2 8.6 8.3 7.4 8.3
Spot 3 8.6 8.2 7.9 8.4 8.1 8.2
Spot 4 8.1 8.2 8.5 8.2 8.2 8.2
Spot 5 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.2 8.0 8.3
Average 8.28 8.2 8.3 8.24 7.98 8.3

Table showing Average monthly in pH of river

pH was measured by Water Analysis Method.

 10

7
Series1
6 Series2

5 Series3
Series4
4
Series5
3
Series6
2

0
Month Spot 1 Spot 2 Spot 3 Spot 4 Spot 5 Average

Graphical representation of Water Temperature ( C) of

Ramganga river
Water velocity

While calculating the velocity of water, we observed that the

rate of water flow is fluctuated from a minimum value of 0.308
m/s in January to a maximum value of 0.364 m/s in March.

Month Jan Feb Mar

Spot 1 0.271 0.298 0.231 0.316 0.322 0.347
Spot 2 0.324 0.226 0.256 0.324 0.326 0.354
Spot 3 0.252 0.315 0.321 0.308 0.344 0.364
Spot 4 0.371 0.255 0.311 0.329 0.349 0.368
Spot 5 0.322 0.286 0.304 0.321 0.358 0.374
Average 0.308 0.276 0.285 0.320 0.339 0.364

Table showing Average monthly in water current velocity (m/s)

of river
 120

100

Series1
80
Series2

60 Series3
Series4
40 Series5
Series6
20

0
Month Spot 1 Spot 2 Spot 3 Spot 4 Spot 5 Average

Graphical representation of Water Velocity (m/s)of Ramganga

river
Turbidity

It has been observed that the water is less turbid during summer
period with a value of 10.2 NTU. With an unusual variation
water was found extremely less turbid during rest of the seasons
with the minimum of 7.8 NTU in winter.

Month Jan Feb Mar

Spot 1 9 9 7 9 10 11
Spot 2 6 8 6 8 9 10
Spot 3 7 5 8 8 9 9
Spot 4 9 6 9 7 10 11
Spot 5 8 9 5 10 9 10
Average 7.8 7.7 7.0 8.4 9.4 10.2

Table showing Average monthly in turbidity (NTU) of river

 120

100

Series1
80
Series2

60 Series3
Series4
40 Series5
Series6
20

0
Month Spot 1 Spot 2 Spot 3 Spot 4 Spot 5 Average

Graphical representation of Turbidity (NTU) of Ramganga river

 In present study water was less turbid during
Summer (March) while very low during rest of the seasons with
the minimum of 7.8 NTU in winter. These observations are also
supported by Jhingran (1965) who reported that turbidity
generally increased to a maximum value in Monsoon due to the
suspended solids in the flooded water whereas, during the post
Monsoon months the turbidity values were low but increased
again during the summer months with the increase in tidal
management and intensity. Upadhyay (1997) calculated the
turbidity variation from 2 to 162 NTU.
Dissolved Oxygen
In winter, the oxygen content dissolved in water was found to be
highest with the value of 10.74 mg/l. The river has
less DO content in summer with the value of 8.38 mg/l. Thus the
fish can endure water having the dissolved oxygen content from
10.74 mg/l (during winter) to 8.38 mg/l (during summer).

Month Jan Feb Mar

Spot 1 10.4 10.5 9.8 9.9 8.6 8.2
Spot 2 10.6 10.2 11.3 10.1 9.1 8.3
Spot 3 10.8 10.1 9.9 9.9 8.4 8.6
Spot 4 10.7 10.6 10.5 9.5 8.5 8.3
Spot 5 11.2 11.2 10.4 8.5 8.2 8.5
Average 10.74 10.52 10.38 9.58 8.56 8.38

Table showing Average monthly in dissolve oxygen (mg/l) of

river

Dissolved Oxygen was measured by Winkler’s Method.

 120

100

Series1
80
Series2

60 Series3
Series4
40 Series5
Series6
20

0
Month Spot 1 Spot 2 Spot 3 Spot 4 Spot 5 Average

Graphical representation of Dissolved Oxygen(mg/l) of

Ramganga river
 fig: Ramganga River at Kalagarh dam

In our study DO highest during winter whereas lowest during,

Ali (1999) reported that the dissolved oxygen variation shows
inverse relationship with water temperature variation. Bhatt et.
al. (1984) also reported high DO and low free CO2
concentrations in winter for such hillstreams.
Total Alkalinity

In our observation it has been observed that the river water is

alkaline and the magnitude was varying from 99.02 mg/l to
88.96 mg/l from January to March. Thus, the water of
Ramganga is most alkaline during winter and then with a regular
decrement is least alkaline during summer.

Month Jan Feb Mar

Spot 1 92.65 98.9 109.74 97.81 91.54 80.1
Spot 2 99.25 97.2 106.58 96.42 90.04 87.1
Spot 3 100.2 96.6 96.35 96.28 89.75 83.4
Spot 4 100.8 100.3 95.52 95.59 85.66 97.1
Spot 5 102.2 104.3 98.67 92.55 84.49 97.1
Average 99.02 99.46 101.372 95.73 88.296 88.96

Table showing Average monthly in total alkalinity (mg/l) of

river

Total Alkanity was measured by Simple Titration Method.

 120

100

Series1
80
Series2

60 Series3
Series4
40 Series5
Series6
20

0
Month Spot 1 Spot 2 Spot 3 Spot 4 Spot 5 Average

Graphical representation of Total Alkalinity (mg/l)

of Ramganga river
Total Hardness
The degree of hardness calculated in the river water is highest in
February.
The study summarized that the water in winter is highly hard,
while least hard during summer.

Total hardness show minimum during Monsoon to

a maximum during winter. Our study is also supported by Ajmat
et al., (1985), observed that the hardness of river Kali-nandi is
highest during summer. Shukh (1996) estimated the hardness
ranges from 90.6 to 160 mg/l in Betwa Koare dam.
Plankton Diversity
The total phytoplanktons were Chlorophyceae,
Bacillariophyceae and Cyanophyceae. The total zooplanktons
were Crustaceans and Rotifers .

Plankton Jan Feb Mar

group(units/I)
Total 2925 2175 1588 854 1725 1652
phytoplankton
Total 185 412 565 978 200 350
zooplankton

Table showing Average monthly of plankton diversity

 3500

3000

2500
Plankton
2000 group(units/I)
Total phytoplankton
1500
Total zooplankton
1000

500

0
1 2 3 4 5 6

Graphical Representation of Plankton Diversity of Rramganga

river
 The seasonal, monthly and altitudinal variation of
plankton is related with temperature and dissolved oxygen
because the summer peak of phytoplankton followed by
zooplankton in the water. The moderate second peak of plankton
in early winter when moderate water temperature and high DO
may be related to the photosynthesis and low turbidity (almost
transparent water) and low solids in the river. But the plankton
volume and population was low in monsoon due to high
temperature, high turbidity, high solids, high conductivity and
low DO.

fig: Ramganga River at Kalagarh dam

Macro-zoo benthos Density
The number of Ephemeroptera (155 Units/m2 in Jan while 85
Units/m2 in Mar), Trichopteran (150 Units/m2 in Jan while 79
Units/m2 in Mar), Dipteran (110 Units/m2 in Jan while 56
Units/m2 in Mar), Plecopteran nymphs (51 Units/m2 in Jan
while 39 Unit/m2 in Mar), Coleopteran larvae (39 Units/m2 in
Jan while 27 Units/m2 in Mar). Odonata larvae (52 Units/m2 in
Jun while 28 Units/m2 in Mar). The average total macro-
zoobenthos observed (557 Units/m2 in Jan while 241 Units/m2
in Mar).

Density of total Macro-zoobenthos and total plankton

populations were plenty in winter while rarely during Summer.
Detritus standing stock is the main reason for high density of
benthos in winter and substratum stability too. Moderate
temperature and low gradient of velocity favors the growth of
biotic communities.
Ecosystem of Ramganga River

The biota of an aquatic ecosystem of river directly reflects the

conditions existing in the environment in terms of the quality
and quantity of the biota. The zooplankton occupies an
intermediate position in the food web in the aquatic ecosystem.
Similarly, the zoobenthos has significant role in the food chain
in the water.
Limited literature is available on zooplankton and zoobenthos of
Kumaun lotic water (Bhatt and Pathak, 1992 and Bhatt et al.
1984). It is also pointed that the headwaters to mouth, the
physical features vary significantly within a lotic water system
present a continuous gradient of physical variations, which
evolves association within biota and other abiotic features. Thus,
the present work deals with qualitative and quantitative studies
on zooplankton and zoobenthos in relation to some physico-
chemicals and fish diversity in a high altitude river, Ramganga.
fig:Ramganga River at Kalagarh dam
S.No. Name Of Family Local Name
species

1. Wallago attu Siluridae Boal

2. Tor putitora Cyprinidae Mahaseer

3. Bagarius Sisoridae Goonch

bagarius

4. Labeo rohita Cyprinidae Rohu

Table 8: Showing Fish diversity in Ramganga River

 Fish Composition and Fisheries

The total 19 sps. Were recorded in the

Ramganga, these are belonging to five families as Syluridae,
Cyprinidae, Sisoridae, Botinae and Mastacembellidae have been
recorded with fluctuation of fish species of different collecting
sites during Jan to March 2015.
Wallago attu:

Scientific classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostomi
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Siluridae
Genus: Wallago
Species: W. attu
Tor putitora:

Scientific classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostomi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus: Tor
Species: Putitora
Bagarius(Goonch fish):

Scientific classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Sisoridae
Genus: Bagarius
Species: Bagarius bagarius
Labeo rohita(Rohu):

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus: Labeo
Species: L. rohita
 Result and Discussion

In the present study, the water temp. of the river was

observed to be moderate through out the year. This moderate
water temp. is due to its spring-fed nature of origin.
pH fluctuation occur only within a narrow range. The pH of
river was found to be varying from 8.28 to 8.3 during Jan to
March. Therefore, during Summer the water is most basic and it
seems less basic during Winter.
In present study water was less turbid during Summer
while low during rest of the season with the minimum of 7.8
NTU in Winter but highly turbid in Monsoon.
The water of Ramganga is most alkaline during winter and
then with a regular decreament is least alkaline in Summer.
 Conclusion

On the basis of various parameters studied, it was

concluded that the water quality of Ramganga river is not good.
Due to high alkalinity the river water was not suitable for
Agricultural purpose. It indicates that most of the pollution in
Ramganga in the study zone is caused by Industrial discharge.
 References

 Bhatt, S.D. Bisht and Negi (1985) Ecology of Limnoflora

in river Kosi of Kumaon Himalaya. Up. Proc. Nat. sci.,
50(4):395-405.

 Chattopadhaya, S.N. Roouth, T. Sharma, V.P. Arora

(1984). Study on the pollution status of river Ganga in
Kanpur region. Indian J. Environmental hlth, 26(3):244-
257.

 Khanna, D.R. and Bhutiani, R., 1993. Limnological

characteristics of the River Ganga at Haridwar. U.P.J.
Zool.,23(3): 179-183.

 Khanna, D.R., Malik, D.s., Seth, T.r. and Rupendra, 1999.

Correlation between abiotic factors and planktonic
population in river Ganga at Rishikesh. Sus.Eco. Sys and
Env.,Ed. By D.R. Khanna, A. Gautam and A. Gautam
published by ASEA, Rishikesh. Pp. 69-76.

 Khanna, D.R., Pathak, S.K., Bhutiaani and Chandra 2006.

Study of water quality of river Suswa Near Raiwala,
Uttarakhand. Env. Con. J,. 7(3):79-84.

 Tepe, Y., Türkmen A., Mutlu E. and Ates A. (2005). Some

physico-chemical characteristic of Yarseli Lake, Hatay,
Turkey. Tur. J. Fish. Aquacult. Sci. 5:35-42.
 Ali, A., M.N. Bhatti, N. Khan and Rehman M.H. 2006.
Role of soil and water chemistry in aquaculture.
Proceedings of International conference on Solving
problems of Freshwater Fish Farming in Pakistan
November 27-28, 2006. UVAS. 139-141.

 Hayat, S., M. Javed and Hanif, K. 1996. Impact of

poultry droppings fertilization of fish ponds on the
pohysico-chemistry of water. Pakistan J. Live.
Pollution. 2: 199-208.

 Jena, J. K., P.K. Arvindakshan, S. Chanra, H.K. Muduli

and Ayyappan, S. 1998. Comparative evaluation of
growth and survival of Indian major carps rearing
fingerlings. J. Aquacult. Trop. 13: 143- 149.

 Odum, E.P., 1971. Fundamentals of Ecology. 3rd Ed.

Toppan Company, Ltd., Japan. pp: 278 84.

 Jhingran., 1965. Report on inland fisheries research and

management and fish culture in the U.S.S.R. Misc.
contr. Cent. Int. Fish. Res. Inst, Barrackpore 5:27.

 Upadhyay., 1997. Physico-chemical analysis of

Kaliasote dam water to evaluate its versatile
potentiality including irrigation use. Thesis of Ph.D.
(Chemistry) Barkatullah University Bhopal.
 Ali, S.S., 1999. Freshwater Fishery Biology. 1st Ed..
Naseem Book Depot, Hyderabad, Pakistan. pp: 108 14.

 Bhatt, S.D., Y. Bisht and Negi U. 1984. Ecology of the

limmofauna in the river Ramganga of the Kumaun
Humalaya. Proc. Indian Matn. Sci. Acid. 50: 395-405.

 Bhatt, S.D. and Pathak, J.K.1992. Himalayan

Environment: Water quality of DrainageBasins. Shree
Almora Book Depot, Almora.

 Ajmat, M., R. Uddin and Khan, A.U. 1985. Physic-

chemical aspect of pollution in Kalinadi. IAWPC Tech.
Annual. 12: 106-114.

 Shukh, R., 1996. Comparative studies of physic-

chemical characteristics of water quality of river Betwa.
Kolar dam and upper lake of Bhopal. Thesis of Ph.D.
(Chemistry) Barkatullah University Bhopal.