Environmental characteristics and phytoplankton productivity of a shallow Ramsar‐site floodplain in the western Himalaya |
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| Authors: | Mohammad A Khan |
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| Affiliation: | , Srinagar, Kashmir, India |
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| Abstract: | Hokersar wetland (altitude of 1584 masl), a shallow (0.5 m) floodplain waterfowl habitat in Kashmir, India, gained international importance in 2005 with its declaration as a Ramsar site. Although isolated in the western Himalayan mountains, it is being impacted by a silt‐laden river (Doodhganga). Human activities, not the least of which is affected by the closeness of the wetland to suburban areas, have gradually altered its trophic state. Its alkaline‐ and calcium‐rich waters contain many planktonic diatoms, green algae and cyanobacteria. Nitrate–nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations are high (370–4750 and 101–968 μg L?1, respectively). A pronounced seasonal cycle in phytoplankton production (g C m?2 day?1) was evident in a minimum value of 0.38 (Jan–Feb, 2002) and a maximum value of 4.02 (July, 2002), closely paralleling the seasonal cycles of temperature and light. The photosynthetic efficiency of the wetland was highest (1.97%) during the summer. The annual phytoplankton production of this wetland ecosystem was 210 × 102 KJ m?2, suggestive of a meso‐eutrophic status. |
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| Keywords: | eutrophication Indian lakes primary productivity |
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