A Short Term Assessment of Water Quality of Ayroor River (Kerala) With Special Reference to Zooplankton Diversity

The study was carried out in Ayroor river (Kerala) to assess the water quality for a period of six months from December, 2006 to May, 2007. Physico-chemical parameters of water and zooplankton diversity were estimated. High values of BOD (10.2-15.6 mg/l), COD (160-230 mg/l), TDS (200-1400 mg/l), free CO₂ (22-88 mg/l), nitrate (1.65-13.99 mg/l) and MPN coliform (5000/100 ml) coupled with low dissolved oxygen content (2-4.2 mg/l), low diversity index (1.170-1.563) and presence of indicator species confirm high organic pollution in the river.