Ecology and Ecosystem Services of Some Selected Wetlands of Puruliya District, West Bengal

Three important wetlands of Puruliya district. West Bengal, viz., Indrabil near Indrabil Station, Saheb bundh of Puruliya town and Adra reservoir of Adra town have been selected and surveyed for ecological and hydrobiological study. These are freshwater wetlands and serve as important waterfowl habitats. The present paper deals with physiographical features, vegetation profile, limnological conditions, faunal resources (177 species under 67 families) and ecosystem services of these wetlands. The ecosystem goods and services offered by these three wetlands are enumerated. Based on the bioindicator species that are pollution sensitive, pollution tolerant, pollution resistant, an average BMW? (Bio Monitoring Working Party) score has been determined for these three wetlands. In overall, these three wetlands are in moderate state of pollution and among them Indrabil is comparatively clean or less polluted.