International Journal of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences

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In Vivo Studies on the Effect of Gambusia Holbrooki on Planktonic Community


Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital-263002 Uttarakhand, India
     

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Experiments were performed in pond ecosystem with different sex of Gambusia holbrooki i.e. female, male and juvenile to assess the impact of different categories of fish on planktonic community. Study showed that in all the ponds with fish zooplankton number declined drastically while phytoplankton community showed excessive growth in comparison to control pond. Significant negative correlation was observed between phytoplankton and zooplankton community in ponds with female and male and juvenile fish. Different sex shows size specific predation pressure on zooplankton community. Higher values of pH, DO and low values of secchi disc transparency were noticed in all the ponds with fish in comparison to control pond. Study concludes that the fish showed the 'top-down' control on zooplanktonic community structure and abundance and thus on phytoplankton. It is suggested that the removal of this fish from Lake Nainital, could be one of the key factor in controlling the productivity of lake.

Keywords

Gambusia Holbrooki, Zooplanktivorus Fish, Top-down Control, Pond Ecosystem
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  • In Vivo Studies on the Effect of Gambusia Holbrooki on Planktonic Community

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Authors

Nirmal Singh
Department of Zoology, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital-263002 Uttarakhand, India

Abstract


Experiments were performed in pond ecosystem with different sex of Gambusia holbrooki i.e. female, male and juvenile to assess the impact of different categories of fish on planktonic community. Study showed that in all the ponds with fish zooplankton number declined drastically while phytoplankton community showed excessive growth in comparison to control pond. Significant negative correlation was observed between phytoplankton and zooplankton community in ponds with female and male and juvenile fish. Different sex shows size specific predation pressure on zooplankton community. Higher values of pH, DO and low values of secchi disc transparency were noticed in all the ponds with fish in comparison to control pond. Study concludes that the fish showed the 'top-down' control on zooplanktonic community structure and abundance and thus on phytoplankton. It is suggested that the removal of this fish from Lake Nainital, could be one of the key factor in controlling the productivity of lake.

Keywords


Gambusia Holbrooki, Zooplanktivorus Fish, Top-down Control, Pond Ecosystem

References