Ecological health assessment of two tropical lakes of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT

This study examines two tropical lakes (known as Upper Lake and Lower Lake) situated in the western side of the capital city of Bhopal, of Madhya Pradesh. The study assesses the two lakes’ ecological health and trophic status, based on water chemistry and insect fauna, as aquatic insects are highly significant indicators of water quality. A total of 44 insect species were recorded from both lakes within this study. Among all the insect fauna, species belonging to orders Odonata and Hemiptera were recorded as the most dominant in both lakes. Physicochemical and biological results for both lakes show high trophic conditions on account of anthropogenic pressure. The water chemistry of Bhopal Lower Lake reveals a degrading condition in comparison to Upper Lake, which has a relatively stable condition.

KEYWORDS:

• Hemiptera
• tropical
• anthropogenic pressure
• trophic status

Acknowledgements

The corresponding author is very thankful to Dr. Hyder Ali Rather for his continuous support and help during the field work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nisar Ahmad Ganie

Dr. Nisar Ahmad Ganie is Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology at Sri Satya Sai University of Technology & Medical Sciences, Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, India. After completing B.Sc from Sri Pratap College, Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir in 2012 he did his Masters degree from Barkatullah University, Bhopal, and was awarded as first rank merit holder in 2014. He completed his Ph.D in Zoology in 2019. The main area of interest is aquatic biology and biodiversity. He has authored 15 research articles and a book chapter so far.

Ashwani Wanganeo

Ret. Professor Ashwani Wanganeo is Ex. HOD Department of Environmental Science and Limnology Barkatullah University Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. He has done his Ph.D in Ecology from University of Kashmir in 1981. Professor Ashwani Wanganeo has been an International Advisor to Board of Bomeo Science, Malaysia. He has been felicitated with Gold Medalist by Indian Academy of Environmental Science. He has been honored by conferred Fellowship of Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology. He has authored eight books and almost 150 research articles in both national and international journals and has completed 14 scientific projects so far.

Rajni Raina

Dr. Rajni Raina is Professor of Zoology, Convenor RUSA, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee PG College (Formerly Government Science and Commerce Benazeer College), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh India. She completed her Ph.D in Zoology from University of Kashmir. She has authored four books and nearly 50 research articles so far.