Bioassay of Hydrological Status in the Lentic Ecosystems by using community parameters of Macrobenthos as a tool

In pollution stressed environment, change in the community structure is reflected in the diversity pattern of the component species. These changes can be quantified as diversity indices, which are useful in water quality monitoring. In this study the diversity and density of macroinvertebrates carried out from the three lakes of Mysore (Bilikere, Hebbal and Lingambhudi lakes) to compute different community parameters and the results are interpreted to evaluate the water quality in these lakes. The diversity index, Sequential Comparison Index and Primary production (Gross & Net) recorded highest in the Bilikere lake followed by Hebballake and lowest in the Lingambudi lake. The dominance index and Community respiration recorded highest in the Lingambudi lake followed by Hebbal lake (0.11) and lowest in the Bilikere lake (0.06). According to different ecological scales, the water of Bilikere and Hebbal lake is moderately polluted whereas heavily polluted in the Lingambudi lake. Bilikere and Hebbal lakes pair documented highest Jaccard index whereas Bilikere and Lingambudi lakes pair recorded lowest Jaccard index. These community parameters are readymade tool to assess aquatic pollution in the lentic ecosystems.