Zooplankton Diversity in Sathanur Reservoir of Thiruvannamalai (Tamilnadu), India

The present investigation was an attempt to study the zooplankton community of Sathanur reservoir of Thiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu, India. The zooplankton species composition was studied for a period of one year from October 2018 to September 2019 on monthly interval basis. As a result of study, 24 zooplankton species were identified, out of which 9 were Rotifers, 7 Cladocerans, 5 Copepods and 3 Ostracodans. The overall population density of zooplankton was found maximum during the summer season and mininmum during monsoon. They play a supportive role in fish culture by recycling of nutrients and increase the soil fertility and involve in energy transfer between phytoplankton and fishes.