Biological monitoring of riverine ecosystem and its correlation with water quality

The River Godavari serves as a source of water for drinking and domestic use, agricultural irrigation and industries in Ambad stretch. The anthropogenic activities in the stretch caused ecological disturbance through water pollution. In present study, the spatial variation in water quality parameters was studied with respect to the fish population and diversity. The fish diversity and water quality of Godavari River at Ambad Stretch (16 km length) was studied at five identified sampling sites viz. Paithan (R), Balegaon (A), Gandhari (B), Shahagad-A (C) and Shahagad-B (D). The results revealed that the water quality followed the trend: R>D>B>A>C. The fish diversity index was observed between 2.35 and 3.03 among different sampling sites with highest at site R. The correlation study showed significant correlation between water quality parameters viz. total dissolved solids, phosphate, nitrate, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand and fish population and diversity. The pollution tolerant fish species Oreochromic mossumbicus population showed significant positive correlation with water quality parameters except dissolved oxygen where it was found negatively correlated.