Ecological Assessment of Water Quality and Aquatic Biodiversity in Macferson Lake, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

In this study, the physico-chemical parameters as well as the biological diversity of Macferson Lake, Allahabad (Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh, India was studied during the period June, 2022 to May 2023. Seasonal sampling covered the inspecting of temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total dissolve solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), hardness and alkalinity and other parameters. Simultaneous biological studies determined phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic macro invertebrates, fishes and aquatic macrophytes. The outcomes showed moderate and poor quality of water, demonstrating the eutrophication process, and the presence of eichhornia crassipes as well as fish and invertebrates resistant to pollution. Possible strategies of conserving and restoring lakes are then mentioned.