UNVEILING THE SECRETS OF KARNATAKA'S STREAM WATER QUALITY THROUGH DIATOM ECOLOGICAL SIGNATURES

Abstract

Stream physicochemical and biological quality declines due to changes in water chemistry and physical habitat characteristics. Due to their ability to integrate water chemistry through time and to represent the combined effects of numerous stressors on stream biota, diatoms are frequently employed to evaluate the quality of stream water. But, particularly in upstream regions, knowledge of the primary diatom community patterns in streams is still restricted. This study's objective was to look into how stream diatom communities are impacted by water chemistry and catchment factors. The environmental quality of the habitat and water characteristic variation were established using canonical correspondence analysis, and the surface type, temperature of the water, oxygen concentration, and nutrient substance showed significant correlations. Achnanthidiumminutissimum, Cocconeisplacentula, and Oricymba japonica were shown to have strong affinities with habitats containing fixed surfaces with transparent water.  Our findings demonstrate the synergistic effects of multiple factors that influence diatom patterns and demonstrate the relationship between diatom biodiversity and stream conditions.

Key words: Diatoms, Physico-chemical parameters, Diversity, CCA, Streams.