Him, J. Env, Zo0hy Vols 4, 1990, pp, 195-139 PRIMARY PRODUCTION IN THE RIVER BHAVANI (TAMIL NADU) (Received March 24, 1990; Accepted November 12, 1990) A.A, Sivakumar, M, Lekeshmanaswamy & R, Grace Jullet Post-Graduate and Research Department of Zoology, Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore 041 029 (T.N.), India The primary production of the River Bhavani has been studied at Mettupalayam, for a period of ane year (Jannary to December 1989), Data ‘on the production values are discussed with variations inthe physica chemical characters of the river. Measurement of photosynthesis or primary productivity of an ecosystem is essential in foodchain studies. The sustainable yield of a fishery can be estimated by using only measurements of primary production (Steele, 1974). Thus a synchronous study of physical, chomical and biological pronerties of freshwater ecosystem is highly important in order to arrive at a better understanding of the Keeping this in view, the present study on the primary production in River Bhavani (Coimbatore district) at Mettupalayam has been undertaken, iological process. MATERIALS AND METHODS The River Bhavani originates from the Western Ghats of Nilgiti District of Tamil Nadu. ‘his river is one of the major tributaries of the River Cauvery which is the major riverine system of Tamil Nadu. The River Bhavani receives municipal sewage and industrial effluents along Its river course and finally joins with the River Cauvery at Bhavani Kuduthurai in Periyar District. Samples were collected In the river al Mettu- palayam, once in 15 days for a period of one year, from January to December, 1989, and analysed for primary production and physico-chomical parametere by following the standard methods*.138 J Sivakumar, Lekeshmanaswamy & Juliet RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Data on the primary production and physico-chemical parameters of the Rive Bhavani, aro presented in tho Tables I to 4. An increase in the productivity of the river was observed in November and December. This could be due to the increase in temperature which enhances the photo. synthetic activity. William'afid Murdoch? also reported that the rise in the temperatura increases the productivity in the Beaufort channel. In addition, the turbidity decreased in summer which Increased the intensity of light ponetration in the river. Similar observations have been made earlier sf The gross production was found to be decroased with that of the amount of total colides This could be explained by the fact that the solid. substances present in the aquatic environment make the water body as turbid which in turn decrease the Penetration of light which ultimately affects the photosynthetic activity. pH value of the rtver was found in almost neutral condition. No significant change wae obsorved, The alkalinity values showed fluctuations in the present study. The fluctuations in the productivity values observed in the present study can be. stated that in the tropical waters, the productivity values usually fluctuate through- out the year as stated by Hurbert at !8, Chlorides, which ara usually found in all the Water bodies were found‘ vary from 52 to 85 ppm in the River Bhaveot This could be explained by the fact that the presence af chloride salts tay Intertere with other nutrients which aro being utilized in the process of photosynthes The dissolved oxygen values were found to be observed as 4.8-6.8 ppm in the river. The sama oxygen io being tiliced Curing respiration by the autotrophs. Similar‘ fluctuations in the dissolved’ oxygen Values, dieéolved carbondioxide also showed sonie fluctuations, © | us : ‘ onts like organic carbon, calcium, magnesium, iron values showed fluctuations,Primary Production in River [187 ‘Table 1—Seasonal variations in the physical parameters of the River Bhavani for a period of one year (January to December 1989), Months Temporature ‘Susponded Dissolved Total Light (ure) solids solids sollds penetration (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) JAN 26 100.0 25.0 125.0 465 FEB 30 101.0 20,0 121.0 60.0 MAR ut 100.0 140 114.0 46.6 APR 30 1010 18.0 119.0 56.0 MAY 28 02,0 20.0 1220 48.0 JUN 26 32.5 15.0 34.9 4.90 JUL 2 18.5 16.0 47.5 50.0 AUG 26 20.4 25.0 45.4 45.0 SEP 25 19.0 15.0 90.0 4.90 oct 27 35.0 26.0 61.0 £5.0 Nov 28 35.0 1.0 50.0 60.5 ‘DEC 29 3n.0 20.0 58,0 65.5 tions in the chemical parameters of the River ‘Yable 2—Seasomal v: far a period of one year (January to December 1989). Months pH DO, DCO, Carbonate Bicarbonate Chlorides. BOD (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) JAN e464 © 0.88 30.0 100.0 955 30 FED 76 56 0.85 15.0 125.0 28.6 5 MAR 77 48 (086 25.0 75.0 29.8 25 APR 74 6G 0.75 20.0 98.0 30.5 24 may 71 64 (0.68 22.0 90.0 20.0 3.0 JUN 70 6.0 0.62 2e0 48.0 35.0 35 aut 18 55 0.88 35.0 58.0 45.5 5.0 AUG 19 5.2 0.88 28.0 68.0 30.9 5.5 ‘SEP 75 48 0.93 29.0 70.0 38.0 60 oct 72 4.9 0.95 16,0 65.0 40.0 1.0 Nov Tl 67 0.86 17.0 55.0 26.0 so DEC 70 68 0.80 18.0 45.0 275 901383 # Table 3—Seasonal variations peried of one year (January to Decem Sivakumar; Lekeshmana in the Nutrient co: ber 1989). swamy & Juliet atente of the River Rha tonte of the River Rhavay, for 2 Tans Organie carbon Calcium Magnesium Nitrate Phosphate Silicate trop as Gea/ty nail) email) malt) malt) (main TAN 0.03 $0.0 15.0 50.6 (6 0.28 2.00 FFB 0.04 150 19.0 67.0 96 0.58 0.50 MAR 0,05 30.0 10.0 183 1.40 063 APR 0.07 40.0 15.0 868 15.8 1.50 06 MAY 0.06 25.0 20.0 80,0 20,0 2.50 0.70 JUN 0.08 45.0 21.0 76.0 17.0 3.00 0.90 JUL 0.03 50.0 20.0 70.0 18.5 4.00 0.50 AUG 0.02 33.0 18.0 68.0 215 4.50 0,20 ser oor 40.0 17.0 fon 92.5 9,60 2.30 oct 0-08 38.0 18.0 72.0 20.0 5.50 1.50 NOV v.08 26.0 19.0 75,0 10.5 6.00 1,70 DEC Out 30.0 20.0 78.0195 720 2,50 Table 4—Primary Productivity of River Bhavani at Mettupalayam (Values expressed in mg C/1/hr), Months Gross. production JAN 1,07 FEB 1.25 MAR 2.00 APR 2.50 MAY in JUN 1,06 JUL 1.75 AUG 175 SEP 2.50 ocT 2.00 nov 1.50 DEC 1.25 Respiratory Net production apd 0.72 0.75 0.76 0.74 0.73 1.95 ox 220 1.20 1,00 10Frimary Production in River [ 139 Thus, the productivity ‘of any environment can be altered by various factors and continuous assessment of the productivity of the natural ecosystoms may be jelpful in understanding tho etatus of any environment which aro either polluted or In che beginning stage of degradation. 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