p. A72-17S wv. Zool., Vol. 6, 1992; Him. J. STUDIES ON SEASONAL-DIURNAL RHYTHM OF some PHYSICO-CHEMICAL QUALITIES OF THE RIVER PINDER OF GARHWAL HIMALAYA (Received July 15, 1992; Accepted December 10, 1992) K L. Bist and A.K. Chopra* Department of Zoology, Government Post-Graduate College, Gopeshwar-Garhwal-246 401, India "Department of Zoology, Gurukula Kangri University, Hardwar-249 404, India The study of some physico-chemival qualities of the river Pinder of Garhwal himalaya showed that. superimposed upon the seasonal changes, there were diurnal cycles in respect of temperature, pH, dissolved O,, free CO, and total alkalinity. Interrelationships of these factors with one another and with some other acttvities of the biota are discussed. In recent past a number of studies have been made on the diurnal varistions in freshwater ponds, lakes, streams and rivers’ °, However, little information is available on this Subject about the fast running streams and rivers of the Garhwal Himalaya’-®, The presont investigation was made to study the seasonal-diurnal rhythm of some physico-chemical qualities of the river Pinder, originating from the Pindari glacier of Garhwal Himalaya. MATERIALS AND METHODS Water samples were taken at three hourly intervals for 24 hrs in April, August and December 1989, representing the summer, rainy and winter season respectively. Th physico-chemical parameters like temperature, transparency, pH, free CO,, disolved Oy carbonates. hicarbonatee and total alkalinity were determined by standard methods’ RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The seasonal-diurnal vai ayo riations in physico-chemical parameters of the river Pind@ Given in table 1. It was observed that, besides the seasonal changes. the surtace wate” temperature ox temperature mn ed diurnal cycles amounting to 1.0 to 2.5°C. The diurnal variations 'Y Be upto 6°C in small streams in summer time! and with lower velue®Physico-chemical Qualities of the River Pindar {173 1, Diurnal variation jn some physico-chemical fern of the river Pinder In differ seasons (Values are mean of & observations euch) oon sable Tmo Surface Watertomp. Transparency bH Dissolved oxyyon (cy (ems) (ppm) a Se —— APR AUG DEC APR AUG DEC “APR AUG DEG Aph AUG DEC 0717.0 17.0 7.7 80.2 126 225 79 7.6 84 116 108 16.0 10 185 175 7.6 852 13.0 229 80 75 85 I1R R84 16.96 1319.5 18.0 7.6 87.2 15.0 232 81 7.6 84 124 8.64 16,71 16 180 190 86 840 - - 82 76 86 136 8.34 16.71 19 18.0 192 83 - - - 82 74 62 126 6.01 16.45 221 Oe ee Oe e007 9 ee Ole? Os 175 190 80 - - - 7.7 74 83 101 9:18 14.78 (OMe 1 Ofer 17 Oe 7 8 etree ees ere 7 Ciera 7 ree 6 9eer 4 110120, 7272114.69) 07 17.0 17.0 7.7 128 224 70 75 64 16.5 10.26 14.43 Free CO, Corbonates Biocarbonates Total alkalinity o7 16 - - = 932 25 365 595 770 365 627 79.5 10 13 - - - 32 46 37.0 60.0 85.0 370 632 696 310 - - = 32 31 390 690 900 390 022 93.1 16 - = = 18 32 29 360 605 827 37.8 637 856 0 0 30 8 900200012 000.291.0600. a2 8) 22 12 - - = 27 27 300 680 76.0 300 60.7 787 o 20 - - 2.6 2.7 33.0 67.6 77.0 33.0 601 79.7 04 18 - - = 21 22 940 577 77.0 34.0 69.8 79.2 Ong 1 0 2000 Oe 00 170s 08,0 Ola 70.0) large rivers", a8 also reported in the presont study. Tha Secchi's transparency readings also well as diurnal vatiation and showed an upward trend from morning seasons. exhibited seasonal as towards the afternoon in all the thr 7.83 10 10,20 and 14.63 diurnal variation of 3.8, The dissolved oxygen content ranged Irom 10.1 10 13. 1015.96 ppm in the summar, rainy and winter season, showing @ 2.48 and 1.43 ppm respectively. In the summer and winter season the dissolved oxygenfiot Chopra wd iy moxiraurn in thi ALerOON And Minimur 9 hight iny tin, use if reoon this trond was NOt ObsEIvEd, I Th guy nas wighor nthe pi hy Hon faut in howed # positive rol om roy Family oye of nanivad onyaon showed # positive relationship yp M4 winter 18 er racondod by ativan workers’. M8 DACAISH Of thy typ! toinparatura variation ae Al yen Conte} i t fit dayands On two important factors jm. the watyr tamper 1s dinsoled OnY iy eee aoaymiasie, Buin th monsoon # negative Tlationshio boty, i pm matute and tha onyain content was obsarved, wns also dua to the fa ‘hat iy jn ; Hoctive on account of the higher turbidity and fast current dy, 7 tg photowynthosis was not at th monsoon. Oxyuen and carbon dioxide are usually inveraoly rolated 10 0n6 another bucausy ‘Of the photosynthetic and respiratory activities of the biota!. In the Pindar the free carbon dioxide ranged batwaon nil to 2 ppm in the summer, However, it waa absent from 419 7PM. and.» maximum concentration of 2 ppm was observed at 1AM. when tho dissolved 0, content was lowest (10.1 ppm). The concentration of CO, showed a progressive trng Of lowsring duting the day and increasing at night, which wow due to the photosynthesis and the respiratory activity of the biota free CO, was found absent in the monsoon and winter landing 10 the presence of carbonates, Tho range of fluctuation in the carbonates during the monsoon and winter was 1.9 to 3.2 ppm and 2.0 to 4.5 ppm respectively, In tho summer the total alkalinity was mainly because of tho bicarbonater, while in the monsoon and winter it was dus to the prononce of both carbonates and bicarbonatos, Bosidos the sensonal variations the total alkalinity also exhibited diurnal cycle with a slight Increase during the day time, This might be due to tha removal of halt bound carbon dioride {rom biocarbonaten rosulting in thy formation of some amount of carbonates during Photosynthesis, as also observed by Nuwar, The range of diurnal fluctuation between maximum and minimum pH val only 0,6, 0.3 and 0.3 In the summer, monsoon and winter respectively. However a nogatv® tolationship was observed hstwoon tho pH and tho foe CO, in the ummor. A posit? rolationship between the pH and tho total alkalinity might bo duo to the fact that calcium bicarbonate in solution (8 a good bullér-systom and thus rosiste changes in pH. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, One of the authors (KLB: I qratof Delhi for providing the inanelay anata #2 tho Uni , New sal ansivenca nivorsity Grants Commission REFERENCES 1, Goorgs, M.G. (1961), Hycdeubioty 2. tdi aN mld, WH 206, WON, JM, (1906). Othow, 18 206, SAK (1977), Comp, hy yslol, Kool, £146,Physico-chemical Qualities of the River Pinder [ 178 4 sora, OP (1978). Comp. Physiol Ecol.,3: 91. N.K. and Sana, L.C, (1981), Comp. Piysiol. Ecol. 6 + 38. 6. Gunta, 8.8. and Sharma, C.S, (1981). U.P.J. Zool, 1: 24. pobriyal, A.K. and Singh, HR. (1981). U.P.J. Zool.,1: 16. Madhwal, B.P., Chopra, A.K. and Singh, H.R. (1983). U.P.J. Zool., 3: 157. 5, Singh, Joshi, S.N. and Tiwari, N.C. (1990). Him. J. Env. Zool., 4: 51. Welch, P.S. 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