Composition of Algal Flora from Mahasheer National Park AJK, Pakistan

Abstract

The present study was objectively conducted to analyze the physico-chemical and biological characteristics of the water in the Mahasheer National Park Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). For this study the water samples were collected from five sampling stations; Tetrinote (S1) Jawara (S2), Mainder (S3), Tatapani (S4) and Kotli (S5) during the January 2013 to December 2013; the algal species were identified for the first time from study area. The  physico-chemical parameters observed were  air temperature, water temperature, turbidity, light transparency, humidity, pH, total dissolved solids (T.D.S), phosphate (PO₄), nitrate, (NO₃), sulphate (SO₄)  magnecium (Mg) , calcium (Ca ),  zinc (Zn) , lead (Pb) iron (Fe) and copper (Cu)  during the study. Most of the parameters were in normal range and indicated better quality of lake water. The species of algae identified in the water samples belong to the groups of Cyanophyta, Volvocophyta, Bacillariophyta; Euglenophyta, Chlorophyta, Ochrophyta, Dinophyta.

Keywords: Physical / Chemical indicators, algal taxons, Mahasheer National Park.