UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

In lentic freshwater systems, planktons play an important role as primary producers. A lot of work has been done earlier in the field of physico-chemical analysis of lentic water systems. Limnological study is valuable for water quality monitoring. Pandorina morum, a green colonial phytoflagellate, commonly appears in grossly polluted lentic freshwater ponds of Kanpur city and Dehat. To understand the physicochemical nature of the environment that supports the flourishing of Pandorina morum, several water quality parameters were analyzed, and their tabulation represented the presence of phytoplankton as an indicator of water health quality. The study revealed that these lentic water bodies, usually formed by the accumulation of sewage and wastewater in shallow depressions, as well as rainwater, also maintain the water level, and due to this, biodiversity is directly influenced by seasonal variation. Low plankton biodiversity, often represented by only one or a few species, with Pandorina morum forming the dominant planktonic constituent. The present investigation evaluates the water health quality of lentic freshwater ponds in Kanpur using Pandorina morum as a biological indicator. Physico-chemical parameters including temperature, pH, alkalinity, hardness, dissolved oxygen (DO), and dissolved organic matter (DOM) were analyzed. The results reveal that Pandorina morum thrives in waters with elevated pH (8.4–8.7), high total alkalinity (160–303 mg/L), and increased DOM (163–192 mg/L). Statistical analysis of Table 1 and Table 2 data shows a direct correlation between DOM enrichment and Pandorina morum dominance, while lower DO and species diversity indicate hypertrophic conditions. These findings suggest that Pandorina morum effectively indicates organic pollution and eutrophication trends in stagnant freshwater systems. The study highlights the need for regular phytoplankton-based biomonitoring to assess the ecological integrity of urban ponds.