Wetland diversity and Water Quality Dynamics: A Comparative Study of Three Wetlands in Paschim Medinipur District

Abstract

Urbanization, agricultural pollution, siltation, and the invasion of alien species are consistently degrading the water quality of various water bodies in Purulia. Sustainable policies can maintain the ecological balance of these valuable water bodies Which in turn enhance the social health, environmental health, and economic reliability of Paschim Medinipur in future. Therefore, studying the macrophyte diversity and water characteristics of various wetlands is highly relevant. The primary objective was to compare the water quality by the analysis of physico-chemical characteristics of water, and explore the macrophyte diversity in these three significant water bodies. The name of three wetlands Sarsanka Dighi, Bidhyadhar and Samlia Dighi which are situated in the Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. During the present investigation total number of macrophytes species was identified to be 17 species in the Sarasanka Dighi wetland site, 15 species in the Bidhyadhar and 12 macrophytes species in Samlia Dighi were recorded from three distinct water bodies. Total aquatic macrophytes species density, concentration of dominance value, the macrophytes species diversity, and similarity index were calculated. Total species density and concentration of Dominance value is higher in the Bidhyadharpond  wetland but species diversity is higher in the Sarsanka Jhil wetland.