Biological Science: Research Developments and Innovations Vol. 1

Water pollution can alter the composition and distribution of aquatic macrophytes and thereby affect wetland ecological condition. This study evaluated the relationship between water quality and macrophyte communities in two lakes of Valsad district, Gujarat, India, during the post-monsoon season. One lake represented a polluted wetland and the other a comparatively non-polluted wetland. Physicochemical water parameters were measured, macrophyte species were recorded and classified, and community patterns were examined using Shannon’s diversity index, a bivariate linear model, and canonical correspondence analysis. A total of 45 vascular macrophyte species belonging to 26 families were recorded. Thirty-one species occurred in the polluted lake, 40 in the non-polluted lake, and 26 in both lakes. The polluted lake had a lower Shannon’s index than the non-polluted lake, indicating comparatively lower species diversity. Eichhornia crassipes dominated the polluted wetland, whereas Ceratophyllum demersum dominated the non-polluted wetland. Zinc and nickel were detected in the polluted lake but were below the detection limit in the non-polluted lake, while iron was detected at both sites. Canonical correspondence analysis showed associations between water-quality variables and macrophyte distribution. The findings indicate that pollution status was related to differences in macrophyte richness, composition, and dominance. Araceae was the most abundant family and may have value as an indicator group in the selected study area.