Title: Assessment of pollution load and identifying bioindicator algal species using multivariate statistical techniques: a case study from Damodar River, India

Authors: Savana Lata Dora; Abhiroop Chowdhury; Subodh Kumar Maiti; Rajani Kanth Tiwary

Addresses: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, 826004, India; Water Environment Department, Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad, 826001, India ' Jindal School of Environment and Sustainability, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131001, India ' Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, 826004, India ' Water Environment Department, Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad, 826001, India

Abstract: The ecological health of Damodar River is assessed and pollution indicator algal species have been identified in this study. The weathered lateritic formations of Chotanagpur resulted in high concentration of Fe (126-820 μg l-1) and Mn (10-114 μg l-1). Contamination indices indicate low to moderate pollution for Mn, Ni, and Cu in the sediment. The dominance of Chlorophyceae (29 species) has been observed. Saprobic index ranged from oligo to beta-mesosaprobic, which promotes diversity of species with high saprobic value. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) revealed that nutrients, TDS, HCO3, EC, Fe, Mn, and Zn have been the driving factors for the distribution of phytoplankton. Geminelliaspp have been identified as biosensor for low pollution, Spirogyra, Cladophora, Nitzschia, Cyclotella, Oedogonium-bioindicator for Fe, Mn and Zn, Cladophora glomerata, Oscillatoria princeps, Phacus spp., Scenedesmus spp., Synedra spp. - bioindicator of organic pollutants.

Keywords: pollution; Damodar river; trace metals; bioindicators; algal biodiversity; saprobic index; diversity index; contamination indices; canonical correspondence analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2021.126971

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2021 Vol.69 No.3/4, pp.151 - 178

Accepted: 09 Jun 2021
Published online: 15 Nov 2022 *

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