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Revista de Biología Tropical
On-line version ISSN 0034-7744Print version ISSN 0034-7744
Abstract
SARKAR, Soma-Das et al. Effect of climato-environmental parameters on chlorophyll a concentration in the lower Ganga basin, India. Rev. biol. trop [online]. 2021, vol.69, n.1, pp.60-76. ISSN 0034-7744. http://dx.doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v69i1.42731.
Introduction:
Chlorophyll a concentration proxies the phytoplankton biomass which directly involves in signifying the production functions of aquatic ecosystem. Thus, it is imperative to understand their spatio-temporal kinetics in lotic environment with reference to regional climatic variabilities in the tropical inland waters.
Objective:
In-situ studies were conducted to examine the changes in phytoplankton biomass in lower Ganga basin as influenced by various environmental parameters under regional climatic variability during 2014-2016.
Methods:
Firstly, the most key influential environmental parameters on riverine Chl-a concentration were determined. Then the direct cascading effect of changing climatic variables on key environmental parameters were derived through modeling and quantified probable changes in mean Chl-a concentration in the lower stretch of river.
Results:
Only five environmental parameters namely water temperature, total dissolved solid, salinity, total alkalinity and pH were key factors influencing Chl-a (Multiple R2: 0.638, P < 0.05). Present estimates indicate that if the present rate of regional climatic variability over the last 3 decades (mean air temperature + 0.24 °C, total annual rainfall -196.3 mm) remain consistent over the next three decades (2015-2045), an increase in mean Chl-a by + 170 µgL-1 may likely be expected grossly reaching about 475.94 µg L-1 by the year 2045 or more.
Conclusions:
The present study is first such comprehending a gross hint towards the probable ecosystem response with an alternative model based methodology in data-deficient situations. Subsequently, the output would also be of great benefit for increase water governance and developing strategy protocol for sustainable water management for greater ecosystem services.
Keywords : chlorophyll a; climate change; environmental variable; predictive modeling; River Ganga.