MEIOFAUNAL DENSITY & DIVERSITY OF TWO FRESHWATER RESERVOIRS, AMBADI AND SHIVNA TAKALI FROM KANNAD TALUKA, AURANGABAD DISTRICT (M.S.)

Meiofauna are the major mode of energy transfer between phytoplankton and end users like finfishes, shell fishes etc. This study reports the meiofaunal community in two freshwater reservoirs namely Ambadi and Shivna Takali from Kannad Taluka of Aurangabad district. A total 34 species of meiofauna recorded include 14 species of rotifers, 10 species of cladocerans, 06 species of copepods and 04 species of Ostracods. The study reveals the rotifers dominance followed by copepods, cladocerans and ostracods from Ambadi & Shivna Takali reservoirs. The average value of population density of meiofauna was maximum in the monsoon season (83 org/liter) and minimum in the winter season (68.175 org/liter) in the Ambadi reservoir. Where as in the Shivna Takali reservoir the value was maximum in the summer season (31.75 org/liter) and minimum in winter season (22.5 org/liter) was found. It can be said that the diversity and density of meiofaunal group and its seasonal variation show the nutrient levels were moderate, relatively high densities of zooplankton were found- in the order Rotifera>Cladocera>Copepoda>Ostracoda in Ambadi reservoir as compare to Shivna Takali reservoir.