Benthic Status
- The study also showed the availability of 69 macrobenthic species belonging to three different phyla- Mollusca, Arthropoda, and Annelida at Ganga River stretch.
- Amongst the gastropods, Melanoides tuberculata belonging to the thiaridae family records a maximum of 23,779 inds/m2 at Farakka whereas species belonging to the viviparidae family like Filopalaudina bengalensis is recorded highest of 4515 inds/m2 at Patna. Tarebia graniferais a commonly available species from Bijnor to Fraserganj showing maximum abundance of 4429 inds/m2at Balagarh. Lymnaea acuminate representing the lymnaeidae family, recorded a maximum individuals of 5719 inds/m2 at Farakka. Brotia costula belonging to the pachychilidae family recorded a highest abundance of 2795 inds/m2 at Farakka.
- Parreysia favidens and Corbicula striatella are the two bivalvia species belonging to unionidae and cyrenidae families, shows the highest abundance of 1419 inds/m2 and 1935 inds/m2 at Buxar respectively.
- The bioindicating species like Physella acuta recorded maximum (890 inds/m2) at Haridwar, while Mekongia crassa belonging to the viviparidae family is found to be maximum (301 inds/m2) at Farakka. Parreysia corrugata is recorded maximum from Kanpur with 600 inds/m2 whereas, Indonaia andersoniana is recorded maximum from Narora.
- Dragonfly nymph is recorded as another pollution indicating insect which is reported from Kanpur showing a maximum abundance of 170 inds/m2 while, Anax is recorded to be abundant at Narora. Chironomid larvae is reported to be one of the potential pollution indicator species recorded maximum of 2451 inds/m2 from Patna. Phylum Annelida also contributes to the pollution indicator species depicting Tubifex tubifex to be one of the most dominant bioindicator primarily at Kanpur with an abundance of 320 inds/m2.The relativity of pollution indicator benthos species has been influenced by soil parameters like total phosphate, total nitrogen, total chlorophyll, and soil organic carbon.