Saturday, November 4, 2011,
Outreach, IIT Kanpur
by
BRiP 2011 Conference
Objectives of study
Assess present state of ecology and biodiversity in the main stem of Ganga River and its major
tributaries.
 Identify characteristic species at selected locations for working out environmental flows.
 Suggest species - indicating progress in Eco-restoration
 Definitions of the terms used
Ecology- Major interdisciplinary science dealing with complex interactions of living organisms
(biotic) with environment (abiotic)
 Study of structure and functions of nature
 Biodiversity (Biological diversity)
 An umbrella term including all living beings (terrestrial and aquatic)
Ecological characteristics, variability of genus, species, population and communities
(Biogeographic distribution, emigration and immigration)
 Ecosystem- Unit of nature
River, function and services


Rivers- Constitute a lotic series of water
Constant motion, with longitudinal, lateral and vertical connectivity
Functions and services

Provide habitat for aquatic biological communities and maintain a good biodiversity

Maintain a flow regime

Nurture flood plains and combat land erosion by sea

Replenish nutrients in flood plains

Recharge ground water

Support livelihood and meet the needs of drinking water, agriculture, industry and community

Assimilate waste and purify itself

Facilitate navigation, recreation, tourism and play an important role in economics, culture and
spiritual life of society
Fluxes of C, N, P, S
Mass balance
Main Stem
Tributaries
Storages/Pondages
Estuarine
Functional
Components
Interactions
Energetic
Flowing
Fresh
water
Transport of Elements
Features of biochemical Cycling
Wetlands
Subsystems
Production
Terrestrial
Transient
Diara Lands
Riparian
Cultivated
Ecosystems
Nutrien
ts
Abiotic
Toxicants
Biotic
Consumer
s
Chemical
Characteristics
Habitat
Flow
Dissolve Gases
Sediment
Load
Culturable
Non Culturable
Metals
Pesticides
Producers
Structural Components
Salinity
Recalcitrant
Artificial
Natural
Farakka to Gangasagar
Hoogly - Matlah
Permanent
Consumption
Decomposables
Gangotri
To
Farakka
Decomposers
Bacterial
Fungus
Forests
Grasslands / Scrublands
Phytobenthos
Phytoplankton
Macrophytes
Zooplankton
Macroinvertebates
Fish
Vertebrates
Higher Vertebrates
Zoobanthos
Aquatic
Extra Aquatic
Maintenance of natural order
Preserve natural ecology because it has “a priori” right
Debate:
Or
Preserve the natural ecology because it provides goods and service
Ganga river system:

One of the largest inland river basin catchment 0.86 million km2

Rises as Bhagirathi at Goumukh at the height of 4255m (a msl)

Joins another head water of Alaknanda at Deoprayag and descends as Ganga

Travel a total distance of 2525 km

Important tributaries joining Ganga main stem are Alaknanda Mandakini, Pinder, Nandakini ) ,
Ram Ganga, Kali, Yamuna Chambal, Sind, Betwa, Ken ), Gomti, Ghagra, Gandak, Tons, Punpun ,
Bhuri, Gandak and Kosi )
Study area of the Ganga River
Water temperature: 4.319°C Annual rain fall: 78
cm
Water velocity: 2 - 3.3 m/s;
1.0 - 3.3 m/s; 0.1-3.0 m/s
Water temperature: 15 30°C
Annual rain fall: 104 cm
Water velocity: 20 cm/sec
Water temperature: 2335°C
Annual rain fall: 182 cm
UG
MG
LG
• UG1 (Gangotri to Gangnani)
• UG2 (Gangnani to Devprayag)
• UG3 (Devprayag to Haridwar)
•
•
•
•
•
MG1 (Haridwar to Bijnor)
MG2 (Bijnor to Narora)
MG3 (Narora to Fatehgarh)
MG4 (Fatehgarh to Allahabad)
MG5 (Allahabad to Varanasi)
• LG1 (Varanasi to Farakka)
• LG2 (Farakka to Gangasagar)
UG I (Gangotri to Gangnani)/ Biodiversity

High flow velocities and low temperature (4.3-9.8°C) are the major factors for low biodiversity
in this stretch

Less influenced by human interventions and the only organic input is lignocellulosic materials

Clean and clear with low depths and high transparency

Major habitat: Rapids, riffles and pools

Substrate: Mature boulders, rocks and pebbles
Biotic components

Majority of biotic components represented by the diatoms

In the lower stretch three taxa of green algae have been identified

Periphyton is the only producer factor which supports zoobenthos represented by stone flies
and caddis flies

Dragon and damsel flies are conspicuous by their absence

The predator, stone fly is top consumers in food chain due to absence of fish population

Zooplankton has not been reported in this zone

No fish population from Gaumukh to Harsil
UG II (Gangnani to Devprayag)/ Biodiversity

Large alterations in flows due to construction of number of number of hydel projects (Maneri
Bhali I and II Projects, and Tehri and Koteshwar Dams)

Total 18 dams have been planned out of which 4 existing, 5 under construction and 9 proposed

The flow at number of places has been reduced or no flow conditions

exist due to the storages in dams and water in tunnels (Appox 82 km)

Major habitat: Rapids, riffles and pools

Substrate: Mature cobbles, pebbles and boulders

Higher water temperatures (in the range 8.5-17.2°C) have also been recorded at Tehri
Biotic components

The biota consists of periphyton, phytoplankton,
zooplankton and vertebrate population essentially fish

Periphyton and phytoplankton are represented mainly by diatoms

The zoobenthos are dominated by may fly and dipterans

Important fishes reported in this sub stretch include minor carps, major carps and trout

The fishes migrate towards upper reaches in August-October in
search of suitable breeding environment

The migration of fish for breeding has been largely altered by the barriers and diversions
(barrages, dams and tunnels)
UG III (Devprayag to Haridwar)/ BIodiversity

Devprayag is the confluence point of the rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda

Before reaching Rishikesh, it joins a tributary, Nayar, which is reported as breeding ground for
the of Mahseer (Tor sp.)

Major habitat: Rapids, riffles and pools

Substrate: Mature cobbles, pebbles and boulders

Clean and clear water with high transparency and moderate depth at most of the places and
higher water temperature
Biotic components

Phytoplankton, periphyton, zooplankton, zoobenthos and fishes constitute the biota in this
stretch

Periphyton are mostly represented by diatoms. The number of taxa varies from 10 to 77

The phytoplankton comprises mostly Diatoms, green and blue green algae have also started
appearing

Zooplankton is scanty consisting of ciliates. A few rotifers and crustaceans also are reported

In zoobenthos, may fly and dipterans are common

Important fishes reported in this sub stretch include minor carps, major carps (Labeo sp.),
Mahseer (Tor sp.) and catfishes
Biological Community of Upper Ganga
Number of Taxa
60
UG1
UG2
UG3
Phytoplankton (Algae)
40
20
Diatom constitutes dominant group in all the
zones
Green algae, blue green algae and Euglena
increase from UG 1 and UG 3
Yellow green algae appeared only in UG2
0
Diatom
Number of Taxa
Algal type (Families)
UG1
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
UG2
UG3
Periphyton (Algae)
Diatoms
Total number of genera and species increases is
minimum in UG3 due to river enters in to gorge
and lack proper substratum
Diatom is dominant group in all the zones and
number of species
The number of species in green algae and blue
green algae increases from UG1 to UG3
Green algae Blue green
algae
Algal type (Families)
UG1
UG2
UG3
Zoobenthos (Macro invertebrates)
Numbers
29
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
17
5
9
7
Order
Family
16
Blue green algae
Stone fly
Total number of orders and families increases from
UG1 to UG2 & decrease at UG3
May fly and two wing fly are dominant at UG2
The number of families in stone fly decreases, while
Dragon & damsel fly increases from UG1 to UG3
due to lack of preferred substrate
Taxa
May fly
Features of Middle Ganga

Water velocity is low due to the almost horizontal flow

Temperature is higher than upper Ganga (15-30°C)

Flood plains are prevalent

Flow in plains meander on sand bed

Abstraction of water in the river is from 3 canals upper Ganga canal, middle Ganga canal
and lower Ganga canal

Human interactions like bathing and cremation activities are very high and inflow of
polluted tributaries.

Large in flows of wastes from agricultural, domestic and industrial sources. Treated, partially
treated and untreated
MG1
MG2
MG3
MG4
MG5
50
0
Total 114 genera and 375 species of phytoplankton
27 genera are common to all stretch
Diversity increases from MG1-MG5
Diatoms are dominating over green algae and blue
green algae
Distribution of periphyton in the middle
stretch of Ganga river from Haridwar to
Fatehgarh
60
MG1
MG2
Distribution of zooplankton in the middle
river from Haridwar to
20 stretch of GangaVaranasi
Number of Taxa
Number of Taxa
100
Distribution of phytoplakton in the middle
stretch of Ganga river from Haridwar to
Varanasi
Name of families
Number of Taxa
BIODIVERSITY OF MG
150
15
MG1
MG2
10
5
0
Name of groups
Total 42 genera & 65 species of zooplankton
Rotifers are most abundant, mainly
Protozoans are maximum in MG4
MG4 is very rich in zooplankton
MG3
40
20
0
Name of groups
Total 62 genera &112 species of periphyton.
The diversity is decreasing from MG1-MG3
Most dominant community is Diatoms followed by green algae
Total 33 Order & 89 Families of Zoobenthos
No proper trend in Zoobenthos
Diptera are abundant at all stations
Trichoptera and Coleoptera at MG1 & Ephemeroptera at MG4
Annelids represented by Oigochaetes and Polychaetes
Population of macrobenthic fauna decreases from Haridwar to
Varanasi
Nekton (Fishes)
 Middle stretch is very productive in fish resources
 Total 138 species under 25 families are present
 Major carps & cat fishes are most important
 Some exotic fishes have been reported after confluence of Yamuna
after Allahabad (China carp, Tilapia)
 Important commercial fishes are Labeo rohita
(Rohu), Bagarius
bagarius, Rita rita, Catla catla, Labeo calbasu, Cirrhina mrigala,
Mystus (Sperata), Wallago, etc
 This stretch of Ganga is polluted with domestic waste and
industrial waste
 Nutrients (N & P) are in sufficient quantities to support algal
growth, food for carps
Higher Vertebrates


Higher vertebrate are represented by Turtles, Ghariyals and Dolphins
Hard shell turtles are dominated over soft shell. Common between Bijnor and Allahabad

Ghariyals are found at downstream Narora barrage. Estimated number are only 3

Dolphins are common between Bijnor and Narora. Have been spotted at Kanpur
downstream barrage in post monsoon season
Features of Lower Ganga (LGA)
Fresh water zone approximately of 624 km from Varanasi to Farakka
 Water temperatures are higher 23-35°C
 Velocity of water is also higher due to the confluence of major tributaries
 From Varanasi to Farakka slope is appreciably reduced, indicating siltation
 Sediment load is very high and substrate is silt over sand
 Flood plains are very common
Biotic components:

Phytoplankton:

Blue green algae are dominant with 79 species

Diatoms are represented by 73 species followed by 46 species of green algae
Some species of other groups are also found
Zooplankton:


Rotifers (33 species) are dominant, followed by Cladocerans (10 species), Copepods and
Protozoans

Macroinvertibrates

Molluscs constitute the major group, soft substrate (51 species)

Annelids are also common (Polychaetes, Oligochaetes)
LGA (Varanasi to Farakka)/ Biodiversity
Biotic components
Fishes
 Sustains 114 species of fishes belonging to 28 families
and 70 genera
 The most important group is Carps, include 39 species
 The characteristic group of fishes are major carps,
large catfishes & other cat fishes
 Some commercially important fishes are Catla- catla,
Labeo rohita, Labeo- calbasu, Cirrhina mrigala
 Exotic fishes are Chinese carp (Cypribus carpio),
Tilapia (Oreochromis nilaticus), Hypothalmichlhys
molitris are in sufficient numbers and comptete with
common Carps
 Commercially important fish Hilsa ilisha has literally
disappeared after the construction of Farakka barrage
LGB (Farakka to GangaSagar)/ Biodiversity









It is the largest estuarine system (Hoogly Matlah Estuary) in India
Characterized by mixing of fresh water and regular tidal influxes
Create a steady gradient of marine and fresh water. (Salinity varies between 0.02-30 gm/l)
Extends 300 km North- South
150 km East- West
8029 sq. km area
The Sunderbans where tide dominates is 2340 sq. km
Temperatures vary between18-31°C
Biodiversity is largely controlled by fresh water flux, nutrient inputs and changing
environmental conditions
Substrate is largely silt over sand
Biodiversity is distinct from the fresh water zone
Biotic components:
Phytoplankton: Total Taxa reported
Genera reported
Blue green algae > green algae > Diatoms.
817
194
LGB (Farakka to Ganga Sagar)/ Biodiversity
Other Biotic components:

Zooplankton is dominated by cnidarians (26 sp.)

Rotifers (135 sp.) Chaetognatha, Copepoda and larval decapods

Macrobenthos is represented by 137 sp. and 64 genera. Includes
Annelids- Polychaetes/ Oligochaetes
Protozoans- Cilliphora (193 sp.)

Arthropoda (1143 sp.)- Crustaceans (173 sp.) ticks mites/ insects (344 sp.)

Molluscs constitute a very large groups 25 sp. of Gastropoda, Bivalvia and Cephalopoda

Echinoderms are exclusively marine
Starfishes, Sea urchis
Nekton:
 Fishes are present in large numbers
 13 species are commercially important and represented by
Hilsa
Bombay duck
Polynemus
 156 species of bony fishes and 13 species of Cartilaginous fishes are reported
 The annual catch of fish is about 20,000 tons/year
 Higher vertebrates like Mugger and Dolphins are common
Microbial Biodiversity
 Biological diversity or “biodiversity” refers to the variety of living organisms. its provides
stability and balance in natural systems.
 The microbial loop is a trophic path in the web of microbial food where dissolved organic
carbon (DOC) is returned to higher trophic levels via the incorporation into bacterial biomass.
 Microbes play an important role in to degrade a vast variety of complex organic compounds due
to their metabolic versatility (Grime, 1997).
 Microbes work as efficient decomposers and scavengers to clean up the environment (Maire et
al, 1997).
 Microbes are indicators of ecosystem function. By measuring amount of growth, respiration,
and uptake of nutrients, their specific processes like nitrification, denitrification etc. would tell
us about the function of the ecosystem.
 Microbes carry out recyling of phosphorus, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and sulphur elements and
replenish the environment with these by degrading substrates obtained from dead and
decaying plant and animal remains.
 Ganga River is a complex ecological niche as it accommodates a diverse community of microbial
population.
 Apart from coliforms and undesirable bacteria, a loss in the count of normal bacteria in Ganga
water would indicate failing ecosystem health.
Microbial Biodiversity in Ganga River
S No
Sampling
Station
River
Total Bacterial
Count
Most predictable bacterial
species found
01
Rishikesh
Ganga
1.52E+08
12
02
Haridwar
Ganga
1.11E+08
18
03
Bijnour
Ganga
1.27E+08
11
04
Narora
Ganga
1.07E+09
17
05
Farrukhabad
Ganga
9.39E+08
14
06
Farrukhabad
Ramganga
1.50E+11
13
07
Kannuaj
Ganga Ramganga
1.43E+11
14
08
Kannuaj
Kali
1.89E+11
14
09
Kannuaj
Ganga Mix
1.69E+11
13
10
Kanpur
Bithoor
1.78E+11
13
11
Kanpur
Jajmau
2.54E+13
12
Sampling Station
GA
NG
A
AU
HO
OR
JA
JM
BIT
AN
GA
RA
MG
KA
NN
AU
J
KA
LI
AN
GA
RA
MG
A
HA
T
GH
AT
IYA
G
NA
RO
R
BIJ
NO
UR
PO
DI
JH
OO
LA
HA
RIK
I
AN
LA
KH
M
CFU/ML
Microbial Biodiversity
3e+13
1.2e+9
1.0e+9
8.0e+8
6.0e+8
4.0e+8
2.0e+8
0.0
0
Ganga River Supports/ Total Biodiversity
















189 species of fishes in fresh water system
169 species of fishes in estuarine system
Support growth of 458 taxas of algae
206 Diatoms
128 Green algae
27 others
10 Protozoans
33 Rotifers
17 Crustaceans
73 Families of insects in Zoobenthos
52 Molluscs
25 Annelids
16 Arthopods
13 species of Hard and Soft turtles
Gangatic Ghariyals
Gangatic Dolphins
Causes of River Degradation

Large obstruction in water flow by constructing Dams and barrages leaving no space for river to
perform its functions

Pouring filth and decomposable/ non-decomposable, even toxic substances in the river which
adversely effect and destroy aquatic life

Sufficient dilution not available for river to assimilate and purify itself

Making river banks dirty and water so foul that society ceases to reach the river for bathing,
recreation or rituals
Necessary actions for maintaining desired river conditions

Ganga River ecosystem is by and large and altered ecosystem - No reference condition is available

Intervention to improve the abiotic components and maintain water quality

Pollution prevention and reducing water abstraction

Identification of fish species at critical sites

Maintenance of indigenous species of flora and fauna (P/R ratio, saprobity index)

Maintenance of ecological flows and substrate conditions for survival and breading of identified
indicator species

Average fish catch during 1950-1980 could be set as a target

Other targets could be
1.
Appearance of Dolphins with suggested frequency of sighting
2.
Indian Major carps
3.
Native and sensitive species of stone/ cadis and may flies
4.
Ratio of Diatoms/ Green Algae/ Blue Green Algae