The Biobrio 12(3&4), 2025

Studies on aquatic and semiaquatic plants growing in and around fisheries ponds of Doranda, Ranchi, Jharkhand

Prasanjit Mukherjee, Ashok Kumar Nag, Peeyush Kumar & Akshay Kumar Verma

ABSTRACT:

Aquatic and semi-aquatic plants are vital components of freshwater ecosystems. It contributes significantly to ecological stability and productivity. The current study investigates the diversity, ecological significance, and utility of aquatic macrophytes i.e. aquatic and semi-aquatic plant species in the fisheries ponds of Doranda, Jharkhand, India. These man-made ponds, has been developed under the Directorate of Fisheries GOJ, supports a rich assemblage of aquatic flora alongside fish culture activities. Regular field surveys were conducted for a period of two years with seasonal sampling in order to document maximum species during their flowering and fruiting time. Collected specimens were taxonomically identified using standard available floras and keys. The study reflects a total of 51 species distributed over 35 genera and 24 families, indicating somewhat high taxonomic diversity. Out of these, dicotyledons (31 species; ~61%) dominated over monocotyledons (20 species; ~39%), suggesting strong adaptation of dicots to ecotonal and marginal habitats, while monocots were primarily confined to true aquatic conditions. Amongst families, Asteraceae and Amaranthaceae were prominent among dicots, whereas Cyperaceae, Hydrocharitaceae, and Pontederiaceae dominated among monocots. The genus Cyperus has maximum representation, showing ecological plasticity and tolerance to fluctuating hydrological conditions. Ecological categorisation revealed the coexistence of submerged (e.g., Hydrilla, Vallisneria), floating (e.g., Eichhornia, Pistia), and emergent (e.g., Cyperus, Ludwigia) forms, indicating habitat heterogeneity and functional complexity. The existence of carnivorous taxa like Utricularia suggests microhabitat variability. These macrophytes play a vital role in maintenance of water quality, supports fish productivity, facilitating nutrient cycling, and provides habitat diversity. However, the occurrence of invasive species like Eichhornia crassipes and Pistia stratiotes indicates nutrient enrichment and potential ecological imbalance. The study reflects that the Doranda Pond ecosystem having taxonomically diverse, structurally complex, and ecologically stable. The amalgamation of floristic assessment with ecological interpretation provides a baseline for conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management of freshwater resources.

Keywords:    

Aquatic macrophytes, biodiversity, hydrophytes, Doranda ponds, ecological significance, phytoremediation, Jharkhand.

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