ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACTS ON HABITAT ECOLOGY AND ZOOPLANKTON DIVERSITY: A STUDY OF THE GANGES RIVERINE SYSTEM IN THE HIMALAYAN REGION.

The Ganges Riverine System is a vital ecological hotspot that supports diverse habitats and sustains numerous species, including zooplankton communities crucial for the ecosystem's functioning. However, rapid urbanization, industrialization, and agricultural activities have led to substantial anthropogenic impacts on this ecosystem, raising concerns about its ecological integrity and biodiversity. Preliminary findings indicate significant alterations in habitat ecology, including changes in water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen levels, pH and nutrient concentrations, attributable to anthropogenic activities. Total eight sampling zones were selected to assess water quality and zooplankton diversity in the upper Ganga River and its major tributaries between September, 2021 and September, 2023. There were four major groups of zooplankton recorded in the selected sampling zones: Cladocera (5 genera), Copepoda (4 genera), Protozoa (3 genera) and Rotifera (3 genera). Despite the fact that Cladocera was dominating in sampling zone 7 and 8, Copepoda was leading in the rest of the sampling zones 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, as well as Rotifera was leading in sampling zone 2 and 4, while Protozoa was leading in sampling zones 4, 6 and 7. Moreover, habitat degradation, fragmentation and loss were observed, primarily associated with land-use changes, urban expansion and agricultural intensification. Furthermore, continued monitoring and research efforts are essential to better understand the complex interactions between anthropogenic stressors and ecological dynamics, facilitating informed decision-making for ecosystem conservation and restoration in the Himalayan region. The present study also demonstrated that the water quality was acceptable for sustaining aquatic biodiversity in the upper Ganga basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]