Acknowledgement

I wish to express my deep sense of gratitude and thanks to Dr. Dipankar, Professor and head, Department of commerce, THK Jain College for his continuous enthusiasm, valuable discussion, advice and guidance throughout the period of my field work. I am most grateful to all our teachers of our department for their inspiration at every step of this project. I also express my thanks to Mrs. Ananya Kundu Dey, Lecturer of Environmental Science, THK Jain College for her help and guidance during this work. Lastly I express my deep regards to my parents, my well wishers, and my friends for their constant encouragement.

Suggestion
The Rabindra Sarovar has an undying fame due to pollution. For this reason the lake has been taken under the National Lake Conservation Plan by the government. They are trying to decrease the pollution load of the pond. They are trying to remove the excessive amount of organic sediments by dredging. But it can be very expensive and cost inhibitive. Microbial bacteria have proven to be a very effective management tool in lakes and pond. They are present in every aquatic system naturally. These bacteria clarify lake and pond water, break down organic matter, reduce accumulated bottom sludge, remediate ammonia and phosphates, minimize odours, eliminate excess nutrient and safely accelerate biological activity to fortify overall pond health. The microbial process by natural bacteria is very slow. This leads to build up of solids and eventually dredging the pond. So, augmented bacteria are added to the system. They use Aqua fix Inc. which is right for this process.

Study Area with Location

Our study area is Rabindra Sarovar Lake, previously known as Dhakuria Lake, CIT Road, renamed after Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. It is an artificial lake in south Kolkata. This is Kolkatas only lake spread over 48 hectares and comprises several smaller water bodies. It is popularly known as Lungs of Calcutta. This area is covered with shrubs and trees, some of which are a hundred years old. In winter one can spot some migratory birds around the lake, though the numbers are reducing due to rising pollution level. This lake is also home to different varieties of fishes. Fishing is strictly prohibited. This lake is located in Ballygunge, south Kolkata, on southern avenue. Parameters Studied: The following parameters are studied in Rabindra Sarovar lake:Abiotic Components: - The Abiotic substances that make up the pond ecosystem include basic organic and inorganic substances like dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, Calcium, Nitrogen etc. Other important things are temperature, pH, sunlight penetration etc. i) Light In pond ecosystem light is primary source of energy. It is useful for the plants in the pond for photosynthesis. The level of light under water will depend upon the following factorsa) The time of the day and the season b) The depth c) The turbidity of the water d) Amount of cloud cover e) Altitude of the lake. Rabindra Sarovar Lake contains high concentration of pollutants, so sunlight cannot penetrate to the deeper portions of the lake. It penetrates only up to a depth of 20 meters. ii) Temperature The temperature of the pond follows that of its surroundings, although with a delay related to the size of the pond. We use special thermometers for measuring pond temperature. The main effects of temperature on pond ecosystem are: a) Distribution of organisms both seasonally and vertically through the water. b) Behavior and reproduction of organisms. Soil Though Rabindra Sarovar is an artificial lake, it also contains clay, sand and gravel. It is required for aquatic plants. PH It is defined as the negative base 10 logarithm of the effective hydrogen ion concentration in gram equivalent per liter. PH of a pond depends upon bed rock, topography, and even the species of plants present. The most significant aspect of pH is the amount of carbonic acid present. Our 24 hours periodic study demonstrated that in Rabindra Sarovar Lake, water is more acidic during the morning due to the high level of carbon dioxide released through respiration by all the living organisms present. But as the

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sunlight becomes available photosynthesis occurs and the level of carbon dioxide declines. By mid day the water may become increasingly alkaline until the sun sets.

Hydrological Cycle
The hydrological cycle, commonly referred to as the water cycle, is closely related to the interrelationship of the biotic and physical environment. The water cycle is the continuous movement of water from the atmosphere to the earth and from the earth back to the atmosphere. The water that moves from the atmosphere to the earth is called precipitation and the process the water will return to the atmosphere through evaporation.

Sampling
To study the biotic components we collected samples of organisms found along the shoreline of the pond. We then used nets to collect the samples of these organisms. After this we identified these organisms and their role in the ecosystem. We also learnt plant and animal relationships within pond ecosystem and be able to distinguish between producers, consumers and decomposers.

Nutrients in pond and lakes

The dissolved minerals present will depend very much on the geology of the land from which the water inflow crosses. Calcium ions are responsible for maximizing population densities as it is needed for skeletal tissue, cell walls and shells in the mollusks which are present in the lake. Nitrogen enters in the form of ammonia due to runoff from sewage and will encourage eutrofication. This means a substantial growth of plant material. Phosphate occurs naturally in small amounts and combines with iron to form ferric phosphate, precipitating to the region. Organic matter is an important source of nutrients. Decomposition releases valuable nutrients and is vital for the recycling of materials within the fresh water ecosystem. This is called autochthonous material- materials obtained through recycling inside the pond. Nutrients derived from matter originating outside fresh water are called allochthonous.

Problems:Rabindra Sarovar is constructed for private recreation and pond is managed for water quality parameters on a more regular basis as time goes on. But the main problem that is associated with this pond is organic sediment deposition throughout the year due to pollution of the city. This reduces the overall depth of the pond, adds available nutrients for algae, aquatic vegetation growth. As a result Eutrofication.

Thermal Stratification
Though Rabindra Sarovar Lake is very shallow there could be a substantial increase in temperature over a diurnal period with cooling at night. With the high heat storage capacity the larger the water bogy the less effect the sun will have over the day. The upper region of the lake will warm in the sun and if wind turbulence is low, an underlying cool layer will be present. This is thermal stratification and is very important in determining other abiotic factors.

Oxygen
Lower the temperature higher is the saturation of oxygen. The warmer water gets the lower the amount of oxygen that can dissolve in it. Oxygen is essential for most of the life in fresh water. The amount of oxygen consumed by animal will increase as temperature rises. At the time of summer when the water of lakes become warmer percentage of oxygen dissolved will become low.

Turbulence
Turbulence caused by the wind can be very influential. It may cause substantial movement on the surface and the prevailing wind direction can be easily determined by looking around the lake. Debris will move to particular shores. This wind action creates underwater currents. This will not only move

inanimate objects but will b central to distributing the fauna. Strong winds in spring and autumn are also the cause of the breakdown of the thermo chine that helps to induce nutrient movement from the benthos.

Biotic Substances of Rabindra Sarovar Lake

Producers: - There are two types of producers found in this lake. These are: i) ii) Macrophytes- Larger rooted and floating vegetations. Macrophytes are Hydrilla Phytoplankton: Phytoplankton is microscopic floating algae. Here the phytoplanktons are available up to a depth of water where light penetrates. Phytoplankton like Oedogonium, Anabaena, Oscillatoria. Some minute floating plants like Microcystis, volvox etc.

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Consumers: - Consumers are heterotrophs which depend for their nutrition on other organisms. Zooplanktons like Cyclops, Lecane, colops feed chiefly on phytoplankton found in Rabindra Sarovar pond. They are considered as primary consumers. Secondary Consumers: - Nectic animals like insects, beetles, fishes form the secondary consumers as they feed on zooplanktons. Tertiary consumers: - Benthic animals like snakes, big fishes etc. living on nectic animals are considered as tertiary consumers. Decomposers: - Most of the decomposers are saprophytes but some parasites are also found in the lake. Bacteria, fungi (Rhizopus, Aspergillus) etc are decomposers or reducers. Generally the decomposers either live in soil layer underneath water or in the mud. They act on dead and decaying organic matter of plants and animals and supply the raw materials to the producers.

Food chain and food web In an ecosystem, members (primary, secondary and tertiary consumers) of different tropic level may be interconnected with each other. This interconnecting network of species of various food chains constitutes a web. The food chain in Rabindra Sarovar pond is

Energy flow in pond ecosystem: - Phytoplankton of the pond ecosystem and

other floating plants are the producers of pond. The energy produced by the autotrophs are flown eat and be eaten chain. In pond the larvae of insects consume autotrophs as food. So according to law of energy flow the larvae assimilate energy from autotrophs as food. Therefore larvae are the primary consumers. These primary consumers are taken as food by prans, small carnivorous fishes. And so they collect energy from the larvae. They are therefore secondary consumers. Large fishes consume the secondary consumers. They are therefore secondary consumers. In a pond the energy flow is terminated in tertiary consumers.