Abstract

Taxonomic survey of the crustacean community was conducted at five study sites in Wular Lake. Plankton samples were collected on monthly basis from September 2010 to August 2011 and identified in the laboratory under different magnifications using the Olympus microscope. Of the 42 taxa identified, 23 were Cladocera, 16 were Copepoda and only three were Ostracoda. Among the Copepoda, one taxa namely Cyclops latipes seems to be a new addition which was previously unreported in Kashmir. Cladocera dominated Copepoda followed by Ostracoda in the community throughout the study. However, the species more frequently found in the samples were Chydorus sphaericus, Alona affinis, Bryocamptus minutus and Cyclops bicolor. As per the species composition of crustaceans, Lake Wular is still enjoying the infancy stage of eutrophication.

Key words: Taxonomy, Cladocera, Copepoda, distribution, trophic status, Kashmir.