Author: Krishna Kumar
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/Bijmrd/04020023
Abstract: Microbial communities were recognized as fundamental drivers of nutrient cycling and ecosystem functioning in freshwater wetlands. Kanwar Lake (Kabartal Wetland), a Ramsar-designated oxbow lake in Bihar, India, had experienced increasing ecological stress due to anthropogenic pressure and altered hydrology. However, information on microbial diversity in this wetland had remained unexplored. The present study was conducted to infer the diversity, distribution, and ecological roles of microbial communities in Kanwar Lake using available physicochemical data and established freshwater microbial ecology models. The inferred results indicated the dominance of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, with spatial and seasonal variation driven by nutrient availability, dissolved oxygen, and sediment characteristics. Functional microbial groups involved in carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and methane cycling were expected to play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem processes. The study provided a baseline ecological framework for future molecular investigations and emphasized the importance of microbial monitoring for wetland conservation and management.
Keywords: Microbial Diversity, Freshwater Wetland, Kanwar Lake, Kabartal, Microbial Ecology, Nutrient Cycling.
Page No: 188-191