Limnological environment with respect to conservation aspects of Patna Bird Sanctuary Jalesar, Etah (U.P.)

Abstract

Patna Bird Sanctuary is located at Jalesar in the Etah district of U.P. It is spread in 108 hectares and has been declared as a Bird Sanctuay in 1991. Patna jheel is a typical rainfed wetland of Gangetic plain. It receives most of its water from north-west monsoon and some water from different nallas entering into jheel. Physico-chemical and biological characteristics of lake were studied during April 2013 to March 2014, to correlate the abundance of different flora and fauna. Study revealed richness in phosphate and nitrate. The main source of this richness in the lake has been traced out due to washing, bathing, agricultural activities and cultivation of trapa and growth of macrophytes. The jheel was marked with date trees (Phoenix sylvestrix) and harbors about 2, 00,000 birds belonging to over 200 different species. The border of jheel has been surrounded by Ipomea carnea tracts, serving good nesting ground for resident birds. Macrophytes comprising of submerged (Hydrilla verticillata, Ceratophyllum demersum, Vallisnaria spiralis, Potamogeton crispus and Najas), free floating (Salvinia, Azolla, Wolffia and Eichhornia) and rooted floated (Nymphoides cristata and N. indica). In some parts Ipomea aquatica were also observed.