Distribution and composition of aquatic macrophytes in Santhapettai Lake of Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu

Macrophytes are important component of the aquatic ecosystem and broad changes in the abundance of individual species and community composition provide valuable information on how and why an ecosystem might be changing. Santhapettai lake is one of the biggest fresh water lake in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu. The physico-chemical parameters were analysed for one year (October 2012-September 2013). Quadrates were laid randomly and extending from shoreline towards the lake center. The macrophytes falling in each quadrate were sorted species wise, identified and data were recorded. The plants have been identified from fresh materials with the help of different floras. In this present investigation, a total of 33 species belonging to 23 families and 28 genera were identified under algae, pteridophytes, dicotyledons and monocotyledons. Further, the plants were classified in morphological group as floating (7), submerged (1), submerged anchored (13), floating leaved (1) and emergent anchored (11). The coverage/spread of macrophytes along the shorelines was higher compared to the centre of the lakes where the species composition was found reduced. Assessment of biota, continuous monitoring and conservation lake are the important components to safeguard the biological wealth of lentic and lotic freshwater ecosystem.