Verma, Jyoti, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, Senate House, University Road, Old Katra, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 211002, India, diatombuster@gmail.com.
Freshwater habitats are relatively discontinuous, and species do not disperse easily across the land barriers that separate river drainages into discrete units. In tropical developing countries like India, species extinction, and genetic loss may become severe in the future due to loss of habitat, blockage of waterways, interbasin transfers, and water withdrawal from rivers have negative as well as positive impacts on freshwater ecosystem. The rivers Chambal, Betwa, and Ken, etc. form the lifeline of the Bundelkhand region. Ambitious plans are afoot to link these rivers. Execution of the Ken-Betwa link has already begun.
A preliminary pre-linkage survey was done with respect to diatom communities in these two Rivers. Only 39% of the flora was common to these locations, while many species were specific to both the Ken and the Betwa.A. m. var gracillima, G. parvulum, P. lanceolatum were dominant diatom taxa in river Ken while N. virudula, A. minutissima v. minutissima, C. exicisa, C. turgidula M. granulata diatom taxa in river Betwa. All these points towards the diverse nature of these Vindhayan rivers and linkages could destroy the biodiversity paving the way for bio invasion, which is common in disturbed habitats as waters will be regulated as per the needs of the populace.
Diatom , Ken-Betwa Link , Bundelkhand, India