Heavy metal pollution and phytoplankton in the river Moosi (Hyderabad), India

Heavy metal pollution and its impact on the distribution and periodicity of phytoplankton in the river Moosi has been investigated continuously for a year at two highly polluted sites. The metals are in the order of Fe > Zn > Pb > Mn > Co > Cu > Ni and the different groups of algae are in the sequence of — Chlorophyceae > Bacillariophyceae > Cyanophyceae > Euglenophyceae. Green algae are more tolerant to the metals. Certain planktonic species serve as indicators of heavy metal pollution.