Articles · Open Access Policy
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of human disturbances on the ecosystem and biodiversity at Ukkadam Lake and associated wetlands situated within the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India. Anthropogenic factors such as urban development, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and habitat alteration could have an effect on the water quality and biodiversity at Ukkadam Lake. These field studies will be undertaken from June 2025 to February 2026, where samples will be collected in six disturbed and two control sites. Variables measured will consist of physico-chemical variables such as total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), dissolved oxygen (DO), heavy metals, fish, macroinvertebrates, and macrophytes. These data will be assessed using diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener Index, Simpson’s Index) and multivariate analysis (principal component analysis and redundancy analysis). The findings revealed that there were high nutrient and metal concentrations, low DO levels, and low species richness and diversity in the disturbed areas compared to those in the control areas. There was an absence of sensitive taxa, such as Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera, in the disturbed area, while the abundance of tolerant taxa, such as Chironomidae, was evident. Functional shifts, which involved dominance of detritus feeders and tolerant organisms, imply the presence of an unstable and simplistic ecosystem without any capacity to cope with external perturbations. Analysis of data demonstrated a significant negative relationship between nutrient concentrations and biodiversity indices, highlighting the effect of anthropogenic activities on natural processes. This study stresses the need for targeted management actions, including vegetative buffer plantings, wastewater plant improvements, and community involvement. It makes valuable contributions to the current body of knowledge about freshwater urban ecosystems subjected to different anthropogenic stresses.