International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Biological Sciences 2278-3202 8 9 2019 09 10 Abiotic factors influencing the diversity and abundance of protozoans at two different stations of Devika stream in Udhampur district, J&K, India 32 38 EN T.M. Simon 1 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Chester, UK Acharya C.P. 1 P.G. Department of Zoology, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar - 751 004 Odisha, India Bhattacherjee A. 2 P.G. Department of Zoology, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar - 751 004 Odisha, India Mallik B.K. 3 Central Poultry Development Organisation, (ER), Bhubaneswar- 751 012 Odisha, India Mohanty P.K. 4 P.G. Department of Zoology, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar - 751 004 Odisha, India Darshna K. Patel 1 Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad 380009, Gujarat, India Devayani R. Tipre 2 Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad 380009, Gujarat, India Shailesh R. Dave 3 Xavier's Research Foundation, Loyola Centre for Research and Dev., St. Xavier College Campus, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India Vishal Paul 1 Research and Development, Reliance Industries Ltd, Jamnagar-361140, India Vinay Dwivedi 2 Research and Development, Reliance Industries Ltd, Jamnagar-361140, India Nishant Saxena 3 Research and Development, Reliance Industries Ltd, Jamnagar-361140, India Santosh Kodgire 4 Research and Development, Reliance Industries Ltd, Jamnagar-361140, India Yogesh Chudasama 5 Research and Development, Reliance Industries Ltd, Jamnagar-361140, India Hardik Chawada 6 Research and Development, Reliance Industries Ltd, Jamnagar-361140, India Desai 7 Research and Development, Reliance Industries Ltd, Jamnagar-361140, India Dishant 8 Research and Development, Reliance Industries Ltd, Jamnagar-361140, India Suguna Shanmugasundaram 9 Research and Development, Reliance Industries Ltd, Jamnagar-361140, India Sambandham Shanmugasundaram 10 Research and Development, Reliance Industries Ltd, Jamnagar-361140, India Debanjan Sanyal 11 Research and Development, Reliance Corporate Park, Ghansoli, Mumbai-400709, India Santanu Dasgupta 12 Shiwali Gupta 1 Department of Zoology, University of Jammu, Jammu-180006, India Sarbjeet kour 2 Department of Zoology, University of Jammu, Jammu-180006, India Sushma Devi 3 Department of Zoology, University of Jammu, Jammu-180006, India > Research Paper 2019 3 25 2019 09 10 Two different study sites of Devika stream were analysed for a period of one year (Oct, 2014 to Sept, 2015), in order to estimate the effect of various changing physico-chemical parameters on the diversity and abundance of inhabitant protozoans. During the present investigation, qualitatively, a total of 10 genera and 13 species viz. Centropyxis aculeata, C. ecornis, Paramecium aurelia, P. trichium, Vorticella sps., Epistylis plicatilis, Campanella umbellaria, Euplotes sps., Bursaridium schewakofii, Difflugia lebes, D. acuminata, Arcella vulgaris, Colpidium sps. were enlisted; out of which, only 6 genera showed their presence at Station II. Quantitative estimation revealed higher protozoan count at Station I (i.e:- 68.96%) than at station II. This may be attributed to the presence of comparatively higher levels of water temperature, free carbon-dioxide, sulphates, phosphates, nitrates, BOD as well as lower levels of DO at Station I. Furthermore, presence of some of the species like Epistylis plicatilis, Euplotes sps., Bursaridium schewakofii, Difflugia lebes and Arcella vulgaris at Station I infers to more anthropogenic influence at this station and also due to direct organic input. This organic load gets further diluted while travelling towards station II and seems less detrimental from the present data. Copyright@ International Science Community Association