Faunal diversity of rotifers (Rotifera: Eurotatoria) of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, Meghalaya, India

Abstract

Plankton samples collected from the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve of Meghalaya (Northeast India) revealed 70 species of Rotifera belonging to 24 genera and 15 families. Eight species are new records from the state of Meghalaya. The Oriental Lecane blachei and the palaeotropical L. unguitata are biogeographically interesting elements. The Rotifera taxocoenosis of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is characterized by a distinct richness of the 'tropic-centered' genus Lecane, paucity of Brachionus species, greater diversity of littoral-periphytonic elements and a general 'tropical' character with cosmopolitan (71.4%) > tropicopolitan (17.1 %) species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]