Impact of plastic pollution on fresh water biota of water streams around the picnic spots of Hilly region in the Swat Valley Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33687/ricosbiol.04.03.110Keywords:
Plastic Bottles, Pollution, Swat Valley, Freshwater EcosystemAbstract
The presence of Blue water Ecosystem in the upper region of Swat has a diverse biomass of different species at different tropic levels. Among species involved in the food chain of these freshwater systems are Navicula subtilissima, Zygnema Cruciatum (Producer), Lathocerus americanus and other aquatic insects (Primary Consumer) of low temperature and Schizothorax plagiostomus (Secondary consumer). There is a drastic imbalance and disturbance in their communities due to water pollution. Plastic bottles are on top among the pollutants which are thrown by visitors especially at the picnic spots around these water bodies. Fish species have been observed to emigrate from the picnic spots towards deep, speedy and clean habitats in these aquatic ecosystems. Decomposition rate of these bottles is negligible and hence affecting aquatic fauna and flora Food in a very negative manner. Count of heavy metals in neutral and pure water remains below 0%. Due to such pollution this figure recorded in winter 2019-2020 was 13 % with an increasing trend. Regulatory authorities must pay attention to this issue on priority base and initiate remedial as well as preventive measures for the water of uphill beautiful streams and lakes.
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Data Availability Statement
The data supporting the conclusions of this review are derived from previously published studies, which are cited throughout the manuscript. Any aggregated datasets used for comparative analysis, are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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