Kalki Cheruvu, a freshwater lake in Kamareddy district of Telangana, exhibits a diverse community of phytoplankton. The present investigation was carried out to assess seasonal variation in phytoplankton diversity and to examine how environmental parameters influence their distribution. Sampling was conducted at four different sites across the summer, rainy and winter seasons. The analysis revealed 27 phytoplankton species, categorized into four major taxonomic classes: Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, and Euglenophyceae. Seasonal dominance varied: Cyanophyceae prevailed in winter, Chlorophyceae and Euglenophyceae were more prominent in summer, while Bacillariophyceae dominated during the rainy season. Environmental parameters such as temperature, pH, and alkalinity played a significant role in determining the community structure.
