Benthic samples were collected at around 11.00 a.m. fortnightlyfrom all the experimental ponds using an Ekman dredge (bottomarea 15 cm × 15 cm). Collected samples with benthic invertebratesand bottom mud were washed and filtered properly with pondwater. At first, samples were sieved through a 0.2 mm mesh-screennet for the separation of benthic invertebrates and large particlesfrom mud and water. Then the benthic invertebrates remained onthe screen net were collected using a fine forcep and kept into smallplastic bottles containing 5% formalin for preservation. The smallplastic bottles were marked properly with a marker pen and takento the laboratory for enumeration and taxonomic identification.