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Phytoplankton community response to changing physico-chemical environment of subtropical Lake Mansar (INDIA)

2014; Linguagem: Inglês

10.12692/ijb/4.11.95-103

2222-5234

Chandrakiran, Kewal Krishan Sharma, Rahul Sharma,

Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior

This paper describes the diversity and community dynamics of phytoplankton group in lake Mansar. A total of 33 phytoplankton taxa were recorded during a period of one year (March-2009 to February-2010) which belonged to three groups i.e. chlorophyceae, bacillariophyceae and cyanophyceae. Members of cyanophyceae dominated phytoplankton population throughout the study with predominance of 3 species of Microcystis i.e. M. elabens, M. pulvera and M. aeruginosa. Bacillariophyceae was dominated by genus Navicula. Overall phytoplankton population peaked in summer while decline was recorded during monsoon season. However, individual phytoplankton groups except cyanophyceae were observed to show maxima in spring season. Maximum value for Shannon diversity (H`=2.9) was observed in spring season with high values of evenness. Shannon’s diversity and Pielou’s evenness values were observed to be negatively related to both total nitrogen and total phosphorus levels. Thus, with increasing nutrient enrichment due to anthropogenic activities around lake Mansar, not only its water quality is deteriorating but negative impacts may also be inflicted on phytoplankton population and its diversity.