Journal of Aquaculture Research & Development

Abstract

Biodiversity and Abundance of Phytoplankton from Muthupettai Mangrove Region, South East Coast of India

Varadharajan D and Soundarapandian P

Phytoplanktons are of great ecological worth since they comprise the major portion of primary producers in the marine environment. In the present study, a total of 95 species of phytoplankton were recorded from both the stations, of which, station I recorded 87 species and station II recorded 76 species. The phytoplankton species are maximum were observed in station I and minimum were observed station II. The phytoplankton recorded with the present study was belongings to families Coscinodisceae (17) > Ceratiaceae (12) > Chaetoceraceae (11) > Biddulphoidae (9) > Naviculaceae (9) > Triceratiinae (6) > Solenoidae (6) > Fragilariaceae (5) > Dinophyceae (5) > Cyanophyceae (4) > Euodicidae (3) > Eucambiinae (2) > Prorocentraceae (2) > Triadiniaceae (2) > Isthiminae (1) > Gonyaulacaceae (1). The percentage contribution of phytoplankton families at two different station was in a decrease order as given below: Coscinodisceae (17.89%) >Ceratiaceae (12.63%) > Chaetoceraceae (11.57%) > Biddulphoidae (9.47%) > Naviculaceae (9.47%) > Triceratiinae (6.31%) > Solenoidae (6.31%) >Fragilariaceae (5.26%) > Dinophyceae (5.26%) > Cyanophyceae (4.21%) >Euodicidae (3.15%) > Eucambiinae (2.10%) > Prorocentraceae (2.10%) > Triadiniaceae (2.10%) > Isthiminae (1.05%) > Gonyaulacaceae (1.05%). The data analysis in Margalef’s species richness (d’), Shannon-Weiner diversity function (H’), Pielou’s evenness (J’) and Simpson’s dominance (1-λ’) was used to reflect the underlying changes in physical and chemical properties of phytoplankton species. The species richness and diversity of phytoplankton at three sampling stations were determined using Pielous evenness were highest at the station I (0.9215) and lowest at the station II (0.8340). Both Margalef’s diversity and richness were highest at the stations 1 (4.2157 and 5.3810) and lowest at the station II (4.1452 and 5.1073). Both Shannon and Simpson indices were highest at the stations I (4.3261 and 0.9175) and lowest at the station II (4.2958 and 0.9051).