Phytoplankton diversity and
dynamics of Chatla floodplain lake,
Barak
Valley, Assam,
North East India - A seasonal study
Hafsa Sultana Laskar and Susmita Gupta*
Department
of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar-
788 011, India
(Received: July 02, 2008; Revised
received: January
27, 2009; Accepted: March 02, 2009)
Abstract: A study was carried out in Chatla floodplain lake, Barak Valley,
Assam, North
East India on phytoplankton diversity, density and distribution in different
seasons and their correlations with physico-chemical
properties of water. A total of 34 phytoplankton taxa
belonging to Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae,
Bacillariophyceae and Euglenophyceae
were recorded. Highest number of species was present in pre-monsoon (29) and
lowest in winter (23). Members of Chlorophyceae were
present in a reasonable number throughout the year while being most abundant in
pre-monsoon and monsoon. Bacillariophycae and Cyanophyceae populations did not show much seasonal
variation. Percentage composition of Euglenophyceae
showed clear seasonal change, being most dominant in post monsoon, moderate in
pre- monsoon and winter and nearly absent in monsoon. Total phytoplankton
density showed highly significant positive correlation with transparency (p<
0.01) and significant positive correlation with total suspended solids, total
hardness and calcium (p < 0.05). Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H/)
value (2.66) was found to be the highest during pre-monsoon while the highest
evenness (J/) value (0.89) was recorded during winter. Berger-Parker
index of dominance (0.45) was highest in post- monsoon. Our study revealed that
the growth of phytoplankton is governed by transparency, total suspended
solids, calcium and total hardness. These types of studies are prerequisites
for evolving fish culture programmes and management
of water resources.
Key
words: Chatla
floodplain lake, Phytoplankton, Pre- monsoon, Monsoon, Post-monsoon, Density
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