Journal of Environmental Biology

Studies on spatio-temporal dynamics of phytoplankton

in El-Umum drain in west of Alexandria, Egypt

Author Details

Nabila R. Hussein

National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, El-Anfoshy-Kayet bay, Alexandria, 215 56, Egypt

Samiha M. Gharib

(Corresponding author)

National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, El-Anfoshy-Kayet bay, Alexandria, 215 566 Egypt

e-mail: gharibsamiha@hotmail.com

Publication Data

Paper received:

02 November 2010

Revised received:

10 March 2011

Accepted:

21 April 2011

Abstract

Phytoplankton was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively in regard to their abundance in the northern part of El-Umum drain, west of Alexandria at four stations to study the spatial, temporal, dominance and abundance of the phytoplankton community. The samples were collected monthly from April 2003 to April 2004. A total of 152 phytoplankton taxa were identified belonging to Bacillariophyceae (60), Chlorophyceae (46), Cyanophyceae (20), Euglenophyceae (17) and Dinophyceae (9). A limited number of these were recorded throughout the year, and showed an indication of organic pollution. The total densities (333.8x10³units l^-1) were mainly a reflection of the trends in counts of Bacillariophyceae and Chlorophyceae (138.1 x 10³ and 131.6 x 10³ units l^-1, respectively). Monthly differences in the quantitative (18 x 10³ to 1645 x 10³ units l^-1) and qualitative composition ( 41 to 113 taxa) of the phytoplankton communities in the different stations were marked, with recurrent high abundance in spring (910.4 x10³ units l^-1), whereas lowest densities occurred in autumn (99.7x10³ units l^-1). Cyanophyceae was most abundant in July (67.5 x10³ units l^-1), whereas Euglenophyceae in December (32.0x10³ units l^-1). Species diversity (H?) gave a signal of the area is light to moderate polluted. The present study emphasized the need to use phytoplankton community as index of water quality.

Key words

El-Umum drain, Phytoplankton, Spatio-temporal dynamics, Diversity indices

Copyright ? 2012 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest completely with the author(s).