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Relation between phytoplankton composition and abundance and physicochemical characteristics of Chepkanga Dam, Eldoret, Kenya
Author(s) -
Mkare Thomas K.,
Manyala Julius O.,
Mulanda Christopher A.,
Mbaru Emmanuel K.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
lakes and reservoirs: research and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.296
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1440-1770
pISSN - 1320-5331
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1770.2010.00427.x
Subject(s) - phytoplankton , biology , botany , cladophora , abundance (ecology) , spirogyra , chlorophyceae , ecology , chlorophyta , algae , nutrient
Physicochemical characteristics and phytoplankton species composition and abundance (chlorophyll‐ a concentration) were measured in Chepkanga Dam during the months of November and December (2007) and February (2008); all sampling months being within the dry season. Three sampling sites (A, B and C) were selected to correspond to different anthropogenic impacts. Triplicate water samples were collected twice per month and analysed in the laboratory (chlorophyll‐ a ; phytoplankton species and dissolved oxygen and reactive phosphorus concentrations). In situ measurements of water temperature and pH also were taken at the same sampling sites. A total of 39 phytoplankton species were identified, including 15 Bacillriophyceae species, 12 Chlorophyceae species, 7 Desmidiaceae species and 5 Cyanophyceae species. A two‐way anova statistical analysis indicated significant differences between months (among stations) for physicochemical parameters ( P < 0.05), although insignificant changes were observed between stations (among months) ( P > 0.05). Phytoplankton species (e.g., Ankistrodesmus falcatus, Staurastrum sp. and Pediastrum sp.) appeared and disappeared between the study months of November to February ( Table 1), implying that monthly variations among physicochemical characteristics influenced the phytoplankton abundance, as the different phytoplankton species exhibit different environmental selectivity. 1 Phytoplankton species in Chepkanga Dam during the dry seasonFamily Species Month November December FebruaryChlorophyceae Ankistrodesmus falcatus − − +Bulbochaete sp. − − +Cladophora sp. − − +Dictyosphaerium sp. + + +Kirchneriella malmeana. − − +Pediastrum sp. + − −Protococcus sp. + + +Spirogyra sp. − − +Zygnema sp. + + +Mougeotia sp. − + +Tetraspora sp. − − +Closterium sp. − + − Cyanophyceae Aphanizomenon sp. − − +Aphanocapsa sp. − − +Coelosphaerium sp. − − +Polycystis sp. − − +Rivularia sp. − − + Bacillariophyceae Campylodiscus clypeus + − +Cyclotella stelligera + − +Diatoma vulgaris + + +Eunotia sp. + + +Flagilaria sp. − − +Gomphonema sp. + + +Gyrosigma kutzingii + + −Melosira ambigua + + +Navicula cuspidata − + +Nitzschia sp. + + +Pinnularia sp. + + +Stephanodiscus sp. − − +Surirella sp. − − +Synedra sp. + + +Tabellaria fanestrata + + + Desmidiaceae Closterium acutum + + +Docidium sp − − +Gonatozygon sp. + + +Netrium sp. + − −Penium sp. + − +Spirotaenia sp. + + −Staurastrum sp. − + −