Open AccessMultivariate approach to determine the ecological preferences of phytoplankton in Uppanar estuary, southeast coast of India
Author(s) -
Palani Damotharan,
R. Punniyamoorthy M. Saravanakumar,
P. Murugesan
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of modern trends in science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2455-3778
DOI - 10.46501/ijmtst0710004
Subject(s) - phytoplankton , species evenness , environmental science , species richness , dinophyceae , estuary , ecology , biota , species diversity , turbidity , oceanography , biology , nutrient , geology
In the present study, the phytoplankton diversity and distribution was studied in relation seasonal variation of environmentalparameters in the Uppanar estuary. Samples were seasonally collected (i.e., pre-monsoon: July-2018 and summer: June-2019) fromsix stations. A total of 62 phytoplankton species belonging to three classes, 20 orders, 26 families and 36 genera were and amongthe three phytoplankton taxa, diatoms topped the list with 41 species followed by Dinoflagellates (17 species) and blue green algae(4 species). The maximum number of phytoplankton species (36) and diversity value (H’) 3.976 was recorded in the stations nearriver mouth (UE-6) during summer and minimum species number (21) and maximum species richness (d) 6.923 was recorded instations close to industrialr zone (UE-1) during monsoon. The maximum species evenness (J') 0.928 was recorded at stations nearriver mouth (UE-6). BIO-ENV (Biota-Environmental matching) and CCA results confirmed that the environmental parameterssuch as Dissolved oxygen, Turbidity, Salinity, Water pH, Chlorophyll, Silicate, TN and TP as best match (ρω = 0.968) indetermining phytoplankton distributions. The results of present study helps to develop an understanding on the phytoplanktondistribution based on physico-chemical parameters, which will form a reliable tool in bio-monitoring studies.