Diversity of Diatom (Bacillariophyta) Flora from the Coastal Waters of Pakistan: A Review on Ecology and Taxonomy

Studies on diversity of diatom community including their seasonality and taxonomy have been carried out during the period of May 2002 to July 2003, July, 2007 and November, 2008. This paper focused on the ecological aspect which is always manifestly important as well as taxonomy and both are strongly interrelated. The studied area is heavily influenced by the Asian monsoon system results the production of diatom blooms which were observed in the month of September 2002 and February 2003. Strong negative relationship -0.218 and -0.054 observed between diatom abundance and chlorophyll a at both stations suggesting other factors like picoplanktons are contributing in chlorophyll a concentrations. Statistical analysis showed overall lower species diversity from 0.1 to 3.6. It suggests that organic loads decreased the abundance and diversity of diatom communities in the region. Taxonomy and seasonal abundance of potentially toxic bloom forming Pseudo-nitzschia species also reported for the first time from coast of Pakistan