Ecological study of Phytoplankton from Dahanu creek- west coast of India.

593-597Diversity of phytoplankton and water quality of Dahanu creek was studied during November 2008 and October 2009. Physicochemical parameters indicated variations in depth, pH, temperature. DO, BOD, salinity, nitrite, nitrate, ammonium nitrate, phosphate etc. Total 52 genera of phytoplankton were observed during the study period comprising diatoms, dinoflagellates and other algae. Coscinodicuss, Rhizosolenia, Biddulphia, Melosera, Bacillaria, Isthmia, and Gyrosigma were dominated among the phytoplankton community. Diversity index of phytoplankton ranged from 2.61 to 6.37. Dahanu creek maintained fairly high concentration of chlorophyll a, ranging between 0.96 to 7.65 (average 3.30). Maximum value of chlorophyll a was recorded at stn.1 from the bottom water during June 2009 which coincided with the highest cell count of phytoplankton total 758 phytoplankton recorded for that station. This was also associated the boom of coscinodicuss.There was gradual increases in chlorophyll a from creek area. Distribution of phaeophytin ranged from 0.65 to 4.49 (average 1.94) and it was comparable with chlorophyll a. However Station 1-3 maintained higher value of chlorophyll a than the phaeophytin while the area of station 4-5 showed low concentration of chlorophyll a and phaeophytin. Dahanu creek consists of rich and divers phytoplankton community