Distribution, abundance and diversity of phytoplankton in the inshore waters of Nizampatnam, South East coast of India

348-356Distribution, abundance and species assemblages of Phytoplankton were studied from inshore waters of Nizampatnam, South East coast of India in March 2007. <span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: GU;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">Significant spatial variations in temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrites (NO2) –N)<span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: GU;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">, nitrates (NO3) – N)<span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-ansi-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:GU;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">, phosphate (PO4) –P),<span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: GU;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US"> silicate (SiO4) – (Si)<span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:GU;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US"> were monitored. A total of 90 species of phytoplankton (net hauls) represented by 5 groups were identified at nine stations, collected along three transects during low tide.<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:GU;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US"> Percentage contribution of each group of phytoplankton was in the order: Bacillariophyceans <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:GU;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">> Dinophyceans <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:GU;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">> Cyanophyceans <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:GU;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">> Euglenophyceans<span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: GU;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">. Pleurosigma angulatum, Navicula sp. were dominant species in the study area. Bray - Curtis similarity and group average clustering, recommended identifying two assemblages of phytoplankton in the study area. High diversity of phytoplankton in the present area suggests stable environmental conditions.