Tropical Phytoplankton Assemblages and Water Quality Characteristics Associated with Thermal Discharge from a Coastal Power Station

Full Text: http://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/JNSR/article/view/3760/3809

Aquatic pollution assessment based on attached diatom communities in the Pinang River Basin, Malaysia

W. O. Wan Maznah and Mashhor Mansor

Abstract

The diatom communities collected from artificial substrates (glass slides) at 12 sampling sites along Pinang River Basin were analysed. Species composition was highly variable among sampling sites, and the highest diversity value (mean H = 3.56 bit/individual) and species richness (mean S = 17.32) was recorded at a polluted station in an estuary, which received salt-water intrusion during high tide. The downstream sampling stations were heavily organically polluted with Saprobic Index values ranging between 2.81 and 3.10, while upstream stations were relatively clean with Saprobic Index values recorded between 1.40 and 1.96. The diatom community structure and the specific sensitivity of certain diatom species can be related to the degree of water quality in Pinang River Basin. The abundance of certain diatom species could be used as biological indicators to measure impacts of river pollution.

PHYTOPLANKTON COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN THE ESTUARY OF KERIAN RIVER, MALAYSIA AND ITS RELATION TO WATER QUALITY

Effect of Elevated Water Temperature At A Coastal Power Plant On Phytoplankton Assemblages

WATER QUALITY AND PERIPHYTIC ALGAE COMMUNITY OF PETANI RIVER BASIN, KEDAH

HAZZEMAN HARIS (2009)

ABSTRACT

This study was carried to determine the status of water quality in the Petani River Basin according to the classification used by the Malaysian Department of Environment (DOE) and to evaluate the reliability of periphyton algae as a biological indicator of water quality. Water samples and periphytic algae were collected from 6 sampling stations with varying level of pollution along the Petani River Basin. Dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), pH and ammonium were measured for the calculation of Water Quality Index (WQI). Parameters such as alkalinity, nitrite, nitrate, orthophosphate, salinity and total dissolved solids (TDS) were also determined. Station B (60.49) recorded the highest WQI, followed by Station F (59.56), Station C (57.13), Station D (56.92), Station E (55.20) and Station A (55.07). This showed that the water quality decreased as it flowed downstream except in Station F. Generally the water quality at Station B where it pass through residential areas and the water in the confluence (Station F) were cleaner as compared to water which flowed through industrial and town centre (Stations C, D, and E). Nutrients such as nitrite, nitrate and ammonium were high in river which flowed through industrial area (Station C), while orthophosphates was high in river which flow through residential and agricultural area (Station A). TSS was high at stations where erosion occurred (Stations A and F). It was found that spring tide has a bigger influence on water physico-chemical properties compared to during neap tide. During spring tide, the increase and decrease of water physico-chemical properties were more obvious throughout the tide cycle as compared to during neap tide. Chlorophyll a and ash-free dry weight (AFDW) were used to calculate autotrophic index (AI), while fine sediment weight (FSW) were determined for the calculation of FSI. High AI in Station C indicates that it was dominated by heterotrophic organisms and had a poor water quality. This was supported by the result of Pearson’s correlation analysis which found that nutrient concentration had a positive relationship with AI. The calculation of Simpson, Shannon-Weiner, Margalef and Menhinick diversity indices had shown Station E and F (brackish) as having the highest species diversity. FSW was also observed to have a positive effect on species diversity. Species such as Climacosphenia moniligera, Closterium sp. and Mischococcus confervicola can only be found in Station C. Thus those species may have a good potential as indicators of nutrient enriched water. The calculation of saprobic index indicated that Station A (1.625) as the most polluted station. This was in agreement with the results obtained through the WQI, thus enhancing the reliability of periphyton as an indicator of water quality.

Masters thesis, Universiti Sains Malaysia.

WATER QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF MENGKUANG RESERVOIR BASED ON PHYTOPLANKTON COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND PHYSICO- CHEMICAL ANALYSIS

ASIEH MAKHLOUGH (2008)

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out at Mengkuang Reservoir (M.R), Penang, in the northwest of Malaysia. This study focused on the spatio-temporal variation of phytoplankton composition and physico-chemical parameters, and was conducted due to the importance of the reservoir as a drinking water supply and also the lack of algological data of the studied area. Nine sampling stations were selected with six stations in littoral zone and three stations in the limnetic zone. Monthly samples were collected from the water surface to the bottom, with 5 meter intervals over a one-year period from August 2005 to July 2006, which were comprised of two different tropical seasons (the dry and rainy seasons). Physico-chemical parameters showed the following ranges on the surface water of Mengkuang Reservoir: temperature (29.28 – 33.50 ºC), DO (3.25 – 9.20 mg/l), COD (2 – 54 mg/l), pH (4.5 – 9.44), EC (40 - 70 μS/cm), TSS (0.22 – 30.00 mg/l), transparency depth (1.15 – 3.10 m), Chl-a (0.03 – 19.36 mg/m3), gross primary production (14.27 – 100.25 mgC/m3/hour), PO4-P (0.00 – 0.07 mg/l), NH4 +-N (0.00 - 0.32 mg/l) and NO3 - -N (0.00 – 0.13 mg/l). The seasonal variation was observed in nitrate, EC, TDS, transparency depth, and abundance of phytoplankton which were significantly higher during rainy season (p more than 0.05). Temperature, DO, pH, Chl-a and abundance of phytoplankton decreased from the surface to the bottom, while EC, TSS, TDS, total phosphorus and total nitrogen increased vertically towards the bottom. The results indicated that abundance of phytoplankton was affected by nitrogen and phosphate, ions availability and light penetration. On the other hand, these physical and chemical factors were affected by the amount of rainfall, water pumping and water draw off, inter cycling process (decomposition and mineralization) as well as biological community. A total of 128 phytoplankton species were identified. The dominant division was Chlorophyta, which were mainly composed of Staurastrum apiculatum and Staurastrum paradoxum. The third and fourth dominant species were Glenodinium lenticula (Pyrrophyta) and Lyngbya sp. (Cyanophyta), respectively. The range of evenness and Shannon-Weiner’s index was 0.43-0.56 and 1.91-2.45 (bits/individual) in M.R, respectively. Calculation of the Carlson modified trophic state index showed that the reservoir was near to a mesotrophic state based on Chl-a and transparency depth. The mesotrophic state of the reservoir was also confirmed by the N/P ratio value. Based on the Shannon-Weiner’s and saprobic indices, the reservoir was in class III (slightly polluted) and class II (moderately polluted), respectively. The study also recorded the presence of Anabaena, Microcystis, Oscillatoria, Nostoc, Dinobryon, Chroococcus, Staurastrum paradoxum and Mallomonas which are indicators of toxic, unfavorable odors and flavors, and pollution in aquatic ecosystems. As a conclusion, this study showed the ability of algological studies to provide early warning of water degradation and its importance in water quality assessment.

Masters thesis, Universiti Sains Malaysia.

DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE AND BIOMASS OF PHYTOPLANKTON IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF CASPIAN SEA (IN IRANIAN WATERS)

ALI GANJIAN KHENARI (2007)

ABSTRACT

Seasonal distribution of phytoplankton and the physico-chemical parameters of the Caspian Sea were investigated at 6 transects with 26 stations, at the depths of surface 5,10, 20, 50 and 100m from winter (January-February), spring(May), summer(July), autumn (October-November) in 2005. A total of 260 phytoplankton samples were collected from the stratified water column during the sampling along Iranian coasts (southern part ) of the Caspian Sea. A total of 163 phytoplankton species were identified (71 Bacillariophyta, 21 Pyrrophyta, 31 Chlorophyta , 27 Cyanophyta, 13 Euglenophyta). Bacillariophyta contributed 43 % of phytoplankton species abundance. The number of phytoplankton species recorded were 77 in winter (January-February), 91 in spring (May), 101 in summer (July) and 86 in autumn (October- November). They decreased from autumn to winter. Due to the supply of SiO2 ,nitrate and nitrite, cell abundance and biomass of Bacillariophyta were recorded high in the middle of Caspian Sea, while dinoflagellates were recorded abundant in the west and middle regions. PCA analyses showed that Bacillariophyta and Pyrrophyta contributed 53.64% of the total variance. CDFA analysis performed on different groups of phytoplankton resulted in the canonical variable plot with a thick cluster at the west, due to high concentrations of Bacillariophyta and Pyrrophyta, whereas the middle region was separated because of the highest biomass of Pyrrophyta species. During the 1-year study, the most dominant groups were Bacillariophyta and Pyrrophyta. The overall average of cell abundance and biomass of phytoplankton were 11×106 ± 9×106 cells/m3 and 44.26±52.83 mg/m3 respectively. The overall contribution of Pyrrophyta biomass and Bacillariophyta cell abundance were 53% and 47% respectively. The presence of Bacillariophyta contributed to the phytoplankton cell abundance in winter and the Pyrrophyta maximum biomass occured in spring. The highest and lowest temperatures recorded were 29.0 ºC (summer) and 9.9 ºC (winter) respectively. The salinity fluctuated between 9.1 and 12.6 ppt. The maximum density of Bacillariophyta was recorded in winter and autumn due to the presence of Thalassionema nitzschiodes, Cyclotella menenghiniana, and other different species of Nitzschia and Chaetoceros. Maximum biomass was observed in the spring as dominant species were the large size of Bacillariophyta e.g. Rhizosolenia calcar-avis, Rhizosolenia fragilisima and Nitzschia sigmoidea. The second dominant phyla in terms of cell abundance and biomass were Pyrrophyta. Maximum cell abundance in the different layers and transects were due to the presence of Exuviaella cordata (Pyrrophyta) while the dominant biomass belongs to Prorocentrum praximum and Prorocentrum scutellum. Exuviaella cordata had the highest growth in all seasons, transects, and spread at different layers, compared to other species of phytoplankton. Cyanophyta was the dominant group in summer due to the presence of Oscillatoria limosa. The dominant species of Chlorophyta and Euglenophyta were Binuclearia laterbornii and Trachelomonas respectively. Maximum phytoplankton cell abundance and biomass was concentrated at the depth of less than 20m. In this study, it is found that cell abundance of phytoplankton decreased with increasing water layer (depth). The changes in the physical and chemical regimes of the Caspian Sea influenced the variations of phytoplankton composition and distribution.

Masters thesis, Universiti Sains Malaysia.