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Influence of Water quality on the biodiversity of phytoplankton in Dhamra

River Estuary of Odisha Coast, Bay of Bengal

Article  in  Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management · April 2011

DOI: 10.4314/jasem.v15i1.65678

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 JASEM ISSN 1119-8362 Full-text Available Online at J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. March, 2011
All rights reserved www.bioline.org.br/ja
Vol. 15 (1) 69 - 74

Influence of Water quality on the biodiversity of phytoplankton in Dhamra River

Estuary of Odisha Coast, Bay of Bengal

PALLEYI, S; KAR, R N; *PANDA, C R

Institute of Minerals & Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar-751013, India
*
Corresponding author : drpanda_cr@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT: Dhamra estuarine ecosystem is a hotspot of rich biological diversity which supports a patch of
mangrove along with unique flora and fauna. In this study, the diversity of phytoplankton population and other
factors that control their growth and biodiversity were investigated. The samples were collected monthly from
Dhamra estuary of Bay of Bengal at 6 different stations (grouped under three regions) from March -2008 to
February -2009. A total of 41 genera of phytoplankton species belonging to 4 classes of algae were identified. The
maximum value of 9.3 X 104 cells l-1 was recorded in post monsoon season. Phytoplankton of Bacillariophyceae,
appearing throughout the year, and represent majority of population (75-94%) at all the sampling stations,
followed by Dinophyceae (3-14%), Cyanophyceae (3-8%) and Chlorophyceae (0-4%) classes. The Shannon-
weavers diversity index (H) remains between 0.22 and 2.49. Based on the correlation coefficient data,
phytoplankton shows positive relationship with DO, salinity, nutrients and negative relationship with temperature
and turbidity. Present study shows that the occurrence and diversity of these primary producers do not subscribe to
a single dimensional phenomenon of a single factor, rather than, a consequence of a series of supported factors
which will help to maintain and balance such type of fragile ecosystem. @JASEM

Estuaries are characterized by the gradient of salinity is the world’s most important nesting beach for Olive
in a semi enclosed coastal system, flourishing a group Ridley sea turtles on the Orissa coast of Bay of
of organisms uniquely capable of using the salinity Bengal.
gradient to a competitive advantage. Phytoplanktons
represent the base of pelagic food webs in estuarine Although, a number of studies have been carried out
ecosystem and play a major role in the global cycling on the ecological conditions of estuarine region, as
of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and other elements Bay of Bengal is considered as a low productive zone
and the regulation of earth’s climate. The biomass (Madhupratap, et al., 2003), very limited work has
distribution and species composition of been done in the east coast of Orissa. Moreover, not
phytoplankton have important effects on carbon as much of information on phytoplankton species
fixation rates and on transfer of energy in food webs. composition and diversity is available in this
Studies of the abundance, distribution and particular estuarine region.
composition of phytoplankton communities are,
therefore, a fundamental contribution to our MATERIALS AND METHODS
understanding of the structure and function of Sampling of surface water was carried out throughout
estuarine ecosystems. Phytoplankton communities the year (March-2008 to February-2009) on a
are multispecies communities, which are highly monthly basis at Dhamra River Estuarine region. A
multifaceted in terms of their diversity and dynamics. total of 6 stations ,where station-1 and 2 covers the
Successional shifts in phytoplankton community lower estuarine region (marine region, depth-63 ft),
structure are mainly due to changes in environmental station-3 and station-4 covers the river mouth region
variables such as nutrients and other physico- having depth of 27ft and 26ft, respectively and
chemical variables which influence the distribution station-5 (26ft) and station-6 (26ft) were the riverine
and abundance of plankton communities in estuaries region or fluvial region dominated by freshwater but
(Cleorn, 1987; Ferreira et al., 2005; Madhu et al., subjected to tidal action.
2007).
Water samples for the measurement of salinity,
Estuarine regions are important sinks for several turbidity and nutrient parameters were collected in
elements. In this study we tried to identify and asses Polypropylene bottles and for DO and BOD
the trend of phytoplankton species diversity at measurement, water samples were collected in DO
Dhamra Estuarine region with the water physico – bottles and analysed by Winkler method. The
chemical parameters. Dhamra river is the union of temperature and salinity was measured in situ using
river Brahmani and Baitarani, the two largest rivers sensor based Multi WTW 340i/set. Salinity was
of Orissa, situated at the Bhadrakh district, just north again cross-checked by silver nitrate titration (Oxner,
of the boundary of Bhitarkanika wild life sanctuary, 1920). Turbidity was measured by Nephlometric
famous for its estuarine crocodiles and approximately method using HACH 2100P Turbidimeter. Basic
10 km from the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, which nutrient parameters (nitrite, nitrate, ammonia and

*
Corresponding author : drpanda_cr@yahoo.com
 70

phosphate) were measured according to standard reflection of significant alteration in ambient

methods (Grasshoff, 1999). For quantitative and conditions within an ecosystem. Basically, Diatom
qualitative analyses of phytoplankton (Verlencar, (class- Bacillariophyceae), Dinoflagellates (class-
2004), a Sedgwick-Rafter plankton counting chamber Dinophyceae), Cocolithophores and Silicoflagellates
was used and samples were examined (class- Chrysophyceae) and blue-green algae (class-
microscopically by trinocular Nikon 90i Eclipse Cyanophyceae) are the principal phytoplankton taxa
automated microscope. All 1,000 squares on the in the ocean. In Dhamra estuarine water sample,
chamber were screened (Gilbert, 1942). Empty phytoplankton belonging to class Bacillariophyceae
frustules were not included in the total counts. dominated over other classes of phytoplanktons at all
Phytoplankton cell identifications were based on the 6 stations in the whole year (March-08 to Feb-
standard taxonomic keys (Verlencar, 2004; Botes, 09). After Bacillariophyceae, some genus of
2003). The results are expressed as numbers of cells Dinophyceae, few of Cyanophyceae and occasionally
L–1 and phytoplankton diversity was calculated using Chlorophyceae genus were observed (Fig 2).
Shannon’s diversity index. (Shannon and Weaver,
1949) Plankton communities in the estuary can be served as
an indicator for the change in ecosystems under the
H = -∑ pi ln pi pollution stress. In ecology, a diversity index is a
statistics, which is applied to measure the species
Where H - is the diversity index; ln - is the natural biodiversity in an ecosystem. A stressed environment
logarithm; i - is an index number for each species typically has a lower number of species with one or
present in a sample; pi - is the number of individuals two species (those adapted to the stress) having many
within a species (ni) divided by the total number of more individuals than the other species (Gao and
individuals (N) present in the entire sample. Song, 2005). As our study area was identified as a
low productive zone (Madhupratap et al., 2003), the
RESULT AND DISCUSSION diversity index remained between 0.22 and 2.49
Phytoplankton abundance and species composition throughout the year at all the sampling stations (Fig
showed both spatial and seasonal variation. The 2). During the post monsoon season, as a result of
dominant species recorded at different sampling fresh water flushing and changes in salinity, the
stations belonged to the genera Coscinodiscus, estuarine region experiences the most dramatic
Skeletonema, Nitzschia, Navicula, Thallasiothrix, change in phytoplankton species composition, as is
Triceratium, Biddulphia, Ceratium, Rhizosolenia, evident from the diversity index data (Fig 2). The
Thallasionema, Bacillaria, Chaetocerous, Melosira, highest phytoplankton population density reached
Trichodesmium, Podosira, Pleurosigma. There was upto 9.3 x 104 cells l –1 at river mouth region during
succession of different species recorded during the month of December-2008 (in the post monsoon
different sampling seasons at different sampling season). The total phytoplankton community during
points. The numbers of phytoplankton genus under this proliferation was composed mainly of diatoms
these classes are identified as Bacillariophyceae 31 and dominated by a single diatom species
genus and several species, 2 genus of Chlorophyceae, Pleurosigma angulatum. Abiotic features in estuaries
6 genus of Dinophyceae and 2 genus of vary depending upon the degree of protection from
Cyanophyceae. The percentage occurrence of water motion (waves, tidal currents), the quality of
different phytoplankton groups with respect to total fresh water input and circulation patterns including
phytoplankton taxa at six different stations of residence time of the water, depth and salinity
Dhamra estuary throughout the year has been given gradient. Further abiotic factors change both
in Figure-I. The Shannon’s diversity indexes were temporally and spatially, so that a wide variety of
also graphically presented in Figure-II. The habitats exist in estuaries. Diversity and abundance
correlation coefficient values of different physico- of phytoplankton are related to the physico chemical
chemical and biological data of Dhamra estuarine parameters in general and more particularly to
water samples throughout the year are presented in temperature, DO, BOD, salinity and nutrient
Table 1. With growth and turnover rates of less than a availability. The correlation coefficient values
day, phytoplankton are very susceptible to changes in between physico chemical parameters and the algal
the environment, and large variations in population of three distinct regions have been
phytoplankton species composition are often a presented in Table 1 .

PALLEYI, S; KAR, R N; PANDA, C R

 71

Table 1: Correlation coefficient values among certain physico-chemical parameters at three regions of Dhamara estuary
Marine Region: Phy = Phytoplankton; sal = salinity; Tur = Turbidity

Temp Tur. DO BOD Sal NO2- NO3- NH3- PO43- Phy

Temp 1

Tur -0.19 1

DO -0.55 0.08 1

BOD -0.22 0.23 0.50 1

Sal 0.30 0.08 -0.03 0.30 1

-
NO2 0.13 -0.09 0.22 -0.07 -0.36 1
-
NO3 0.56 0.00 -0.32 0.06 0.44 0.10 1
-
NH3 0.56 -0.11 -0.38 0.15 0.43 -0.17 0.65 1
3-
PO4 0.36 0.37 0.25 0.31 0.38 0.09 0.28 0.14 1

Phy -0.32 -0.27 0.70 0.37 0.02 0.23 0.27 0.39 0.23 1

River Mouth region: Phy = Phytoplankton; sal = salinity; Tur = Turbidity

Temp Tur. DO BOD Sal NO2- NO3- NH3- PO43- Phy

Temp 1

Tur -0.32 1

DO -0.64 0.34 1

BOD -0.36 0.64 0.50 1

Sal 0.19 0.22 0.24 0.26 1

-
NO2 0.25 -0.20 -0.14 -0.44 -0.29 1
-
NO3 -0.05 0.11 0.19 0.21 0.24 -0.18 1
-
NH3 0.60 -0.04 -0.15 0.12 0.53 -0.09 0.15 1
3-
PO4 -0.51 0.24 0.37 0.40 -0.29 -0.19 0.05 -0.37 1

Phy -0.60 -0.01 0.50 0.04 0.24 0.23 0.16 0.18 0.17 1

Fluvial region: Phy = Phytoplankton; sal = salinity; Tur = Turbidity

Temp Tur. DO BOD Sal NO2- NO3- NH3- PO43- Phy

Temp 1

Tur -0.25 1

DO -0.46 -0.11 1

BOD -0.36 0.33 0.45 1

Sal 0.19 0.19 0.14 0.31 1

-
NO2 0.17 0.39 -0.06 0.10 0.04 1
-
NO3 -0.32 0.54 0.19 0.41 0.18 0.24 1
-
NH3 0.12 0.70 -0.24 0.32 0.41 0.26 0.31 1

PO43- -0.43 0.02 -0.06 0.30 -0.16 -0.35 0.11 -0.30 1

Phy -0.02 -0.32 0.55 0.28 0.49 0.16 0.00 0.24 0.00 1

PALLEYI, S; KAR, R N; PANDA, C R

 72

STATION-1 STATION-2

Dinophyceae
Dinophyceae 3%
Bacillariophyceae 5%
Bacillariophyceae Cyanophyceae
90% Cyanophyceae 94% 3%
5%

STATION-3 STATION-4

Dinophyceae
Dinophyceae 10%
Bacillariophyceae
13% Chlorophyceae
80%
Bacillariophyceae 3%
84%
Cyanophyceae Cyanophyceae
7% 3%

STATION-5 STATION-6

Dinophyceae
13%
Dinophyceae
Bacillariophyceae 14% Chlorophyceae
Bacillariophyceae
82% 75% 4%
Cyanophyceae Cyanophyceae
4% 8%

Fig 1: Percentage composition of different phytoplankton classes at sampling station 1 to 6 of Dhamra Estuary

As a matter of fact, positive correlationship was ecosystem influence the species composition and
observed between dissolved oxygen and their relative abundance of phytoplankton in the
phytoplanktons. Salinity is measured because of its Dhamra estuarine region. This study of
influence on the distribution and diversity of many phytoplankton biodiversity at Dhamra estuary of
living marine species. The rate of cell division of Orissa coast, Bay of Bengal revealed that the
these microfloras, as well as their occurrence, population peak was mainly contributed by a single
distribution and productivity is influenced by salinity species proliferation, which led to low diversity
and in this study phytoplanktons have shown a index. But still it does not impart any harsh effect to
positive correlation with salinity value at all the the biotic community, because the major organism
sampling stations because estuarine regions are was not listed under toxic phytoplanktons. Although
subjected to considerable fluctuations and these the bloom was not creating any stressful condition,
micro flora were well adapted to such vicissitude still it could have been better if the peak population
environment (Kinne, 1972; Lionard et al., 2005). was also associated with highest diversity index. A
Phytoplanktons need a wide variety of chemical perfect relationship between specific environment
elements but the two critical ones are nitrogen and factor and change in phytoplankton community
phosphorous (Dawes, 1981). And we found that structure was yet to be established. However, this
phytoplanktons show positive correlation with study provides clear information regarding
phosphate and inorganic nitrogenous nutrient occurrence of an intermediate level of phytoplankton
parameters but the relationship was not very population and minimum diversity during massive
significant. This may be due to lower concentration blooming period in this particular estuary.
or may be rapid recycling of these nutrients. Similar
observations were made by Steinhart et al. (2002) Acknowledgements: The authors are thankful to the
and Hergenrader (1980). Temperature and turbidity Director, IMMT, Bhubaneswar for his kind
manifested negative relationship with permission to publish the work. Thanks are also due
phytoplanktons. Early workers also reported the same to the Dhamra Port Co. Ltd., for providing necessary
relationship of phytoplanktons with temperature and funding to carry out the work.
turbidity (Dawes, 1981).

The overall findings of this study revealed that

climatic conditions as well as ionic chemistry of the

PALLEYI, S; KAR, R N; PANDA, C R

 73

STATION-1
STATION-2
3
2.5
2.5
x 2
e
d x 2
In1.5 e
d
y n
I 1.5
it
s
r 1 y
ti 1
e
v s
i 0.5 r
D e 0.5
v
i
D
0 0

STATION-3 STATION-4
3
2.5 2. 5
x 2 x
e e 2
d d
n
I 1.5 In 1. 5
ty ty
i
is 1 r 1
s
r e
e v
i 0. 5
iv 0.5 D 0
D
0

STATION-5 STATION-6

3
2.5
x 2.5
e 2 x
e 2
d d
In1.5 n
i 1.5
y
it ty
is 1
r 1
s
r
e e
i 0.5
v v
D i 0.5
0 D
0

Fig 2: Variation in Phytoplankton species diversity index of six sampling stations of Dhamra Estuary

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