Abundance of Phytoplankton In The Coastal Waters of South Sumatera
Abstract: Phytoplankton in the
ocean has an important role in forming the base of food chain, responsible in primary production. Its
abundance and number of phytoplankton species will indirectly affect the level
of water’s fertility. This study aimed to determine the presence of
phytoplankton as bio-indicators of water quality in terms of abundance,
diversity index, uniformity index, and saprobic coefficient in coastal waters
of South Sumatera. The study was conducted on May 2013 - February 2014, at ten
stations during high and low tides. Phytoplankton samples were taken vertically
using plankton nets, cone-shaped with a
diameter of 30 cm, length 100 cm and mesh size 30 μm. The study found 41 genera
of phytoplankton, consisted of family Bacillariophyceae (26 genera),
Dinophyceae (7 genera) Cyanophyceae (7 genera) and Chlorophyceae (1 genus). The
highest number of genera was recorded while low tides in November (24 genera),
and the lowest was on May while high tides (16 genera). The highest abundance
of phytoplankton was recorded in August during high tides (2,68 x 107
cell.m-3), and the lowest was in May during high tides (6,59 x 105cell.m-3).
The diversity index (H'), the uniformity
index (E), and the dominance index (D) ranged between 0,64–3; 0,15–0,71 and
0,15–0,83 respectively.
Keywords: phytoplankton,
abundance, diversity index, South Sumatera coast
Author: Riris Aryawati,
Dietriech G. Bengen, Tri Prartono, Hilda Zulkifli
Journal Code: jpperikanangg170032