Seasonal Cycle of Phytoplankton in Aquaculture Ponds in Bangladesh

A study on the seasonal changes in the phytoplankton community was carried out in four aquaculture ponds of Bangladesh over a period of 16 months from August 2000 to November 2001. Out of 45 phytoplankton species identified, 30 belong to Cyanophyceae, 7 to Chlorophyceae, 5 to Bacillariophyceae and 3 to Euglenophyceae. The highest phytoplankton abundance was observed in spring followed by early autumn, summer, and the lowest was in winter. The annual succession of Cyanophyceae was characterized by spring and early autumn period dominated by Microcystis sp. Anabaena sp. and Planktolymbya sp. with Microcystis sp. as the main blue-green algae represented. Chlorophyceae was characterized by rainy season domination of Chlorella vulgaris, Pediastrum sp. and Scenedesmus denticulatus with maximum abundance of Chlorella vulgaris. Whereas Bacillariophyceae was dominant during the winter period. Navicula angusta and Cyclotella meneghiniana were the most frequently occurring species of Bacillariophyceae throughout the study period. Euglenophyceae was dominant in late autumn and Euglena sp. was the dominant species. The effect of various physicochemical water quality parameters on the seasonal distribution and succession of the above mentioned phytoplankton population as well as the interaction and eutrophication are discussed.