Phytoplankton diversity and biomass production under changing weather variables

Relation between phytoplankton composition and weather variables were studied in a shallow pond at Chidambaram taluk of Tamil Nadu. Seasonal differences in the quantitative and qualitative composition were analyzed. The pond water was sampled in the period from January to December 2015. In order to assess the phytoplankton diversity, biomass production and abundance were measured along with nutrient concentrations. Results showed an increased concentration in physico-chemical parameters and phytoplankton density during summer season followed by premonsoon and monsoon season. Over 62 species of phytoplankton represented by 22 species of Cyanophyceae, 17 species of Chlorophyceae, 15 species of Bacillariophyceae and 8 species of Euglenophyceae were recorded. The results of the present study indicated that the water of the pond lies below the level of eutrophication