Study on Phytoplankton community in Thane Creek along Maharashtra Coast, India

The current study classified the study regions as ecologically distinct based on hydrobiology and necessity of monitoring, owing to the occurrence of blooms and eutrophication. The ecological well-being of estuarine systems holds importance in light of their socioeconomic significance and susceptibility to heightened anthropogenic pressures. This study, conducted between January 2023 and April 2023, assessed Phytoplankton dynamics along Thane creek, west coast of India. The Thane Creek system possesses characteristics of a macrotidal estuary which experienced high nutrient levels. The tidal action influences the ecosystem known for its importance as a breeding ground for commercially valuable fish and crustaceans. According to the findings, the markedly higher nitrate and phosphate levels in the macro-tidal estuaries during Month of April indicated anthropogenic contributions from domestic and industrial effluents, cause change in creek’s physico - chemical properties which significantly impacted the Phytoplankton community structure. Nutrient enrichments favored higher phytoplankton standing stock leading to low DO levels, Also nutrient enrichment can lead to the proliferation of plankton that can govern the diversity and distribution of phytoplankton along the salinity gradient environment. Chlorophyll-a concentration, which showed notable spatiotemporal variation throughout the research region, was used to estimate phytoplankton biomass. The dominance of diatoms in the phytoplankton community indicates a shift in community composition from centric to pinnate forms, which is influenced by tidal dynamics. Species such as Navicula longissimi, Pleurosigma elongatum, Cerataulina dentata and Skeletonema costatum were predominant throughout the study area.

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