Diversity of Phytoplankton in Chanthaburi River

Abstract

            Study on phytoplankton species diversity in Chanthaburi River, Chanthaburi Province, were conducted from December 2022 to June 2023. The samplings were collected from 3 stations, namely Kating Temple, Chantaram Temple and Taksin Maharaj Bridge. The results showed that 191 species of phytoplankton were found from 3 divisions 7 classes 18 orders 44 families and 99 genuses. The greatest number of species were in Class Bacillariophyceae which consisted of 82 species, followed by 65 species of Chlorophyceae, 15 species of Dinophyceae, 13 species of Euglenophyceae, 12 species of Cyanophyceae, 3 species of Chrysophyceae and 1 species of Dictyochophyceae, respectively. The maximum average density was found in June (rainy season 844 units/l), and the minimum average density was found in March (summer 519 unit/l). The dominant species which was found along the Chanthaburi Riiver belong to genus Tracheromonas and  Peridinium, but the species which dominated the density belonged to genus Nitzschia, Chaetoceros and Coscinodiscus. The index of species diversity, richness and evenness of phytoplankton revealed between 1.50-3.40, 2.01-9.32 and 051-0.92, respectively. Water qualities during the studied period of all areas were of an acceptable standard.