A Study On Limnology And Phytoplankton Biodiversity Of Ahning Reservoir, Kedah

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Date
2006-05
Authors
Chan, Kok Yeng
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Abstract
A monthly study of the limnology and phytoplankton biodiversity at Ahning Reservoir was carried out between November 2002 and October 2003. A total of 8 sampling stations were selected in this study. The physical parameters were measured in-situ from surface to the 10m depth with one meter intervals. Water samples were taken at surface, Secchi depth and three meters below Secchi for chemical parameters analysis. Chlorophyll a was measured and phytoplankton was identified at the laboratory for both upper and deeper layer at all sampling stations. The dissolved oxygen, temperature and pH decreased vertically at all sampling stations. However, the conductivity was increased vertically. The chemical parameters were also higher at the deeper depth. The range for each parameter in this study were D.O. (3.44 - 8.35 mg/L), water temperature (26.94 - 34.09 °C), pH (6.32 - 8.86), conductivity (40.8 - 59.2 mS/cm), TSS (0.20 - 45.20 mg/L), Secchi depth (0.28 - 2.27 m), P04-P (O.OH - 0.038 mg/L), NOrN (0.0002 - 0.0023 mg/L), N03-N (0.03 - 1.92 mg/L) and NH4-N (0.020 - 0.091 mg/L), Productivity and chlorophyll a levels were low (mean 33.61±19.22 mgC/m3/hour and 2.25±1.25 mg/L) during the study period. The measured parameters vary with the total rainfall in this study. Lower concentrations of measured parameters were recorded during the rainy season. This showed that rainfall play an important role of dilution factor at Ahning Reservoir. A total of 164 phytoplankton species were recorded in this study and Chlorophyta was the major taxa of phytoplankton. The dominant phytoplankton species was Staurastrum leptoc/adium followed by Cosmarium bioculatum and Cosmarium subtumitum. The Evenness Index and Shannon Weiner's Index were ranged 0.413 - 0.621 and 0.836 - 1.328 respectively. Seasonal changes of relative abundance of phytoplankton were recorded in this study. The higher abundance of phytoplankton during the rainy season may due to increase of other micronutrients as the major nutrients of nitrate-nitrogen and orthophosphate remained low. There was lack of nutrients input from the catchment area thus the unclear forest at Ahning Reservoir was the major nutrients source. The internal recycling of nutrients was important at Ahning Reservoir and seasonality also influences the interactions of all measured parameters in this study.
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Study of the limnology and phytoplankton , biodiversity at Ahning Reservoir
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