Phytoplankton Community in Contrasting Hydrological Features of the Tropical Meandering River Chapora, Central West Coast of India
Date
2025Author
Nilajkar, S.
Gauns, M.
Pratihary, A.K.
Mandal, S.
Nanajkar, M.
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This study examines the distribution and composition of phytoplankton in the tropical river Chapora under its intricate physicochemical characteristics. The river s meandering character resulted in a unique zonation of plankton richness. The phytoplankton community dominated by class Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Cryptophyceae, Dinophyceae, and Mediophyceae spatially showed distinct zonation regarding salinity, near mouth (>?23 ), midstream (>?12 ), and upstream (>?0.15 ). In the upstream region of the river where the influx of fresh water was high, diatom Aulacoseira spp. and dinoflagellate Peridinium spp. dominated and showed effective correlation with nitrogen (N). The presence of heterotrophic dinoflagellates like Oxyrrhis marina, Gymnodinium spp., and Gyrodinium spp. in the midstream region, an active sand mining locale with a sluggish water column and elevated bacterial load, suggests the development of a specialized niche with ecological significance.
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