Seasonal influence of physicochemical parameters on phytoplankton diversity and assemblage pattern in Kailash Khal, a tropical wetland, Sundarbans, India

A year-long study in Kailash Khal, Sundarbans, revealed that phytoplankton diversity and abundance are significantly influenced by seasonal variations in physicochemical parameters. The research identified 36 genera of phytoplankton, with Bacillariophyceae being the most abundant, particularly during the pre-monsoon season (4.32 × 10³ cells l⁻¹). Statistical analysis showed significant seasonal differences in temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and other water quality parameters (p < 0.05), which correlated with phytoplankton distribution patterns. Margalef richness and Shannon–Wiener diversity indices indicated a moderately rich phytoplankton community, underscoring the wetland's ecological resilience.

Gogoi, P., Sinha, A., Das Sarkar, S., Chanu, T. N., Yadav, A. K., Koushlesh, S. K., Borah, S., Das, S. K., & Das, B. K. (2019). Seasonal influence of physicochemical parameters on phytoplankton diversity and assemblage pattern in Kailash Khal, a tropical wetland, Sundarbans, India. Applied Water Science, 9(7). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-019-1034-5