Title: Insight into the Species Composition, Diversity, Abundance and Ecology of Plankton Community I n the Plastic Tank for Aquaculture Subtitle as needed (Plankton Community in the Plastic Tank for Aquaculture)
Authors: Peremobowei Beldin Kpikpi and Onome Augustina Bubu-Davies
Volume: 9
Issue: 5
Pages: 253-260
Publication Date: 2025/05/28
Abstract:
Plankton is microscopic organisms that positively contribute to oxygen production and serve as food for other aquatic organisms in the environment. Low plankton community indicates that an ecosystem's food web is threatened, affecting aquaculture yield. Plankton community composition, abundance and distribution were investigated in plastic tank aquaculture from October 2018 to September 2019 at Roone Fish Farm, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Plankton and water sample were analyzed following the standard method APHA. Eighty-one (81) species of six (6) taxa were identified in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Chlorophyceae exhibited a significant difference (p<0.05). Phytoplankton abundance followed the order: Chlorophyceae> Bacillariophyceae > cyanophyceae > Cyanophyceae > chrysophyceae > Chrysophyceae, while zooplankton followed the order: Copepoda, while zooplankton followed the order: Copepoda > Rotifera. The most dominant phytoplankton species observed was Scenedesmus sp, and zooplankton was Calanus helgolandicus. Besides total organic carbon (TOC), phosphate and nitrate, other physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, pH, turbidity, conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD) and depth were within the permissible limit. However, the increased phosphate level placed the plastic tank under stress as regards the permissible limit of NHDES. Phytoplankton recorded more species composition than zooplankton. Therefore, the plastic tank management is monitored and standardized to increase the targeted plankton species.