Species composition, abundance and distribution of phytoplankton in the coastal waters off Zanzibar Island, Tanzania

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dc.contributor.authorMoto, E.
dc.contributor.authorKyewalyanga, M.
dc.contributor.authorLyimo, T.
dc.contributor.authorHamisi, M.
dc.date.accessioned2021-03-31T13:54:09Z
dc.date.available2021-03-31T13:54:09Z
dc.date.issued2018-05-13
dc.description.abstractSpecies composition, abundance and distribution of phytoplankton were studied in Zanzibar coastal waters for one year (May 2012 - May 2013) at two sites, Bawe and Chwaka Bay. The objective of this study was to quantify the health ecosystem of Zanzibar coastal waters as phytoplankton are good indicator in studying an ecosystem. A total of 260 species belonging to 94 genera and 6 classes were recorded at both sites. The phytoplankton assemblage was dominated by Bacillariophyceae (diatoms) which accounted for 70% of the total phytoplankton. Dinoflagellates ranked second in terms of abundance (24%). Cyanophyceae accounted for 5% of the total phytoplankton and less than 1% of the total standing crop was attributed to chlorophyceae, dictyochophyceae and crysophyceae. Abundant concentrations of diatoms composed mostly of several species which were observed throughout the sampling time which included Chaetoceros sp, Rhizosolenia sp, Thalassiothrix sp, Nitzschia sp, Guinardia sp, Bacteriastrum sp, Pleurosigma sp and Coscinodiscus sp. Diatoms were abundant due to their resilient ability to withstand the varied environmental factors. Some dinoflagellates in low densities were observed at both sites. The highest phytoplankton density was 9189 cells/l, while the lowest density was 2227 cells/l recorded at Bawe and Chwaka Bay, respectively. Southeast monsoon (SEM) season phytoplankton (15244 counts/l) were higher than the Northeast monsoon (NEM) season (13982 counts/ml). Also species diversity was higher during the SEM than the NEM (t =3.155, p = 0.0058). Higher abundance and diversity during SEM might be attributed by low sea surface temperature, higher salinity, sulphate and nitrate levels.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipFunded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, through a grant to the University of Dar es Salaam, Institute of Marine Sciences, via the Western Indian Ocean Regional Initiative in Marine Science and Education (WIORISE) Project.en_US
dc.identifier.citationMoto, E., Kyewalyanga, M., Lyimo, T. and Hamisi, M. (2018). Species Composition, Abundance and Distribution of Phytoplankton in the Coastal Waters off Zanzibar Island, Tanzania. J. Bio. Env. Sci. 12(5), 108-119. ISSN: 2220-6663 (Print) 2222-3045en_US
dc.identifier.issn2220-6663
dc.identifier.otherhttps://www.innspub.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/JBES-Vol-12-No-5-p-108-119.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/5571
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherINTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR NATURAL SCIENCESen_US
dc.subjectPhytoplankton, Species composition, Abundance, Distributionen_US
dc.titleSpecies composition, abundance and distribution of phytoplankton in the coastal waters off Zanzibar Island, Tanzaniaen_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
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