Ramkhamhaeng International Journal of Science and Technology (2021) 4(2): 1-10 ORIGINAL PAPER Diversity and Abundance of Phytoplankton in the Ports of Chonburi and Rayong Provinces, the Gulf of Thailand Nachaphon Sangmaneea, *, Orathep Mue-sueab, Krissana Komolwanichb, Montaphat Thummasanb, Ploypailin Rangseethampanyab, Makamas Sutthacheepb, Thamasak Yeeminb aGreen Biology Research Division, Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan bMarine Biodiversity Research Group, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Huamark, Bangkok 10240, Thailand *Corresponding author: [email protected] Received: 04 July 2021 / Revised: 29 August 2021 / Accepted: 29 August 2021 Abstract. Phytoplankton are the main component of chain because of their photosynthesis, which food webs in marine and coastal ecosystems and can be serves as the primary food source for various used as a bioindicator to investigate water quality, ecosystem fertility, and ocean circulation, which are also consumers (Waniek & Holliday, 2006). The crucial for the fisheries in Thailand. Phytoplankton abundance and distribution of phytoplankton communities reflect climate variability and changes that vary spatially and locally (Matos et al., 2011). At occur in coastal and marine ecosystems. Here, we aimed the global scale, phytoplankton species diversity to study the diversity and density of phytoplankton in the varied according to environmental variability and Chonburi and Rayong ports. Phytoplankton were collected using a 20-micron mesh size plankton net with different latitudes (Barton et al., 2010). The horizontal hauling from six study sites, including Ao population density and species composition of Udom, Laem Chabang Port, and Ao Bang La Mung in phytoplankton are susceptible to environmental Chonburi Province and the Hin Khong, Hat Nong Fab, changes inducing the changes in water quality and Ko Saket in Rayong Province. The results showed characteristics (Salmaso et al., 2006; Chellappa et that a total of 68 taxa were found in this study. The highest abundance of phytoplankton was found in Bang al., 2009; El-Sherbiny et al., 2011; Katsiapi et al., Lamung in the summer season (39,400.23±773.31 2011). ind./L), while the lowest was also found in Bang Lamung (3,288.35±16.38 ind./L) in the rainy season. The total Phytoplankton community in near-shore and abundance of phytoplankton in the vicinity of Chonburi coastal water is mainly influenced by several ports in the summer season was significantly higher than that in the rainy season and those observed in both environmental factors such as nutrient availability, seasons in the vicinity of Rayong ports (p <0.05). The predator communities, and land-driven inputs species composition in the vicinity of Chonburi ports was (Bhaskar et al., 2011). Several anthropological dominated by diatoms, while in the vicinity of Rayong factors can generate several impacts, such as port was dominated by diatoms and dinoflagellates. Our coastal water quality (eutrophication), the study provides baseline data of phytoplankton communities in the vicinity of Chonburi and Rayong introduction of non-native species from ship's ports. ballast water, changes in predator community (overfishing). Concerns on the environmental Keywords: industrial port, phytoplankton, diatom, impacts of ballast water from ships have been dinoflagellate, seasonal variation growing, particularly in areas with dense shipping industries. Various anthropogenic activities can 1. Introduction affect water quality in harbor/port areas due to the release of toxic chemicals, untreated wastewater, Phytoplankton are the main primary producer of oil pollutants, and biological agents that can marine ecosystems globally and play specific potentially be invasive species (Zaiko et al., roles in biogeochemical cycling. Phytoplankton 2011). Invasive species are considered the are an important component of the marine food major problems to our world’s oceans (in 1 Ramkhamhaeng International Journal of Science and Technology (2021) 4(2): 1-10 addition to marine pollution and overused ports in Chonburi and Rayong Provinces, the marine resource). Commercial transportation Inner and Eastern Gulf of Thailand. across oceanic or interoceanic ships are engendered non-native invasive phytoplankton 2. Materials and Methods species via the ballast water of ships (Zaiko et al., 2011; Liebich, 2012). 2.1 Location of study sites Invasive phytoplankton species blooming is A total of six study sites are located near major significantly impacted the quality of seawater maritime ports in the Inner and Eastern Gulf of due to their toxic secondary metabolism, which Thailand, including Ao Udom (13°02ʹ53ʺN, is affected an organism’s health. The toxics 100°51ʹ23ʺE), Laem Chabang Port (13°07ʹ37ʺ can be released into seawater or incorporated N, 100°53ʺ03ʺE), Ao Bang Lamung (13°01ʹ57ʺ by the biota and transfer via the food web N, 100°53ʺ11ʺE) in Chonburi Province and Hin (Butrón et al., 2011; Costa et al., 2017). The most Khong (12°40ʹ05ʺ N, 101°05ʺ57ʺE), Hat Nong significantly affected from invasive Fab (12°40ʹ41ʺ N, 101°06ʺ49ʺE), Ko Saket phytoplankton species well known cause (13°38ʹ51ʺ N, 101°10ʺ10ʺE) in Rayong ecological and aquaculture on the coastal zone Province (Figure 1). impacts all aquatic system types. Diatoms (Coscinodiscus wailesii) and several 2.2 Sample collection dinoflagellates species (Gymnodinium catenatum, Alexandrium minutum, Ostreopsis This study was conducted in the summer and cf. ovata, Prorocentrum minimum) have been rainy seasons during May and October in 2020. considered as invasive (Costa et al., 2017). Phytoplankton were collected by using a 20 µm Thirty potentially invasive phytoplankton mesh-size plankton net with horizontal hauling. species were identified to date around Bilbao The phytoplankton samples were preserved in harbor facilities. There could be a high risk of 4% buffered formalin in seawater then exporting at least Alexandrium minutum, transported to the Marine Biodiversity Dinophysis sp., Heterosigma aka-shiwo, Research Group laboratory for further Karlodinium sp., Ostreopsis cf. siamensis, identification. The phytoplankton were identified to Pfiesteria-like, and Prorocentrum minimum. genus level and identified to species level, if Those invasive phytoplankton species show the possible. success of growth in the different oceans and varying salinity (Butrón et al., 2011). 2.3 Statistical analysis Regarding the concerns, taxonomic studies and The total abundance of phytoplankton was regular monitoring of the community structure expressed in individuals/L. One-way Analysis and dynamics of phytoplankton are highly of Variance (ANOVA) with Turkey HSD was needed to understand community dynamics and used to analyze the difference of mean total functional groups, then mitigate the impacts of densities of phytoplankton between sites and ballast water on marine environment (Gameiro seasons, using R Version 3.5.0. et al., 2007; Baliarsingh et al., 2012). However, the available literature on a dynamic population 3. Results of phytoplankton communities at the different harbors of the Gulf of Thailand is still limited, A total of 68 phytoplankton taxa were recorded making it difficult to properly manage the in this study. A total of 52 and 40 taxa were ecological impacts of ballast water on marine found in the study sites in Chonburi and ecosystems. In Thailand, such phytoplankton Rayong, respectively (Table 1). The highest information is highly required for the management density of phytoplankton was recorded at Bang of ballast water. Therefore, this study aims to Lamung in the summer season (39,400.23±773.31 investigate the diversity and density of ind./L), whereas the lowest one was found at phytoplankton in the vicinities of industrial Hin Nong Fab in the summer season 2 Ramkhamhaeng International Journal of Science and Technology (2021) 4(2): 1-10 (3,288.35±16.38 ind./L), as shown in Figure 2. those found in Rayong ports (p <0.05). The The densities of phytoplankton found in spatial variation among study sites within each Chonburi ports were significantly higher than province was not detected. Figure 1. The location of study sites in Chonburi and Rayong Provinces Table 1. Checklist of phytoplankton at the vicinities of Chonburi and Rayong ports Vicinity of Chonburi ports Vicinity of Rayong ports Classification Summer Rainy Summer Rainy season season season season Cyanobacteria Cyanophyceae Nostocales Nostocaceae Richelia intracellularis Oscillatoriales Oscillatoriaceae Oscillatoria sp. Synechococcales Merismopediaceae Merismopedia punctata Bacillariophyta Bacillariophyceae Bacillariales Bacillariaceae Bacillaria paxillifera Nitzschia lorenziana Pseudo-nitzschia turgidula Lyrellales Lyrellaceae 3 Ramkhamhaeng International Journal of Science and Technology (2021) 4(2): 1-10 Vicinity of Chonburi ports Vicinity of Rayong ports Classification Summer Rainy Summer Rainy season season season season Lyrella sp. Naviculales Naviculaceae Navicula sp. Pleurosigmataceae Pleurosigma spp. Pleurosigma normanii Surirellales Surirellaceae Stenopterobia sigmatella Thalassionematales Thalassionemataceae Thalassionema spp. Thalassionema bacillare Thalassionema frauenfeldii Thalassionema nitzschoides Coscinodiscophyceae Coscinodiscales Aulacodiscaceae Aulacodiscus kittonii Coscinodiscaceae Coscinodicus spp. Palmeria sp. Palmeria hardmaniana Hemidiscaceae Actinoptychus