Central Annals of Marine Biology and Research Bringing Excellence in Open Access Research Article *Corresponding author Lipika Patnaik, Department of Zoology, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack [Odisha], India, Tel: 917894516375; Hydrology and Phytoplankton Email: Submitted: 02 June 2016 Diversity of Dhamra Coastal Accepted: 07 July 2016 Published: 11 July 2016 Copyright Water, Bay of Bengal, East © 2016 Patnaik et al. Coast of India OPEN ACCESS 1 2 Keywords Saumya Dash , Rajesh Kumar Behera , Pradipta Kumar • Bay of Bengal Mohapatra2, R.K.Sarangi3, Dipti Raut1, Anupama Pati1, • Dhamra Biswapragyan Mohanty1, and Lipika Patnaik1* • Diversity • Nutrient 1 Department of Zoology, Ravenshaw University, India • Plankton 2Department of Botany, Ravenshaw University, India 3Marine Ecosystem Division, Space Applications Centre (ISRO), India Abstract The present study was carried out from July 2015 to March 2016 in the coastal waters of Dhamra, Bay of Bengal to assess the variability of physicochemical characteristic and plankton diversity. Different water quality parameters like SST, pH, transparency, dissolved oxygen, salinity, sulphate and nutrients like silicate, phosphate (orthophosphate and total phosphate), nitrite, and nitrate were analyzed during the study period. In addition to this special focus was given to plankton diversity and its relation with different hydrological parameters. Variation in water quality as well as in plankton diversity was observed during the study period. The SST value was maximum during the month of September i.e.30.39°C and minimum during March i.e. 26.88°C. Whereas, pH was maximum during July and minimum during March i.e. 8.19 and 7.52 respectively. The study reported highest transparency of water in November month i.e. 2.71meter and lowest in July i.e. 1.04meter. Dissolved oxygen was maximum in September and minimum in March i.e. 7.25mg/l and 3.49mg/l respectively. The study revealed that SST was directly proportional to Dissolved Oxygen. Similarly Salinity was maximum during summer month i.e. March (32.07ppt) indicating maximum evaporation in summer months and it was minimum during September (15.62ppt) and was found to inversely related with SST. The total phosphate concentration varied from (0.081- 0.153mg/l) and orthophosphate from (0.057-0.139mg/l). Silicate concentration was between (13.75-45.35µg/l) and sulphate concentration was found to vary between (269.37-558.98mg/l). Nitrate and nitrite are two important sources of nitrogen which varied from (5.52-77.79µM/l) and (1.56-5.58µM/l) respectively. A Total of 17 species of phytoplankton were identified from the sampling areas. INTRODUCTION as it controls the mixing of water. Mixing of water makes nutrient available in various layers of the ocean and their availability Ocean is a vast and dynamic ecosystem, which is affected by for the pelagic organisms. In addition to this SST plays a key geophysical as well as anthropogenic factors. Marine primary role in regulating climate and its variability [4]. The present production and its seasonal variation has been the subject of study is based on the hydrology including various physical and extensive studies as it is the foundation of the food chain of the chemical parameters of Dhamra coastal water and its relation ocean, and plays an important role in the carbon dioxide cycle. with the plankton diversity. Some notable studies on marine This cycle in turn affects the climate change [1]. Factors regulating hydrology have been carried out by [5-11]. Some important marine production are of much interest especially to understand studies pertaining to nutrient variability of sea water has been the role of nutrients in determining the growth of phytoplankton. carried out by [2,3] and particularly on SST has been carried Phytoplanktons control the primary production phenomenon of the ocean [2]. The role of nutrients in the ocean is to support the out by [4,12]. Notable works on plankton have been studied by food chain [3] and its availability largely determines the diversity [13-23]. Work on hydrology and its relation with plankton has of phytoplankton. The physical parameters are of special interest been studied in depth with special emphasis on the role of SST, Cite this article: Patnaik L, Dash S, Behera RK, Mohapatra PK, Sarangi RK, et al. (2016) Hydrology and Phytoplankton Diversity of Dhamra Coastal Water, Bay of Bengal, East Coast of India. Ann Mar Biol Res 3(1): 1010. Patnaik et al. (2016) Email: Central Bringing Excellence in Open Access nitrogen and other nutrient on marine plankton. Some of the important work carried out includes [24-28]. The coastal water 600 needs special consideration as it provides high economic value 500 for the society. Estuarine and sea water receive both fresh and 400 marine water, which has a considerable impact on the diversity Sulphate in mg/l of planktons and physico-chemical parameters. Dhamra coastal 300 Silicate in µg/l region is popular for various industrial developments occurring 200 Nitrate in μmol/l important commercial and economic area of Odisha. No in- depth 100 in that region. It includes the port and the fishing harbour. It is an study has been carried out in this region pertaining to hydrology 0 July(2015) September(2015) November(2015) January(2016) March(2016) this gap for Dhamra region in relation to hydrology and plankton and plankton dynamics. Hence, an attempt has been made to fill diversity. Figure 3 March 2016. MATERIALS AND METHODS Recorded Sulphate, Silicate and Nitrate from July 2015 to analyzed over a period of nine months (July 2015 to March 2016). Bhadrak district of Odisha state. This area is popular for the port Sample collection was done bimonthly from the surface, 3 m and Dhamra is located at 20°46′59.1′′N and 86°57′55.6′′E in 6m depth, covering 11 substations from the shore to 10Km into form river Dhamra which mix with Bay of Bengal near the Dhamra the sea. In total 33 subsamples were collected from the coastal and the fishing harbour. River Brahmani and Baitarani unite to port. The wheeler group of islands is situated very close to the waters of Dhamra during each sampling. Sea surface temperature sampling area. The coastal water is affected by three seasons (SST) was measured using a digital thermometer. Niskin water i.e. summer (March-June) rainy (July-October) and winter sampler of 1.5 lit capacity was used for collecting water samples (November-February). The tidal cycle of this region is diurnal and and transferred into BOD bottles and liquid nitrogen containers it depends on the lunar cycle. Water samples were collected and litres of water through plankton scoop net of 10-50µ mesh size andfor storage.then preserved. Plankton Plankton samples from were surface collected water by wasfiltering collected 100 40 35 was immediately preserved in 5% formaldehyde solution and Air temperature 30 wasby using followed a 20 by lit the Tarson addition storage of 0.08ml container. Lugol’s After iodine filtration, to 10ml it in ◦C 25 SST in ◦C of the sample. After about 24hr of preservation the sample was 20 centrifuged at 1000rpm for 10minutes. The supernatant was pH 15 taken out without disturbing the pellet. Then the pellet was Transparency in 10 m collected in a watch glass for mounting. A drop of DPX mount 5 Salinity in ppt was taken on a clean and dry glass slide. Over the DPX one to 0 two drops of collected sample was placed and mounted with a DO in mg/l cover slip. Then the slide was labeled properly and left for drying. After 48hr of drying the slide was observed under a microscope for identification of planktons. The water samples for dissolved Figure 1 transparency and pH were measured on the site and remaining from July 2015 to March 2016. parametersoxygen were were fixed analysed on the site in after laboratory. sampling. Salinity Parameters was measured like SST, Recorded Air temperature and hydrographical parameters by following the titrimetric method, using Silver nitrate as titrant. Dissolved Oxygen was analysed by following the Winkler’s 7 method. Zooplankton biomass was measured by following the 6 dry weight method and Nutrients like phosphate, silicate, nitrate, nitrite and sulphate were measured spectro photometrically by 5 4 3 Total phosphate in mg/l followingRESULTS the AND standard DISCUSSION methods [29]. 2 Orthophosphate in mg/l Nitrite in μmol/l 1 from the sampling areas. High number of Coscinodiscus sp. 0 wereA observedTotal of in17 the species month of of phytoplanktonMarch 2016 when were salinity identified was highest. Phytoplankton like Skeletonema costatum, Pseudo- nitzschia , Ditylum sol, Ceratium furca, Ceratium trichoceros, Coscinodiscus sp., Biddulphia sp., Ceratium fusus, Dinophysis sp., Bacteriastrum sp., Protoperidium sp., Nitzschia sp., Figure 2 Asterionellopsis glacialis,Thalassiothrix sp., Chaetoceros sp., July 2015 to March 2016. Pleurosigma sp.,Rhizosolenia sp. were recorded throughout the Recorded Total phosphate, Orthophosphate and Nitrite from Ann Mar Biol Res 3(1): 1010 (2016) 2/5 Patnaik et al. (2016) Email: Central Bringing Excellence in Open Access study period. Bacteriastrum sp. is placed at rank 100 based on abundance in Dhamra waters (Table 1). Coscinodiscus sp. has Diversity of Phytoplankton in coastal waters of Dhamra (Surface been found to dominate coastal waters of Dhamra (Figure 4) water 0-10 km) due to availability of nutrients. Bay of Bengal particularly Odisha Skeletonema costatum coast is affected by minor and major cyclone every year and the Pseudo-nitzschia 2%2%2% 12% 4% Ditylum sol 6% phytoplankton distribution in the coastal waters. Nutrients enter 6% 3% Ceratium furca thecyclonic coastal disturbance, waters from seasonal fresh water, upwelling sewage might discharge be influencing and due to 2% 3% 6% mixing of fresh and marine water.