Diversity And Seasonal Variation of Phytoplankton in Fresh Water Jora Talab Bilaspur Chhattisgarh

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to assess the diversity, composition and seasonal variation of phytoplankton in the freshwater reservoir Jora Talab, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. Phytoplankton constitute an important component of freshwater ecosystems and serve as primary producers, thereby supporting aquatic food webs and contributing to overall biological productivity. During the study, a total of 14 phytoplankton species belonging to four major groups were recorded. Cyanophyceae (Myxophyceae) was represented by four species, Chlorophyceae by five species, Bacillariophyceae by three species and Euglenophyceae by two species. The study revealed considerable seasonal variation in phytoplankton abundance, with comparatively higher diversity and abundance observed during the summer season, followed by the rainy and winter seasons. Among the recorded groups, Chlorophyceae was the dominant phytoplankton class across all sampling stations. The observed variations in phytoplankton composition may be associated with seasonal changes in temperature, nutrient availability and other environmental factors. The study provides useful baseline information regarding phytoplankton diversity and seasonal dynamics in Jora Talab.