Spatial and Temporal Variability of Phytoplankton Assemblages and Physico-Chemical Characterization in Three Similar Dams

Abstract

The present preliminary study was undertaken from April to September 2013 in order to assess the limnological factors and phytoplankton communities in three dams, having depth of 6 m and area of 10 ± 2 Hectares, at Node Khanduz (Dam 1), Seyed Abad (Dam 2) and Marzban (Dam 3) in Azad Shahr, Gorgan, Iran. During the study period, a total number of 8 families and 28 genera were identified from all sampling sites. Of these 28 genera, 6 genera were belonging to family Bacillariophyceae, 5 genera were from Cyanophyceae, 2 genera from Charophycea, 2 genera from Chrysophyceae, 2 genera from Euglenophyceae, 8 genera from Chlorophyceae, 2 genera from Dinophyceae and 1 genus was belonging to Xanthophyceae. It was concluded that all the dams were having very well balanced phytoplankton communities yet changes in individuals’ composition and numbers were significantly varying among the three studied dams. Further studies focusing on other factors such as presence of heavy metals in the dams and of lengthy periods are recommended.