DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Visayas State University
Visca, Baybay City, Leyte PHILIPPINES
Phone/Fax: +63 53 563-7536
Email:
[email protected] Website: www.vsu.edu.ph
Tabada, Kimberly Sheen Q.
BSBio-4
Oct. 25, 2017
Exercise no. 4
PLANKTON COMMUNITIES IN FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM
INTRODUCTION
Plankton are microscopic organisms that live suspended in the water environment, and form a
very important part of the freshwater community. In almost every habitat of a freshwater ecosystem,
thousands of these organisms can be found, and due to their small size and simplicity, they are capable of
occupying large expanses of water and multiplying at an exponential rate. Planktons are an essential
component life on earth.
Like land plants, phytoplankton have chlorophyll to capture sunlight, and they use photosynthesis
to turn it into chemical energy. They consume carbon dioxide, and release oxygen. All phytoplankton
photosynthesize, but some get additional energy by consuming other organisms. Some phytoplankton
can fix nitrogen and can grow in areas where nitrate concentrations are low. They are important to the
ecosystem because they are part of the primary producing community and assist in recycling elements
such as carbon and Sulphur which are required elsewhere in the community. Through photosynthesis,
phytoplankton consume carbon dioxide on a scale equivalent to forests and other land plants. They are the
responsible for most of the transfer of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to the ocean. Carbon dioxide
is consumed during photosynthesis, and the carbon is incorporated in the phytoplankton, just as carbon is
stored in the wood and leaves of a tree. Most of the carbon is returned to near-surface waters when
phytoplankton are eaten or decompose, but some falls into the ocean depths
Zooplankton are the animal-like primary consumers of plankton communities. In turn,
zooplankton then become food for larger, secondary consumers such as fish. Zooplankton include
microscopic and macroscopic organisms. Some zooplankton such as copepods, krill, and arrow worms
will drift the ocean as plankton for their entire lives. Other zooplankton live only a portion of their lives
as ocean drifters. These include oysters, crabs, and some fish.
OBJECTIVES
To familiarize students to the apparatus and sampling protocol in collecting planktonic
organisms;
To introduce students to the different phytoplankton and zooplankton groups, and
To determine the species composition, occurrence and abundance of these organisms.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Procedure
Sampling site is in the Calbiga-a river. Every group have gathered the physico-chemical data in
the assigned station using the equipment used in measuring parameters in the surrounding with three
readings in every station before samples are collected by using plankton net and determining the mesh
size and radius of plankton net is measured also before getting the samples.
Sample Collection
Along a 30-meter distance parallel to the river in each sampling station has a three substation
named left, right, and middle portions, every substations has been collected using the plankton net by
towing and right after towing the net is washed by a distilled water in order for the other debris left in the
net can be carry through the plastic containers (same procedure in other substation). The collected
samples in the plastic container were added by a 3 mL Lugol’s solution and 70% ethyl alcohol to preserve
the samples. (Don’t forget to label each plastic container in every substation)
Microscopic examination and Data Collection
The collected samples are bring to the laboratory for microscopic examination, but before the
aliquot was examined the bottle was shake for an even distribution of samples. Every station is examined
its three of 1 mL aliquot by using compound microscope and was identified each of the plankton group
observe using the Sedgewick rafter, an instrument used in counting collected samples. Total number of
the planktons encountered during viewing was counted. Sketching and taking photos of the plankton
observed are done also for documentation and identifying the planktons was done by referring to the
given manual/guide provided by the instructor.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1. Physico-chemical parameters in Calbiga-a river
Station1
Parameter Unit Station1 Station2 Station3
Air temperature ᵒC 30.3 31 31
Water tenpereature ᵒC 28.3 28 28.13
pH 7 6 7
Water depth m 0.87 0.17 0.1214
Channel width m 8.8 5 5.6
Current velocity m/s 0.52 0.08 0.24
Discharge m/s 0.04 0.0136 0.1631
Dissolved oxygen mg/L 54.28 25.7 32.5
Light intensity Lux 33890 54693 51640
Salinity ppt. 0 0 0
Shadowness partially shaded Open Partially shaded
Water color
clear Clear Clear
Table 2. Taxa composition of planktonic
organisms in Calbiga-a River.
Phytoplankto
n
Taxa(Divisio Statio Statio Statio
n) n1 n2 n3
Cyanophyta 8 21 7
Chlorophyta 11 23 11
Charophyta 17 26 12
Xanthophyta 0 0 0
Rhodophyta 0 0 0
Chrysophyta 0 0 0
Bacillariophy
ta 152 72 47
Total 188 142 77
Araeolaimida
Actinophyrida
Aphelenchida
Calanoida
4% 4% 4% 4% Copepoda
4% 4%
4% Cyclopoida
4% Diaptomoidea
Diplostraca
7% Diptera
26%
Bacillariophy Euglenales
13% 13% 4% ta
Euplotida
Charophyta Gonyaulacales
13% 13% 7%
Ochrophyta Harpacticoida
4%
4% 4% 4% 7% Chrysophyta Nematoida
4% Pyrrophycop Plioma
17%
30% hyta
Sessilida
Chlorophyta Siphonostomatoida
Testudinellidae
Table 3. Occurrence of planktonic organism in Calbiga-a river
Phytoplankton taxa Station 1 Station 2 Station 3
Ankistrodermus furiformis 1 0 0
Asterionella 0 0 1
Astrionellopsis 1 1 0
Bacillaria 1 0 0
Biddnalfia 1 0 0
Closterium 1 0 0
Coseinodiscus sp. 1 0 0
Desmids 0 1 0
Diatom 0 1 1
Flagillaria capucina 1 0 0
Flagillaria sp. 1 1 0
Gonyaulax 1 1 0
Green algae 1 1 1
Melosira 1 0 0
Mougeotia 0 0 1
Navicula 1 1 0
Nitzchia 1 1 1
Oedogonium 0 0 1
Oscillatoria 0 1 0
Oscillaxona princeps 1 0 0
Pandorina morum 0 1 0
Pleurosigma 1 1 0
Sagoelonium 1 0 0
Spirulina 1 1 1
Staurastrum 1 0 0
Stigeoclonium 0 0 1
Surirella 0 0 1
Synedra 1 1 1
Tabellaria 0 0 1
Thalassiothrix 1 1 0
Zygnema 0 0 1
Total 20 14 12
Zooplankton taxa Station 1 Station 2 Station 3
Actinosphaerium 0 0 1
Aphlencoides 0 0 1
Botrycoccus 0 1 0
Brachionus 1 1 1
Ceratium 1 1 0
Copepods 1 1 0
Cyclops 1 1 1
Daphnia 0 1 1
Diaptomus 1 1 1
Dinoflagellates 0 1 1
Euglena 1 0 0
Euplotes 0 0 1
Filinia 1 1 0
Gastropus 1 0 0
Keratella 1 1 0
Lecane 0 0 1
Lepadella 0 0 1
Lepeophtheirus 1 0 1
Megistocera 0 0 1
Microsetella 1 0 1
Moina 0 0 1
Monomata 1 0 0
Nauplius 1 1 0
Neocyclops 0 1 1
Oligochaetes 0 0 1
Rhabdulaimus 1 1 0
Rotifers 0 1 1
Roundworms 0 1 0
Tendipes 1 0 0
Tortanus 1 0 1
Trichotria 1 1 0
Vorticella 0 0 1
Total 17 16 19
Table 4. Abundance of planktonic organism in Calbiga-a river
Phytoplankton taxa Total count
Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Total
Ankistrodermus furiformis 4 0 0 4
Asterionella 0 0 1 1
Astrionellopsis 1 1 0 2
Bacillaria 8 0 0 8
Biddnalfia 1 0 0 1
Closterium 6 0 0 6
Coseinodiscus sp. 23 0 0 23
Desmids 0 34 0 34
Diatom 0 59 32 91
Flagillaria capucina 2 0 0 2
Flagillaria sp. 28 18 0 46
Gonyaulax 1 1 0 2
Green algae 11 29 55 95
Melosira 7 0 0 7
Mougeotia 0 0 1 1
Navicula 6 6 0 12
Nitzchia 1 4 4 9
Oedogonium 0 0 6 6
Oscillatoria 0 21 0 21
Oscillaxona princeps 1 0 0 1
Pandorina morum 0 15 0 15
Pleurosigma 15 4 0 19
Sagoelonium 3 0 0 3
Spirulina 7 7 7 21
Staurastrum 1 0 0 1
Stigeoclonium 0 0 11 11
Surirella 0 0 1 1
Synedra 4 4 8 16
Tabellaria 0 0 7 7
Thalassiothrix 18 5 0 23
Zygnema 0 0 5 5
Total 148 208 138 494
Computed abundance
Station 1 Station 2 Station 3
564.8 0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0 134.5
141.2 92.4 0.0
1129.5 0.0 0.0
141.2 0.0 0.0
847.1 0.0 0.0
3247.3 0.0 0.0
0.0 3140.1 0.0
0.0 5449.0 4304.0
282.4 0.0 0.0
3953.3 1662.4 0.0
141.2 92.4 0.0
1553.1 2678.3 7397.6
988.3 0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0 134.5
847.1 554.1 0.0
141.2 369.4 538.0
0.0 0.0 807.0
0.0 1939.5 0.0
141.2 0.0 0.0
0.0 1385.4 0.0
2117.8 369.4 0.0
423.6 0.0 0.0
988.3 646.5 941.5
141.2 0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0 1479.5
0.0 0.0 134.5
564.8 369.4 1076.0
0.0 0.0 941.5
2541.4 461.8 0.0
0.0 0.0 672.5
20896.0 19210.2 18561.1
Total count per ml
Zooplankton taxa Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Total
Actinosphaerium 0 0 1 1
Aphlencoides 0 0 2 2
Botrycoccus 0 2 0 2
Brachionus 2 2 2 6
Ceratium 1 1 0 2
Copepods 19 14 0 33
Cyclops 27 16 15 58
Daphnia 0 2 3 5
Diaptomus 7 5 3 15
Dinoflagellates 0 1 4 5
Euglena 1 0 0 1
Euplotes 0 0 1 1
Filinia 2 1 0 3
Gastropus 2 0 0 2
Keratella 1 3 0 4
Lecane 0 0 1 1
Lepadella 0 0 1 1
Lepeophtheirus 1 0 1 2
Megistocera 0 0 2 2
Microsetella 1 0 1 2
Moina 0 0 2 2
Monomata 1 0 0 1
Nauplius 4 2 0 6
Neocyclops 0 4 1 5
Oligochaetes 0 0 1 1
Rhabdulaimus 4 76 0 80
Rotifers 0 2 3 5
Roundworms 0 67 0 67
Tendipes 2 0 0 2
Tortanus 5 0 1 6
Trichotria 1 3 0 4
Vorticella 0 0 2 2
Total 81 201 47 329
Computed abundance
Station 1 Station 2 Station 3
0.0 0.0 134.5
0.0 0.0 269.0
0.0 184.7 0.0
282.4 184.7 269.0
141.2 92.4 0.0
2682.6 1293.0 0.0
3812.1 1477.7 2017.5
0.0 184.7 403.5
988.3 461.8 403.5
0.0 92.4 538.0
141.2 0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0 134.5
282.4 92.4 0.0
282.4 0.0 0.0
141.2 277.1 0.0
0.0 0.0 134.5
0.0 0.0 134.5
141.2 0.0 134.5
0.0 0.0 269.0
141.2 0.0 134.5
0.0 0.0 269.0
141.2 0.0 0.0
564.8 184.7 0.0
0.0 369.4 134.5
0.0 0.0 134.5
564.8 7019.1 0.0
0.0 184.7 403.5
0.0 6187.9 0.0
282.4 0.0 0.0
705.9 0.0 134.5
141.2 277.1 0.0
0.0 0.0 269.0
11436.3 18563.7 6321.5
DISCUSSION
APPENDICES
Station 1
Count Count
Left Counts Middle s Right s
Phytoplankton
Ankistrodermus
furiformis 4 Bacillaria 8 Coseinodiscus sp. 3
Flagillaria
Astrionellopsis 1 Biddnalfia 1 capucina 2
Coseinodiscus
Closterium 6 sp. 5 Flagillaria sp. 10
Coseinodiscus sp. 15 Flagillaria sp. 12 Gonyaulax 1
Flagillaria sp. 6 Navicula 6 Green algae 11
Oscillaxona princeps 1 Nitzchia 1 Melosira 7
Pleurosigma 6 Pleurosigma 4 Pleurosigma 5
Sagoelonium 3 Thalassiothrix 8 Synedra 4
Spirulina 7 Thalassiothrix 10
Staurastrum 1
Zooplankton
Brachionus 2 Copepods 5 Copepods 5
Ceratium 1 Cyclops 10 Cyclops 10
Copepods 9 Diaptomus 5 Diaptomus 2
Cyclops 7 Euglena 1 Filinia 2
Keratella 1 Gastropus 2 Microsetella 1
Lepeophtheirus 1 Monomata 1 Tortanus 2
Nauplius 2 Nauplius 2
Rhabdulaimus 4
Tendipes 2
Tortanus 3
Trichotria 1
Station 2
Left Counts Middle Counts Right Counts
Phytoplankton
Desmids 34 Diatom 18 Astrionellopsis 1
Diatom 41 F. green algae 15 Fragillaria 14
F. green algae 14 Gonyaulax 1
Fragillaria 4 Navicula 6
Nitzschia 4
Oscillatoria 21
Pandorina morum 15
Pleurosigma 4
Spirulina 7
Synedra 4
Thalassiothrix 5
Zooplankton
Botryococcus 2 Daphnia 2 Brachionus 2
Ceratium 1 Neocyclops 4 Cyclops 16
Rhabdolaimu
Copepods 14 s 4 Diaptomus 5
Dinoflagellate
s 1 Roundworms 12 Filinia 1
Keratella 2 Keratella 1
Rhabdolaimus 72 Nauplius 2
Rotifers 2 Trichotia 3
Roundworms 55
Station 3
Coun Coun
Left ts Middle ts Right Counts
Phytoplankt
on
Asterionella 1 Green Algae 25 Green Algae 30
Diatom 32 Oedogonium 6 Spirulina 2
Mougeotia 1 Spirulina 1 Synedra 3
Stigeocloniu
Nitzschia 4 m 11 Tabellaria 1
Spirulina 4
Surirella 1
Synedra 5
Tabellaria 6
Zygnema 5
Zooplankton
Aphlenchoid Actinosphaeri
Cyclops 2 es 2 um 1
Daphnia 1 Brachionus 2 Diatom 3
Dinoflagellate
Lepeophtheirus 1 Cyclops 13 s 4
Microsetella 1 Daphnia 2 Lecane 1
Neocyclops 1 Euplotes 1 Oligochaetes 1
Tortanus 1 Lepadella 1 Rotifers 3
Vorticella 1 Megistocera 2
Moina 2
Vorticella 1
STATION 3 (PHYTOPLANKTON)
Diatoma
Mougeotia
Nitzschia Spirulina Surirella
Synedra Zygnema
Tabellari
(ZOOPLANKTON)
STATION 1 (PHYTOPLANKTON)
ceratium Cosconodiscus
REFERENCE
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/plankton-revealed/
http://www.biology-online.org/6/16_plankton.htm
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Phytoplankton/
