Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 33(2): 15-26, 2024 (July) DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/dujbs.v32i2.

75813

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PHYTOPLANKTON COMMUNITIES AND

EUTROPHICATION STATUS IN TWO URBAN PONDS WITHIN DHAKA
METROPOLIS

MAHIN MOHID *, MOHAMMAD AZMAL HOSSAIN BHUIYAN, MD. SYMOON HAQUE SAYKOT ,
MOHAIMINA NAHIN AND MONIRUZZAMAN KHONDKER

National Professor AKM Nurul Islam Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Dhaka,
Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Keywords: chlorophyll, museum pond, nitrate, phytoplankton density, Shahidullah Hall pond, water
quality

Abstract
Changes in physicochemical water quality and plankton biomass over time
can clearly indicate the eutrophication status of a water body. Urban ponds are
particularly susceptible to cultural and natural eutrophication, making it essential
to study their water quality and phytoplankton biomass. This study examined
two urban ponds within the University of Dhaka campus: Shahidullah Hall Pond
(SH-pond) and Museum Pond (Mu-pond). Common phytoplankton in both
ponds included species like Pediastrum simplex, Melosira granulata var. angustata,
Synedra nana, Ceratium sp., and Ceratium furcoides, along with zooplankton such
as Brachionus sp., Keratella cochlearis, and copepod nauplii. The higher diversity of
zooplankton compared to phytoplankton suggests that zooplankton overgrazing
has reduced phytoplankton species composition. The study’s results indicate
a clear trend of eutrophication in both ponds. Over three decades, SH-pond
showed increases in water temperature (4.5°C), alkalinity (0.32 meq/L), dissolved
oxygen (6.84 mg/L), soluble reactive phosphorus (21.35 µg/L), nitrate (137.77
µg/L), and chlorophyll-a (23.76 µg/L), with water transparency decreasing by 67
cm. Eutrophication indicators like dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and
phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll-a) increased by 1.9, 1.82, 2.23, and 2.21 times,
respectively, suggesting significant eutrophication in Sh-pond. In contrast, over 26
years, Mu-pond data showed decreases in water temperature (2.66°C), pH (0.18),
conductivity (31 µS/cm), silica (12.17 mg/L), and chlorophyll-a (12.4 µg/L), but
increases in dissolved oxygen (7.61 mg/L), soluble reactive phosphorus (1.16 µg/L),
and nitrate nitrogen (170.75 µg/L). This suggests a slower rate of eutrophication
in Mu-pond. Human intervention is a critical factor influencing eutrophication in
urban ponds, highlighting the need for effective management systems.

* Author of correspondence: [email protected]

16 MOHID et al.

Introduction
Drifting microscopic or semi-microscopic organisms from the plant and animal
communities in water bodies form plankton(1). These tiny organisms (typically ranging
from less than 5 µm to over 1 mm) inhabit the pelagic zone, playing crucial roles in
carbon synthesis, oxygen production, and the transfer of energy to higher trophic levels.
Their functions are essential for the biological productivity and nutrient cycles of aquatic
ecosystems(2,1, 3). Among plankton, drifting microalgae,i.e., the photoautotrophic components
of almost all surface waters are called phytoplankton, while the heterotrophic part from the
animal community are called zooplankton(4).

Ponds are relatively shallower closed water bodies, may be artificial or natural having
large littoral but mostly without thermal stratification(5). Pond ecosystems, whether
naturally formed or artificially constructed, act as crucial intermediaries in nutrient and
hydrological cycles and support rich biodiversity. In addition to the aesthetic and practical
benefits of rural ponds, urban ponds play an important socioeconomic role, serving as
emergency water sources for firefighting and domestic use. They also support biodiversity
similar to that of larger water bodies. Over its 400-year history, the Dhaka metropolis has
been enriched with numerous well-known ponds and wetlands in both its downtown and
suburban(6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13). But with due course, many of those got extinct creating severe loss to
the biodiversity components and also creating a threat towards emergency water supply.

Urban ponds, if not properly protected and managed, are highly susceptible to
eutrophication, which leads to a decline in water quality and biodiversity. Eutrophication
of surface waters is a process that occurs over time(14,5). so managing them properly, the
water quality and biodiversity of the targeted ecosystems should be studied routinely.
Based on this concept, previously studied two important ponds(15,11)of the University of
Dhaka campus have been brought under routine check through the present investigation.
Therefore, this research was conducted to investigate the limnological factors responsible
for changes in the physicochemical conditions of the water, as well as the quality and
quantity of the planktonic communities in Shahidullah Hall Pond and Museum Pond in
Dhaka Metropolis over time.

Materials and Methods

The present study was carried out on Shahidullah Hall Pond (SH-pond) and Museum
Pond (Mu-pond) which are located within the University of Dhaka Campus (GPS: 23.731543
lat. and 90.39485 long.). The ponds were limnologically investigated nearly two decades
ago(15,11). A detailed account on the morphometry, plankton, and physicochemical limnology
of the two ponds could be had elsewhere(10,15,16,17,11,18,19,20).

A single grab sampling technique was adopted for each pond. On 2 Feb 2023 both the
study sites were sampled at two stations in each from 12:00 noon to 01:00 PM. The sampled
stations were for Shahidullah Hall pond east (SH-east) and west (SH-west) and for Museum
Pond north part (Mu-north) and south part (Mu-south). The time difference of sampling
for both the ponds was 1 h and their distance is nearly 1 km. At first the sampling stations
PHYTOPLANKTON AND EUTROPHICATION STATUS IN TWO PONDS OF DHAKA 17

Mus-north and Mus-south were covered. After reaching the station the water and Secchi
depths were measured using a graduated rope carrying a weight at the end and a standard
Secchi disc, respectively. Thereafter, a field meter was used to measure the pH, TDS, and
conductivity of water (Hanna Multi Instruments Code-HI9813-6, S/N-DO108196, Romania).

The air temperature was measured with the help of a mercury thermometer (Gallenkamp,
UK). A Schindler-Patalas water sampler (plexiglass made transparent, 5 L cap.) was dipped
up to half a meter depth and the water sample was collected. Water temperature was
recorded from the thermometer housed in the sampler. Two Pyrex glass stoppered BOD
bottles were filled with the sample water and immediately fixed by adding the Winkler’s 1st
and 2nd reagents and the bottles were carried to the laboratory for DO analysis. Another set
of 2 L pond water was drained from the sampler and stored for carrying to the laboratory.
Half of the collected sample from the selected stations was immediately preserved in
Lugol’s solution and formalin respectively for further microscopic analysis to study the
phytoplankton composition of these water habitat. To complete all the manipulation at each
pond 1 h duration was needed. After collection, all the samples were taken to the National
Professor AKM Nurul Islam Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Dhaka for
further analysis. Laboratory procedures applied to determine all the physicochemical and
biological parameters are those mentioned in Bhuiyan et al.(21). Both the preserved samples
collected from these two habitats were used for the identification of microalgae by using
light microscopes at 40× and 100× magnification. Microscopic photography was done
for identification and morphological study (Zeiss, Axio, Lab. A1, Zeiss Axiocam ERc 5s,
Germany).

Results and Discussion

Figures 1-5 illustrate the presence of plankton taxa documented in the two ponds under
study. In Shahidullah Hall Pond, the plankton community consisted of 5 phytoplankton
taxa and 7 zooplankton taxa. Those are: Pediastrum simplex, Melosira granulata var. angustata,
Synedra nana, Ceratium furcoides, and Ceratium sp. and Brachionus angularis, B. plicatilis,
Filinia opliensis, Keratella cochlearis, K.quadrata, copepod nauplii and Heliodiaptomus sp. for
phyto- and zooplankton, respectively.

On the other hand, Museum Pond was represented by 7 species of phytoplankton

and 10 species of zooplankton. Those are: Oscillatoria sp., Pediastrum simplex, P. simplex
var. sturmii, Melosira granulata var. angustata, Synedra nana, Ceratium sp. and Ceratium
furcoides. The principal taxa of the zooplankton community were composed of by Diflugia
sp., Chromogaster sp., Polyartha sp., Brachionus pallas, B. forficula, Brachionus sp., Keratella
cochlearis, copepod nauplii, copepodite stage, and Diaptomus sp. The plankton composition
in both ponds was typical, with a notable higher diversity of zooplankton compared to
phytoplankton in each habitat. This imbalance suggests that phytoplankton were likely
overgrazed by zooplankton, leading to a decrease in their species composition. Additionally,
a shift in the phytoplankton community from coccoid green algae to dinoflagellates was
observed in both ponds(11,17).
18 MOHID et al.

Fig. 1. A-L. Phyto- and zooplankton taxa recorded in the present investigation from Shahidullah Hall
Pond. A-B, Pediastrum simplex; C, Melosira granulata var. angustata; D, Synedra nana (girdle
view); E-H, Ceratium furcoides; I, Ceratium sp.; J-K, Difflugia sp.; Brachionus sp.
PHYTOPLANKTON AND EUTROPHICATION STATUS IN TWO PONDS OF DHAKA 19

Fig. 2. A-M. Zooplankton taxa recorded in the present investigation from Shahidullah Hall Pond.
A-B, Brachionus angularis; C, B. plicatilis; D, Filinia opliensis; E-G, & I, Keratella cochlearis; H, K.
quadrata; J-L, copepod nauplii; M, Heliodiaptomus sp.
20 MOHID et al.

Fig. 3. A-L. Museum pond phytoplankton recorded from the present investigation. A, Oscillatoria sp.;
B-C, Pediastrum simplex; D, Pediastrum simplex var. sturmii; E-G, Melosira granulata var. angustata;
H-J, Synedra nana (valve view); K-L, Ceratium sp.;
PHYTOPLANKTON AND EUTROPHICATION STATUS IN TWO PONDS OF DHAKA 21

Fig. 4. A-L. Phyto- and zooplankton taxa recorded in the present investigation from Museum pond.
A-F, Ceratium furcoides; G-H, Diflugia sp.; I, Chromogaster sp.; J, Polyartha sp.; K, Brachionus
pallas; L, B. forficula.
22 MOHID et al.

Fig. 5. A-I. Zooplankton taxa recorded in the present investigation from the Museum pond. A, Keratella
cochlearis; C-D, Brachionus sp.; E, Brachionus sp. (top view); F-G, copepod nauplii; H, copepodite
stage; I, Diaptomus sp.

Data on 14 water quality parameters from the east and west stations of Shahidullah
Hall Pond and north and south stations of Museum Pond have been presented in Table 1.
On a spatial scale, the studied stations of SH-pond did not show much variation. Air and
water temperature, water depth, Secchi depth, TDS, electrical conductivity, and pH varied
by 1 and 2°C, 1 cm, 2 cm, 10 mg/L, 0.02 µS/cm, and 0.1, respectively. Other parameters for
the same pond varied 5.28 mg/L, 0.06 meq/L, 0.1 mg/L, 45 µg/L, 8.28 µg/L for DO, alkalinity,
NO3, SRP, and chl-a, respectively. No difference was found for CO2 and SRS concentration
in the studied stations of SH-pond (Table 1). While in the Mus-pond no variation was found
PHYTOPLANKTON AND EUTROPHICATION STATUS IN TWO PONDS OF DHAKA 23

in the air temperature for the north and south stations. However, for water temperature and
depth, Secchi depth, TDS, electrical conductivity and pH varied by 1°C, 3 cm, 9 cm, 15 mg/L,
0.02 µS/cm, and 0.01 unit, respectively. In the same pond, DO, alkalinity, CO2, NO3, SRP,
SRS, and chl-a varied by 5.85 mg/L, 0.05 meq/L, 0.96 mg/L,0.04 mg/L, 5 µg/L, 0.80 mg/L and
1.18 µg/L, respectively (Table 1).

Table 1. Spatial distribution of physicochemical parameters in the two studied ponds

Sites PD
Air t Z Z sT D SCond D O Alkal C O 2 N O 3 S R P S R S C h l - a ( × 1 0 3
ºC Wat t ºC (cm) (cm) (mg/L) (µS/cm) pH (mg/L) (meq/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (µg/L) (mg/L) (µg/L) ind/L

SH-east 29 25 46 39 222 0.31 7.6 11.79 2.05 8.71 0.30 25 0.36 47.36 1620

SH-west 28 23 45 37 212 0.29 7.5 17.07 2.11 8.71 0.20 70 0.36 39.08 2310

M-north 27 20 35 20 330 0.46 6.9 11.79 2.71 10.64 0.29 30 2.80 16.58 600

M-south 27 21 32 29 345 0.48 6.8 17.64 2.76 9.68 0.25 35 2.00 17.76 213

Ten water quality parameters found common in the historic database (for February,
1991, 1997, and 2023) for both the Shahidullah Hall Pond and Museum Pond (February
1997 and 2023) have been presented in Table 2. In SH-pond, on a temporal scale i.e., over
a time span of three decades water temperature, alkalinity, DO, SRP, NO3, and chl-a have
shown an increase by 4.5 °C, 0.32 meq/L, 6.84 mg/L, 21.35 µg/L, 137.77 µg/L, and 23.76 µg/L,
respectively. The concomitant decrease in water transparency caused by all the above-
mentioned parameters, and as it has been revealed by a decrease in Secchi depth by 67 cm.
The three main eutrophication indicating parameters namely, DO, N, P, and phytoplankton
biomass (chl-a) were increased by 1.9, 1.82, 2.23, and 2.21-fold, respectively (Table 2). This
data suggests that a clear eutrophication phenomenon has occurred in the pond water.

For Mu-pond 10 water quality parameters in common with the Sh-pond and for two
years only (1997 and 2023) were available (Table 2). The time span covered was 26 years.
Over this period comparison of data of Mu-pond reveals that there had been a drop in the
water temperature (2.66°C), pH (0.18), conductivity (31 µS/cm), Si (12.17 mg/L), and chl-a
(12.4 µg/L) but an increase in DO (7.61 mg/L), SRP (1.16 µg/L), NO3-N (170.75 µg/L).

In Bangladesh, studies related to the long-term changes in the water quality parameters
in a single water body is almost nil. Afroze and Khondker(22) compared the water quality of
a eutrophicated waterbody with that of a protected one and found that in the eutrophicated
water body chl-a, SRP, Si, and NO3-N were higher by19-, 39-, 4.6-, and 1.75-fold compared
to the protected pond. But DO and Zs decreased by1.5- and 5.5-fold(22). In another study
carried out by Zerin et al(23) on a section of the river Buriganga, Dhaka Metropolis passed
through heavily populated area found a reduction of Secchi depth, and the concentration
of NO3-N, DO, phytoplankton species number, and density by factors of 3.5, 36.33. 3.5, 1.67,
and 675.89 respectively over a period of 40 years(23). In the same study chl-a value increased
1.13 times over a period of 10 years span(23). In the present study the Sh-pond showed also
24 MOHID et al.

an increase in the concentration of DO, N, P, and phytoplankton biomass. Similarly, in the

Mu-pond of the present investigation DO, SRP, and NO3-N were found higher in to some
extent.

Table 2. A comparative analysis (data of February), showing the water quality changes occurred in
the two ponds over a period of nearly three decades.

Shahidullah Hall Pond Museum Pond

Parameters (February) (February)
1991 1997 2023 1997 2023
Water temperature (ºC) 24.0 23.12 28.5 23.16 20.5
Secchi depth (cm) 105 - 38 - 24.5
pH 7.5 7.06 7.5 7.03 6.85
Alkalinity (meq/L) 1.76 1.58 2.08 1.58 2.74
Conductivity (µS/cm) 360 547 300 501 470
DO (mg/L) 7.59 7.06 14.43 7.11 14.72
Si (mg/L) 10.71 6.69 0.36 14.57 2.4
SRP (µg/L) 26.15 19.02 47.50 31.34 32.5
NO3-N (µg/L) 112.23 239.12 250.00 99.25 270
Chl-a (µg/L) 19.61 8.71 43.37 29.57 17.17

Conclusion
The comparative study of two ponds regarding eutrophication status indicates that SH-
pond is more impacted by cultural eutrophication. This is attributed to its location between
two residential halls of the University of Dhaka, where it is influenced by a significant
number of non-resident students and staff. In contrast, Mu-pond benefits from stricter
access control by the National Museum authority, limiting public entry without proper
authorization. Many urban ponds in Dhaka Metropolis have disappeared over time, leaving
only a few remaining. Sh-pond, nearly 200 years old, is approaching eutrophication due
to these influences. Effective management strategies are therefore essential and should be
implemented by the administrative authority to safeguard against cultural eutrophication.

Acknowledgement
Special thanks to Md Saddam Hossain, Lecturer of Abdulpur Govt. College, Natore for
helping us collecting samples from museum pond.

Disclosure of conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest in this manuscript.

Statement of ethical approval

There is no animal/human subject involvement in this manuscript.
PHYTOPLANKTON AND EUTROPHICATION STATUS IN TWO PONDS OF DHAKA 25

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(Manuscript received on 21 January, 2024; accepted on 11 June, 2024)