Impact of Nypa Palm (<i>Nypa fruticans</i>) and Mangroves Forests on Plankton Community along Andoni River, Nigeria

Abstract

The invasion of mangroves forest by nypa palm is said to affect the ability of the mangroves to act as a spawning ground for fishes. It is thus hypothesized that nypa palm presence in mangrove forest will impact their fish spawning ability due to the reduction in plankton population. A total of four stations were chosen: station 1 (open water), Station 2 (nypa palm dominant), station 3 (Rhizophora and Avicennia dominant), Station 4 (Mixed forest). Results of water quality parameters include; pH (6.99 ± 0.16), temperature (28.20°C ± 0.05°C), DO (4.71 ± 0.18 mg/L), conductivity (19.52 ± 0.20 µm/s), salinity (10.76 ± 0.07 ppt) and TDS (13.45 ± 0.27 ppt). Mean values of the physico-chemical parameters were not significantly different from each other (P > 0.05). In all 737 zooplankton in eleven genera were collected. Copepoda dominated with 75.1%. Similarly, 4774 phytoplankton in six taxa were collected. Bacilliarophyceae dominated with 87.45%. Shannon Weiner index across the stations was highest in station 4 (0.36) and lowest in station 1 (0.33). Margalef's index was highest in stations 2, 3, and 4 (3.48) and lowest in station 1 (2.67). Pielou's index of evenness was highest in station 4 (0.099) and lowest in station 1 (0.089). The composition and abundance of plankton showed no significant difference across the four stations (P > 0.05). This implies that the presence of Nypa fruticans (Wurmb) did not have negative impact on the abundance and diversity of plankton.

The Species Composition of Phytoplankton and Nutrient Content in the Nipa Nypa fruticans Ecosystem on the West Coast of Aceh, Indonesia

“…nipa is a member of the palm group and typically grows alongside mangroves. Furthermore, sea water and fresh water from the mainland have an impact on the nipa ecosystem, making it an area of water mass circulation and high nutrients that are needed by plankton, particularly phytoplankton to grow and develop, resulting in high water productivity [1,2].…”

“…This condition changes the composition, distribution, and abundance of phytoplankton and possibly the occurrence and blooming of toxic species in estuary waters. Nutrient variation in estuary waters is strongly related to the distribution and abundance of phytoplankton in estuaries, particularly the nipa ecosystem [2,10], and these can be used as a bioindicator for waters productivity [11].…”