1.0 WHAT IS PHYTOPLANKTON?
The word phytoplankton derived from Greek words phyto (plant) and plankton (made to wanhder or drift), phytoplankton is microscopic organisms that live in watery environments, both salty and fresh. Phytoplankton has chlorophyll to capture sunlight, and they use photosynthesis to turn it into chemical energy. They consume carbon dioxide, and release oxygen. Most phytoplankton is too small to be individually seen with the unaided eye. Phytoplankton growth depends on the availability of carbon dioxide, sunlight, and nutrients. As phytoplankton are suspended in water and finding no places to conceal themselves, they have a special adaptation which encountered their difficulty in movement. One of them is involving floatation. Obviously, the phytoplankton are limited to the upper lighted euphotic and disphotic zone.
2.0 METHODOLOGY
Phytoplankton and zooplankton was collected by using 63µm and 120µm mesh size plankton net. The plankton net was thrown into the surface water and pull back in order to collect phytoplankton and zooplankton. Plankton net then was washed or rinse with distilled water in order to remove planktons that stick on the net surfaces. Planktons collected were then stored into a sample bottle with label by opening the valve of the plankton net. The samples from each location were bringing to the laboratory for analysis, identification by using compound microscope and dissecting microscope. The samples were then preserved by using formalin.
The pie chart above shows percentage abundance of phytoplankton in mesh size 63µm and 120µm plankton net. Overall,there are 16 Genus found in this mesh size which is Bacteriastrum,Ceratium,Chaemosiphon,Chaetoceros,Fragillaria,Golenkinia,Lagerheimia ,Leptocylindricus,Melosira,Navicula,Nitszia,Oscillatoria,Rhizosolenia,Scenedesmus,Synedra, and Trichodesmium.
The highest genus of phytoplankton found in mesh size 120µm is Chaetoceros with percentage abundance 34% and individual number of 143. The second highest genus is Bacteriastrum with percentage abundance of 27% followed by Lagerheimia with percentage abundance 14%. The lowest individual found is from genus Ceratium and Flagillaria with 1 individual each and percentage abundance of 0%.
