Ecological assessment of phytoplankton community in shrimp culture ponds of Gomishan-southeast Caspian Sea

Knowing on diversity and species composition of the phytoplankton provides insight on primary production and food webs in aquatic environments. In order to study of phytoplankton community of the Gomishan shrimp culture ponds, this study was carried out to determine diversity and frequency of phytoplankton species from May to October 2016. The samples were taken from surface waters of three point (near the inlet, middle and near the outlet) of six selected ponds by l-liter bottles. The results showed that phytoplankton community belong to 23 genus of 6 phylum including Bacillariophyta, Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, Dinophyta, Cryptophyta and Euglenophyta. The community dominated by the genus Aphanotece, Chlamydomonas, Nitzschia and Pridinium. Two genus of Pridinium and Chlamydomonas had the highest frequency. Considering biodivercity index, Basilariophytahad the highest divercity. The Shannon diversity index and Menhinick richness were the highest in May and July, respectively, evenness index in July and August.