Identification of phytoplankton communities and their relationship with physicochemical parameters in the waters of Asalooyeh harbor (Persian Gulf)

This study aimed to identify, evaluate and compare the ecological density of phytoplankton populations during two season spring and fall in Asalouyeh harbor, Persian Gulf. Sampling was conducted at six stations on April 2013 and October 2014. Ecological parameters such as temperature, salinity, turbidity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and TDS were also measured at different time sampling time. According to the results, 5 groups of phytoplankton including bacillariophyta (86.14%), pyrrophyta (3.38%), chlorophyta (2.76%) cyanophyta (7.68%), and euglenophyta (0.02%) were identified. Bacillariophyta was the most abundant group, while the minimum frequency group refered to the Euglenophyta. Except turbidity, there were positive but not significant correlation between physico-chemical parameters and phytoplankton density (p>0.05).