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Phytoplankton biomass in relation to flow dynamics: the case of a tropical river Mahanadi, India

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Abstract

This present study was conducted to extend our understanding on the relationship between Chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration and hydrological parameters typically flow velocity, environmental variables and trophic state conditions using lotic water as experimental system. River Mahanadi, India was selected as a model for the present study. Based on elevation from mean sea level, twelve sampling sites from Sambalpur to Naraj were grouped into three zones viz. upper zone (71 km), middle zone (142 km) and lower zone (103 km). Carlson Trophic State Index (CTSI) revealed eutrophic state in middle and lower zone and with mesotrophic condition in the upper zone. Along the river stretch, a negative correlation was observed between Chl a concentration and flow velocity at all three zones during post monsoon (r = − 0.15) and monsoon (r = − 0.31). Seasonal study revealed higher Chl a concentration (16.16–283.85 µg l−1) in post-monsoon with recorded mean flow velocity (0.28 ± 0.19 ms−1) as compared to monsoon season with lower Chl a (18.68–232.24 µg l−1) and mean flow velocity (0.54 ± 0.21 ms−1). Among environmental variables, water temperature and pH showed a positive correlation with Chl a. Overall, the findings of this study illustrated the occurrence of higher phytoplankton biomass (quantified as Chl a) during post-monsoon season coincides with low water velocity. The dataset of this work can be implicated for the hydrological and the ecological framework of the tropical river Mahanadi in the Indian Territory.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi for the financial support provided to carry out the research work under ICAR-CIFRI sub-project REF/ER/12/01/05 (Quantification of environmental flow in selected rivers for sustenance of ecology and fisheries). Technical assistance by Shri, A. K. Barui, former STO is thankfully acknowledged. Authors would also like to acknowledge efforts provided by District Fishery Officers, Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Odisha, all the Fishery officer with team members for their help and cooperation during sample collection. The authors are greatly indebted to Dr. Amit Kumar Sinha, Dept. of Aquaculture and Fisheries, University of Arkansas, Arkansas for his technical inputs to improve the manuscript.

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  1. Manas Hoshalli Munivenkatappa

    Present address: ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute Regional Centre, Andhra University (Post), Opposite SBI Kohinoor Branch, Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, 530003, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fishery Resource and Environment Management Division, ICAR - Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, S.N. Banerjee Road, Monirampur, Barrackpore, North 24 Parganas, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700120, India

    Soma Das Sarkar, Amiya Kumar Sahoo, Rohan Kumar Raman, Manas Hoshalli Munivenkatappa, Kavita Kumari, Bimal Prasanna Mohanty & Basanta Kumar Das

  2. ICAR - Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Kolkata Centre, C.G.O. Complex, 2nd Floor, Sector-1, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700064, India

    Pranab Gogoi

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  1. Soma Das Sarkar
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Correspondence to Soma Das Sarkar.

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Das Sarkar, S., Sahoo, A.K., Gogoi, P. et al. Phytoplankton biomass in relation to flow dynamics: the case of a tropical river Mahanadi, India. Trop Ecol 60, 485–494 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-019-00048-7

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