Spatial and temporal distribution of cyanobacteria in Batticaloa Lagoon
Jalaldeen Mohamed Harris
,
Periyathamby Vinobaba
,
Ranil Kavindra Asela Kularatne
,
Champika Ellawala Kankanamge
DOI:10.1016/j.jes.2016.01.020
Received August 11, 2015,Revised December 23, 2015, Accepted January 04, 2016, Available online March 19, 2016
Volume 28,2016,Pages 211-218
The necessity to understand the relationship between cyanobacterial species abundance and water quality variations in coastal lagoons is crucial to develop strategies to prevent further cyanobacterial proliferation. This paper evaluates the relationship between water quality variations on the distribution of cyanobacteria during a 12-month period in Batticaloa Lagoon (Sri Lanka) using Redundancy analysis and Pearson correlations. Drastic variations in pH, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO) and total phosphorus (TP) levels were reported, but not turbidity and NO3−. This brackish waterbody is hypereutrophic (TP levels > 0.1 mg/L). The cyanobacterial community contained 13 genera and 22 species. NO3−, TP and turbidity levels positively influenced cyanobacterial abundance during all seasons indicating that nutrient (largely phosphorus) and sediment entry control is highly crucial along with periodic monitoring of cyanobacterial growth.
