Microplankton distribution in the coastal waters of Port Dickson

Abstract

The bulk of the microplankton from the coastal waters of Port Dickson consisted of diatoms, dinoflagellates and blue green algae. Microplankton collected nearer the shore (1 km water) are much richer in species composition as well as in numbers than those collected at a distance from the shore. Diatoms and dinoflagellates, to a lesser extent, predominate in the microplankton population nearer the shorewhile the blue green algae, Trichodesmium are abundant away from the shore. Predominant diatom species encountered from the area included Biddulphia sinensis, Coscinodiscus asteromophalus, C. radiatus, Chaetocerus coartatus, Nitzschia closterium, Rhizosolenia styliformis and R. alata. The genera Biddulphia, Coscinodiscus, Chaetocerus and Rhizosolenia were found to contain a wide range of species. The dinoflagellates comprised 8 genera and 19 species including Ceratium and Peridinium both of which contain many species.