Diversity and Seasonal Distribution of Phytoplankton in the King Rama IX Royal Park Reservoir, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study the biodiversity and seasonal distribution of phytoplankton in the King Rama IX Royal Park Reservoir in Chiang Mai Province. Samples were taken during the months of April (summer), August (rainy season) and December (winter) 2013. Eight Phyla, which consisted of 16 Orders, 19 Families, 23 Genera, 28 Species of Phytoplankton were found, of which the most abundance species were, in descending order, Botryococcus braunii, Peridinium sp., Pseudanabaena sp., Trachelomonas volvocinopsis and Microcystis aeruginosa. The diversity index exhibited the highest values in April (2.34) and the lowest in August (2.11). In addition, the seasonal distribution of phytoplankton were found to be less abundant in the rainy season, which is likely due to the low values recorded in the diversity index and low trophic levels recorded during the same season.